The Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated as KKK, is a white supremacist hate group that was founded in the United States in 1866. It has been the subject of numerous documentaries and feature films over the years. These films often explore the origins, influence, and impact of the Klan on American society, tackling themes of racism, hate, and the struggle for civil rights. Some of these films are historical dramas, while others are documentaries that delve into the ideology and actions of the KKK through the years. Here is a list of films that explore the subject of the Ku Klux Klan, offering a range of perspectives on this notorious organization:
“Birth of a Nation”, 1997
Director: Jonas Mekas
Directed by D.W. Griffith, this silent epic is one of the most controversial films ever made, due to its glorification of the KKK and portrayal of African Americans in an extremely negative light. Despite its reprehensible racial politics, it’s studied for its revolutionary filmmaking techniques.
Starring: Chantal Akerman, Kenneth Anger, Michel Auder, Bruce Baillie, Robert Beavers, Jane Brakhage, Stan Brakhage, Robert Breer, James Broughton, L.M. Kit Carson, Charles Chaplin, Tom Chomont, Shirley Clarke, Bruce Conner, Tony Conrad, Storm De Hirsch, Stephen Dwoskin, Morris Engel, Valie Export, Allen Ginsberg, Fred Halsted, Birgit Hein, Piero Heliczer, Jerome Hill, Takahiko Iimura, Ken Jacobs, Anna Karina, Kurt Kren, Peter Kubelka, Malcolm le Grice, Jacques Ledoux, Gregory J. Markopoulos, Jim McBride, Taylor Mead, Adolfas Mekas, Oona Mekas, Hermann Nitsch, Sheldon Renan, Leni Riefenstahl, Roberto Rossellini, Barbara Rubin, Carolee Schneemann, Paul Sharits, P. Adams Sitney, Harry Smith, Jack Smith, Michael Snow, Cecile Starr, Bhob Stewart, Amy Taubin, Leslie Trumbull, Willard Van Dyke, Viva, Rosa von Praunheim, Andy Warhol;
Production year: 1997;
Genre: documentary;
Duration: 85 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,1;
More information about the film “Birth of a Nation” on the website imdb.com
“Mississippi Burning”, 1988
Director: Alan Parker
Directed by Alan Parker, this crime thriller is loosely based on the FBI's investigation into the real-life murders of three civil rights workers in Mississippi in 1964. The film depicts the Klan's violent resistance to the Civil Rights Movement.
Starring: Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe, Frances McDormand, Brad Dourif, R. Lee Ermey, Gailard Sartain, Stephen Tobolowsky, Michael Rooker, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Badja Djola;
Production year: 1988;
Genre: thriller, drama, crime, detective, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 128 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “Mississippi Burning” on the website imdb.com
“A Time to Kill”, 1996
Director: Joel Schumacher
This legal drama film, directed by Joel Schumacher and based on John Grisham's novel of the same name, deals with a court case in Mississippi involving a father who kills two men responsible for the brutal rape of his daughter. The film delves into racial tensions and the KKK's presence in the South.
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, Oliver Platt, Charles S. Dutton, Brenda Fricker, Donald Sutherland, Kiefer Sutherland, Patrick McGoohan;
Production year: 1996;
Genre: thriller, drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 150 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “A Time to Kill” on the website imdb.com
“O Brother, Where Art Thou?”, 2000
Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, this comedy-drama is loosely based on Homer's “The Odyssey” and set in Mississippi during the Great Depression. It includes a memorable scene involving a Ku Klux Klan rally, adding a satirical critique of the group within the broader narrative.
Starring: George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, John Goodman, Holly Hunter, Chris Thomas King, Charles Durning, Del Pentecost, Michael Badalucco, J.R. Horne;
Production year: 2000;
Genre: comedy, crime, adventure, music;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 103 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
“American History X”, 1998
Director: Tony Kaye
Directed by Tony Kaye, this film is a hard-hitting drama about a former neo-Nazi and white supremacist gang leader in California who tries to prevent his younger brother from going down the same violent path. While not explicitly about the KKK, it addresses similar themes of hate, racism, and redemption.
Starring: Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D'Angelo, Jennifer Lien, Ethan Suplee, Fairuza Balk, Avery Brooks, Elliott Gould, Stacy Keach, William Russ;
Production year: 1998;
Genre: drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 119 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,5;
More information about the film “American History X” on the website imdb.com
“BlacKkKlansman”, 2018
Director: Spike Lee
Directed by Spike Lee, this biographical crime film is based on the true story of Ron Stallworth, an African American police officer who successfully managed to infiltrate the Colorado Springs chapter of the KKK in the 1970s. The film mixes humor and drama to critique racism and the Klan.
Starring: John David Washington, Adam Driver, Laura Harrier, Topher Grace, Jäsper Pääkkönen, Ryan Eggold, Robert John Burke, Nicholas Turturro, Corey Hawkins, Alec Baldwin;
Production year: 2018;
Genre: drama, comedy, crime, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 135 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “BlacKkKlansman” on the website imdb.com
These films depict the Ku Klux Klan in various contexts, from historical settings to more contemporary times, and from serious dramas to satirical critiques, showcasing the enduring impact of the Klan on American culture and society.
In conclusion, films about the Ku Klux Klan, with their visceral exploration of racial hatred, intolerance, and the fight for justice, serve as crucial cultural touchstones that illuminate dark chapters of history while also reflecting ongoing struggles for racial equality. These cinematic narratives, from the deeply controversial to the critically acclaimed, not only recount the specific atrocities committed by the Klan but also delve deeper into the societal and psychological underpinnings of such hate groups. Through a blend of historical dramatization, personal storytelling, and critical analysis, these films challenge viewers to confront uncomfortable truths, spark important conversations, and, ideally, inspire a collective movement towards a more understanding and inclusive society. As much as they are a window into the past, films about the Ku Klux Klan are a mirror to the present, urging us not to look away but to engage, learn, and strive for a future free from the shadows of hatred and bigotry.
