The Birth of a Nation

1915, Movie, 3h 15min

Two families, abolitionist Northerners the Stonemans and Southern landowners the Camerons, intertwine. When Confederate colonel Ben Cameron is captured in battle, nurse Elsie Stoneman petitions for his pardon. In Reconstruction-era South Carolina, Cameron founds the Ku Klux Klan, battling Elsie's congressman father and his African-American protégé, Silas Lynch.

Country: United States

Director:

Cast:

Where to Watch The Birth of a Nation online

"The Birth of a Nation" is not currently available to stream. Save it and we'll notify you when it's available! Make sure to turn on push notifications as well.

Ratings

Your rating:

IMDb rating

Visit page

6.1

Critic rating

Average critic rating

6.0

Reviews

Critic David Parkinson

rated

...remains among the most ambitious pictures ever produced

Read full review at Empire

Skip this

Frequently asked questions

What is The Birth of a Nation about? Toggle content

The Birth of a Nation is a historic epic film that explores the tumultuous years of the American Civil War and Reconstruction. The movie follows the intertwining lives of two families, the abolitionist Stonemans and the Southern Camerons, as they navigate the complexities of war, politics, and racial tension. Against the backdrop of momentous events such as Lincoln's assassination and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, the film portrays the conflicting ideologies and personal struggles that defined this pivotal period in American history. Directed by D.W. Griffith, this groundbreaking silent film revolutionized cinematic storytelling and remains a controversial yet influential classic in the history of cinema.

Where can I stream The Birth of a Nation? Toggle content

The Birth of a Nation is currently unavailable to stream in undefined on the streaming services we have in our catalogue

What movies are similar to The Birth of a Nation? Toggle content

Some movies that have similar genres and were produced around the same time as The Birth of a Nation include The Last of the Mohicans, The Little American, Outside the Law, A Christmas Carol, The Mark of Zorro, Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl.