This time, we have a biographical film soaring on the Netflix US charts. While action and thrillers are usually the mainstay of the top ten lists, this one is a pleasant deviation indeed.
Surprisingly, it isn’t the recently released Rustin, starring Colman Domingo as civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. The film climbing the Netflix charts this time is a 2019 movie.
Harriet has taken its place at the seventh spot on the Netflix US top ten films chart. Directed by Kasi Lemmons and starring the talented Cynthia Erivo in the lead role, along with Leslie Odom Jr., Joe Alwyn, and Janelle Monáe, this biographical drama recounts the extraordinary life of Harriet Tubman, an iconic figure in American history.
The film is a poignant exploration of Tubman’s journey from slavery to freedom and her tireless efforts as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, helping numerous enslaved individuals escape to freedom. The screenplay, penned by Gregory Allen Howard and Lemmons, skillfully brings Tubman’s heroic narrative to life, showcasing her unwavering determination and bravery.
Despite being about such a watershed moment in history, the film focuses on Tubman’s humanity and her great love for her husband, which compelled her to rebel. Erivo told Refinery29 why this aspect of Harriet moved her so much, “Knowing that her story started from love is beautiful. It makes her a whole person, a woman, which I think also was taken from her, her womanhood. We know her as the hero, but we forget that she was a human being and a woman.”
Erivo’s performance as Tubman earned her acclaim upon the film’s release. Harriet garnered significant recognition during the awards season as well. Erivo received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role, and the film itself was nominated for ‘Best Original Song for Stand Up’. Erivo also got nominated for a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a BAFTA Award.
Even four years after its release, Harriet continues to make waves, this time on streaming. You can tune in for Harriet on Netflix and catch the trailer here:
