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Celluloid
Drama Editor's Pick

American History X Review (1998) — 84% Celluloid Score

Directed by Tony Kaye · 1998 ·

LLM fact sheet (.md)

Answer Summary: Is American History X worth watching?

American History X (1998) earns a 84% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

Quick Verdict: What is the Celluloid Score for American History X?

Averaged from five public sources (critic, audience, Metascore, Letterboxd, IMDb). See how we calculate scores.

84%
Celluloid Score Recommended

Five-source breakdown

87% Critic Score
89% Audience
81 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4
8.5 IMDb /10
Runtime
1h 59m
Cast
Edward Norton , Edward Furlong , Beverly D'Angelo , Jennifer Lien , Ethan Suplee , Fairuza Balk , Avery Brooks , Elliott Gould , Stacy Keach , William Russ

Where to watch in India

Not yet streaming in India — check local listings.

Why this score?

  • Majority of critics rated it fresh (87%).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (89%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (81/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4/5).
  • IMDb users score it 8.5/10.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded drama pick

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Is American History X worth watching?

    Yes — American History X earns a 84% Celluloid Score. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.

    Critics Consensus

    IMDb Top 250 #43 (8.5/10) — American History X remains one of the most highly rated films of all time.

    Celluloid Critics Consensus

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is American History X about?

    Derek Vineyard is paroled after serving 3 years in prison for killing two African-American men. Through his brother, Danny Vineyard's narration, we learn that before going to prison, Derek was a skinhead and the leader of a violent white supremacist gang that committed acts of racial crime throughout L.A. and his actions greatly influenced Danny. Reformed and fresh out of prison, Derek severs contact with the gang and becomes determined to keep Danny from going down the same violent path as he did.

    Critic Reviews

    critic American History X

    American History X (1998) Review

    Tony Kaye's American History X (1998) remains a defining Drama landmark from United States, with scores that still shape how audiences discover the title.

    Strongly recommended — holds up for new and returning viewers.

    Marcus Webb Horror & Genre Critic

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