Sidney

Play trailer

2:42

Sidney

PG-13

2022

1h 47m

Documentary

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

80 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

From producer Oprah Winfrey and directed by Reginald Hudlin, this revealing documentary honors the legendary Sidney Poitier and his legacy as an iconic actor, filmmaker and activist at the center of Hollywood and the Civil Rights Movement. Featuring candid interviews with Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Robert Redford, Lenny Kravitz, Barbra Streisand, Spike Lee and many more, the film is also produced by Derik Murray, in close collaboration with the Poitier family.

Watch on Apple TV

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Sidney might feel a bit standard compared to its trailblazing subject -- but then again, it'd be all but impossible to capture a life this extraordinary in any single film.

Read Critics Reviews

Candice Frederick

HuffPost

12/06/2022

“Sidney” doesn’t bother to simplify details around Poitier’s biography, nor does it try to complicate his story. Rather, it honors the very real complexities of the life he lived.

Go to Full Review

Colin Grant

New Statesman

11/02/2022

Though far from hagiography, Sidney is laudatory, and given to a kind of soft-focus sentimentality, especially when a lachrymose Winfrey is interviewed. The tone is set by the inclusion of extracts of film archive, and Poitier’s calm, dignified voice.

Go to Full Review

Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

09/29/2022

3/4

While the reflections from Denzel Washington, Oprah, Robert Redford help define Poitier’s career and life, it’s when we hear from the legend himself that “Sidney” comes to life.

Go to Full Review

Jericho Tadeo

MovieWeb

07/12/2024

"Revolutionary" is a word that gets thrown around and carelessly tacked on to a lot of things, but it is precisely the best word to describe Poitier as an artist and activist. Sidney triumphs in reminding us of why exactly that is.

Go to Full Review

Louisa Moore

Screen Zealots

12/05/2022

The most effective and touching parts of the documentary come when Sidney tells his story in his own words. Talking directly to the camera, he reminisces about a life well lived, creating a memoir of his legacy that will live on for generations.

Go to Full Review

Armond White

National Review

11/23/2022

He’s memorialized as an artist-activist and significant only for that. The doc is angled toward how Oprah wants us to see Poitier and herself.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Kyle M

@RT77296778 01/15/2024

If you haven't seen all the actor's works, this respectfully enriching humane portrait detailing his legendary contributive stature will still definitely win you over as it further cements his legacy over the important themes he'd confronted and emphasized. (A-)

See more

Michael W

@mawilps 01/29/2023

This showbiz documentary was very good. The entire crew did a spectacular job on documenting on the career of one of the greatest actors of all time Sidney Poitier. It goes into specific detail of his childhood and on all the movies he starred and directed. He really was a true inspiration to the world. If you're an Apple TV+ member, you have to watch this documentary sometime. It's a definite must see.

See more

10/21/2022

Outstanding documentary about a beautiful, powerful, gracious and determined man and one of our greatest actors!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Reginald Hudlin

Director

Denzel Washington

Self

Halle Berry

Self

Robert Redford

Self

Lenny Kravitz

Self

Barbra Streisand

Self

Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali

94%

84%

Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali

The Pigeon Tunnel

96%

69%

The Pigeon Tunnel

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Pigeon Tunnel

My Name Is Pauli Murray

94%

84%

My Name Is Pauli Murray

Watchlist

TRAILER

for My Name Is Pauli Murray

The Gospel According to André

87%

77%

The Gospel According to André

Watchlist

The Last Rider

96%

96%

The Last Rider

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Last Rider

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Sidney: Trailer 1

2:42

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

From producer Oprah Winfrey and directed by Reginald Hudlin, this revealing documentary honors the legendary Sidney Poitier and his legacy as an iconic actor, filmmaker and activist at the center of Hollywood and the Civil Rights Movement. Featuring candid interviews with Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Robert Redford, Lenny Kravitz, Barbra Streisand, Spike Lee and many more, the film is also produced by Derik Murray, in close collaboration with the Poitier family.

Director: Reginald Hudlin
Producer: Derik Murray, Oprah Winfrey
Screenwriter: Jesse James Miller
Production Co: Apple Studios, Harpo Films, Digital Thunderdome, Network Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Some Smoking|Some Language|Racial Slurs)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 23, 2022
Runtime: 1h 47m