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Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song

Play trailer Poster for Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song R 1971 1h 37m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
72% Tomatometer 29 Reviews 45% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Sweet Sweetback (Melvin Van Peebles) is a black orphan who, having grown up in a brothel, now works there as part of a sex show. When the police need a patsy for a murder in the black community, Sweetback's employer gives him up to two white cops, whom Sweetback ends up killing. Suddenly the target of a massive manhunt, he decides to flee to Mexico. As he makes his way there, he is captured by, and escapes from, both the cops and a chapter of the Hell's Angels.
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Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song

Critics Reviews

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Penelope Gilliatt The New Yorker Jan 29, 2024
Impossible, haughty, not likable, but sometimes rather admirable in its context. Go to Full Review
Gary Arnold Washington Post Jan 29, 2024
People who believe that all that smoke must indicate one hell of a fiery movie might be rather dismayed by the movie itself. Go to Full Review
Richard Brody The New Yorker Jan 31, 2022
For all its horror, the film has an exuberant, hedonistic excitement (including a sexual showdown in a Hell's Angels den); Sweetback's spirit of outrage and revolt gives rise to bitter, exasperated ironies. Go to Full Review
Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand Mar 12, 2022
The unusual mix of agitprop and exploitation is directed in a jagged style that recalls what Jean-Luc Godard was doing in France and set to a funky score performed by Earth, Wind, and Fire... Go to Full Review
Dennis Harvey 48 Hills Jul 6, 2021
Farr more overtly political and experimental than anything subsequently bracketed in that ["Blaxploitation"] genre. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Tyrone T @RT93039779 6 days ago I thought Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song was a powerful movie because it showed racism, police brutality, and the fight for freedom. I liked the music and unique filming style because they made the movie feel intense. Overall, I think it was an important and meaningful film. See more Jacky A @RT21617456 Oct 16, 2026 Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song was definitely an interesting movie to watch. It felt raw, uncomfortable, and different from what I’m used to seeing. I think the movie does a good job showing how racism and police brutality affected Black communities, and how film can be used to make a political statement. Some parts were confusing and hard to follow, but I understood that the movie wasn’t trying to be a typical Hollywood film. It was about resistance, freedom, and standing up against a system that treats people unfairly. Overall, I can appreciate what the movie represents and how it challenged the film industry, even if it wasn’t necessarily my favorite movie to watch. See more Lin F @_lxn_ Oct 13, 2026 I found this movie a little confusing. I think the format and editing made it a bit difficult to follow along. I did enjoy some of the music, but at times I found that the way the film was shot and then edited to be chaotic contributed to why it was a little difficult to follow along. However, I do think the film's storyline was interesting when I was able to follow along. The overall theme of racism was what made this film, in my opinion I'd say worth watching. It was definitely why I continued watching it because it was contributing to a very powerful message. Overall, this movie was okay, but I don't think I'd watch again. See more Cherish H @RT08966500 Oct 1, 2026 It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. It is the type of movie where I would watch the beginning of the trailer and wish the trailer was all ready over. See more Mariann F @MariannK Sep 30, 2026 I would give this a 3 star rating. I thought it was interesting and different but honestly it was kind of hard for me to follow at times. I liked the message behind it and some of the visuals but it wasnt really a movie id watch willingly. See more JO3WY T @RT70289803 Sep 29, 2026 Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song felt raw and different from the other movies we watched. I liked how Sweetback fights to survive while the police chase him. The music and quick editing make the movie feel tense and chaotic. Some parts were hard to follow, but I think its style helps show his fear and the unfair treatment he faces. See more Read all reviews
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis Sweet Sweetback (Melvin Van Peebles) is a black orphan who, having grown up in a brothel, now works there as part of a sex show. When the police need a patsy for a murder in the black community, Sweetback's employer gives him up to two white cops, whom Sweetback ends up killing. Suddenly the target of a massive manhunt, he decides to flee to Mexico. As he makes his way there, he is captured by, and escapes from, both the cops and a chapter of the Hell's Angels.
Director
Melvin Van Peebles
Producer
Jerry Gross, Melvin Van Peebles
Screenwriter
Melvin Van Peebles
Distributor
Image Entertainment Inc., Direct Cinema Limited, Criterion Collection, New World Pictures
Production Co
Yeah
Rating
R
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 23, 1971, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 17, 2020
Runtime
1h 37m
Sound Mix
Mono
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