Mudbound (2017)
Film · Drama
Stream itif you are prepared for a visually poetic yet unflinching examination of systemic racism and trauma.
A sweeping and visually stunning but emotionally punishing look at racial and social divides in the rural American South. It is a heavy and necessary watch that demands your full attention and emotional resilience.
What it is about
In the post–World War II South, two families are pitted against a barbaric social hierarchy and an unrelenting landscape as they simultaneously fight the battle at home and the battle abroad.
Trailer
What Mudbound is like, and who it is for
What it is like to watch
Watching this film is a heavy, immersive experience that feels as thick and suffocating as the Mississippi mud it depicts. The pace is deliberate and patient, allowing the tension between the two families to simmer against a backdrop of post-war exhaustion. It employs a multi-narrative structure that feels literary and intimate, contrasting the vast, harsh landscapes with the internal struggles of its characters. The intensity builds not through sudden shocks, but through a constant, low-frequency dread that eventually boils over into moments of stark, grounded brutality.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
This is for viewers who appreciate historical dramas that refuse to sanitise the past or provide easy comforts. It is a vital piece of storytelling for those interested in the intersections of class, race, and shared trauma. However, you should skip it if you are looking for light entertainment or a traditional story of triumph. The primary caveat is that it is emotionally punishing; the film portrays the dehumanising reality of the Jim Crow era with a visceral honesty that can be difficult to endure for two hours.
The right evening for it
It suits a quiet, reflective evening where you have the mental space to engage with a demanding narrative. It is best watched when you are in the mood for a serious, high-quality drama that will provoke deep conversation afterwards.
Written by our AI from the facts on this page. It has opinions; it has not watched it.
How Mudbound leaves you
One line on the mood it ends on, with no plot. Some people count that as a spoiler, so it stays hidden until you ask.
You will likely feel wrung out and somber. The film leaves a lingering weight of sorrow and a profound sense of the stubborn, historical roots of social division.
Stills
Images from TMDB.
If you like this, try
12 Years a Slave (2013)
the same unflinching look at the brutal realities of American racial history
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
a shared focus on the punishing relationship between poverty and the land
If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
a similar blend of poetic cinematography and systemic injustice
Suggested by our AI for what they share with this one. Linked titles have a page here; the rest are worth a search on the browse page.
Mudbound soundtrack
Music by Tamar-kali
- 1Mighty River · Mary J. Blige
- 2Intro / Mudbound Theme
- 3Laura Mud Drone
- 4Ronsel Leaves
- 5Hap Mud Drone
- 6Land
- 7Country Violence
- 8Whooping Cough Pt. 1
- 9Whooping Cough Pt. 2
- 10Hap Recuperates
Album and songs from Apple Music.
Awards
Mudbound was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Original Song at the Oscars.
Oscars
- Nominated: Best Supporting Actress · 2018
- Nominated: Best Adapted Screenplay · Virgil Williams, Dee Rees · 2018
- Nominated: Best Cinematography · 2018
- Nominated: Best Original Song · 2018
From Wikidata, which can miss some.
Questions people ask
- Is Mudbound an authentic film?
- Yes. On Watchlist Boosted it is tagged Authentic, with a tearjerker streak. A sweeping and visually stunning but emotionally punishing look at racial and social divides in the rural American South. It is a heavy and necessary watch that demands your full attention and emotional resilience.
- How long is Mudbound?
- Mudbound runs 135 min and was released in 2017.
- Where can I watch Mudbound in the UK?
- In the UK, Mudbound is included with Netflix (all plans).
- Was Mudbound nominated for any awards?
- Mudbound was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Original Song at the Oscars.
- Who composed the music for Mudbound?
- The music for Mudbound is by Tamar-kali. The soundtrack album, Mudbound (Original Soundtrack Album), has 30 tracks.
- What songs are on the Mudbound soundtrack?
- Mudbound (Original Soundtrack Album) has 30 tracks, including “Mighty River” by Mary J. Blige, “Intro / Mudbound Theme”, “Laura Mud Drone”, “Ronsel Leaves” and “Hap Mud Drone”, and more. It is on Apple Music.
- Is Mudbound worth watching?
- Stream it: if you are prepared for a visually poetic yet unflinching examination of systemic racism and trauma. IMDb users rate it 7.4 out of 10 from 55,422 votes, Rotten Tomatoes gives it 97%, Metacritic 85 and TMDB users 7.4.
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