La Haine (1995) Review: A French Classic

Is La Haine worth watching?

Yes — La Haine remains one of the most celebrated films from France, with a 96/100 Celluloid Editorial Rating and enduring audience appeal. On Celluloid it holds a 96/100 Celluloid Editorial Rating, 93% Audience Snapshot, 81 Metascore, 4.4 on Letterboxd, and 8.1 on IMDb — numbers that explain why it still surfaces on every “best of France” list.

What is La Haine about?

Three friends from a Paris banlieue wander for twenty-four hours after a riot, simmering with rage at police brutality and dead-end futures. Directed by Mathieu Kassovitz, the film stars Vincent Cassel, Hubert Koundé, Saïd Taghmaoui, and remains a reference point for Drama and Crime filmmaking from France.

Should you watch La Haine?

Yes, without hesitation — La Haine rewards viewers who want more than algorithm-friendly new releases. At 98 minutes, it more than earns its running time — and the critics’ consensus still resonates today: Kassovitz’s black-and-white powder keg captured France’s suburban unrest and never stopped feeling urgent.

Where can I watch La Haine?

Streaming availability varies by region — check major platforms in your country or local cinemas for revival screenings. La Haine (1995) is widely indexed on IMDb (tt0113247) and remains one of the most searched classic titles from France on CelluloidScore.com.