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Rize

Play trailer Poster for Rize PG-13 2005 1h 25m Biography Music Musical Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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84% Tomatometer 93 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Celebrated fashion photographer David LaChapelle makes his documentary filmmaking debut with a visually arresting film shot on the streets of Los Angeles' gritty South Central neighborhood. After his community is nearly destroyed in the days of violent race riots after the 1992 Rodney King verdict, dancer Tommy "The Clown" Johnson creates a kinetic, athletic form of hip-hop competitive dancing that he dubs clowning, which later breaks through to the mainstream as krumping.
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Rize

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Critics Consensus

The dances in Rize are electric even if the documentary doesn't go that deeply into the performers' lives.

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Critics Reviews

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Matthew Leyland BBC.com Dec 20, 2005
3/5
[F]or all its mis-steps, Rize gets by on enough jumping, pumping energy to fuel the national grid. Go to Full Review Susan Walker Toronto Star Aug 5, 2005
2.5/4
It's a well-known truth in the dance world that the body doesn't lie. As long as the characters in this film are dancing, we have little reason to doubt their sincerity. But once turned into talking heads, the dancers begin to sound like propagandists. Go to Full Review Liam Lacey Globe and Mail Aug 5, 2005
3/4
A vivid portrait of art rising from deprivation and social hopelessness. Go to Full Review Adam B. Vary The Advocate Apr 20, 2022
As Paris Is Burning did with voguing, Rize celebrates a vital new art form; don't you dare blink. Go to Full Review Tara Thorne The Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia) Jul 11, 2016
The doc doesn't go as deep as it could, but as a snapshot of a facet of hip-hop and pop culture, it's perfect, and devoid of the garish style of LaChapelle's photographs. Go to Full Review Joe Lozito Big Picture Big Sound Jul 14, 2007
3/4
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Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 8, 2025 Real footage in 1 hour and 25 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Language, Drug References, Brief Nudity and Suggestive Content!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $3,300,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Munkhchimeg T @RT64187897 Aug 8, 2024 Woow, very active and energetic movie like cool guyz. Very good movie See more Geke g @RT40239519 Aug 2, 2024 Rize is real rizz before rizz is invented See more Bahad j @RT27093708 Jul 26, 2024 I am very happy that the movie shows us the steps and choices that are necessary in the life of a great person. I like the movie. See more Munkhjargal A @RT28084692 Jul 26, 2024 He was a famous cinematographer. He used to shoot outside in the street in the main square, which led to this film. One character in the movie is about a clown. This clown later became an actor. See more Mar 21, 2017 Lets see, people who are from urban areas and seen this dance up close all rate it high and people from what seems like more structured and affluent backgrounds all rated it low. People need to get a clue. This documentary was exactly what it was supposed to be, a light shined on something that was growing over here in the dark corner. For a 2005 doc I thought it means more to me today as I just watched for maybe the 15th time. It truly gives me a greater sense of appreciation for those who are in dier situations and choose to grab a hold of any liferaft they can and wade their way to safety than to succumb to their surroundings. Great doc, inspiring to say the least. See more Read all reviews
Rize

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Cast & Crew

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David LaChapelle

Director

Tommy the Clown

Self

Marc Hawker

Producer

Ellen Jacobson

Executive Producer

Ellen Jacobson

Producer

David LaChapelle

Producer

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Rize

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Movie Info

Synopsis Celebrated fashion photographer David LaChapelle makes his documentary filmmaking debut with a visually arresting film shot on the streets of Los Angeles' gritty South Central neighborhood. After his community is nearly destroyed in the days of violent race riots after the 1992 Rodney King verdict, dancer Tommy "The Clown" Johnson creates a kinetic, athletic form of hip-hop competitive dancing that he dubs clowning, which later breaks through to the mainstream as krumping.
Director
David LaChapelle
Producer
Marc Hawker, Ellen Jacobson, David LaChapelle
Distributor
Lionsgate Films
Production Co
HSI Productions, Darkfibre Entertainment Ltd.
Rating
PG-13 (Language|Drug References|Brief Nudity|Suggestive Content)
Genre
Biography, Music, Musical, Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 21, 2005, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jun 24, 2005
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 24, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.3M
Runtime
1h 25m
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