2014·Documentary·2h 1m
7.2
★
The surprising and entertaining life of renowned film critic and social commentator Roger Ebert (1942-2013): his early days as a freewheeling bachelor and Pulitzer Prize winner, his famously contentious partnership with Gene Siskel, his life-altering marriage, and his brave and transcendent battle with cancer.
Directed by Steve James
husband wife relationship
movie business
pop culture
male friendship
biography
rehabilitation centre
interracial marriage
cancer
based on memoir or autobiography
film critic
crowdfunded film
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Stephen Stanton
Roger Ebert (voice)
Roger Ebert
Self - Film Critic
Chaz Ebert
Self - Ebert's Wife
Ramin Bahrani
Self - Filmmaker
Ava DuVernay
Self - Filmmaker
Werner Herzog
Self - Filmmaker
Steve James
Self - Filmmaker / Narrator (voice)
Errol Morris
Self - Filmmaker
Gregory Nava
Self - Filmmaker
Martin Scorsese
Self - Filmmaker
Johnny Carson
Self - TV Host (archive footage)
Chevy Chase
Self - Actor (archive footage)
Crew
Steve James
Director
Steve James
Editor
Paula DuPré Pesmen
Producer
Steven Zaillian
Executive Producer
Martin Scorsese
Executive Producer
Vinnie Malhotra
Executive Producer
Garrett Basch
Producer
Steve James
Producer
Martin Scorsese
Thanks
Popular Reviews
106 reviews
William Shatner 2.0
8.0★ · 04/12/26
Roger Ebert is a true hero to me and many other fans of film; this film did a terrific job of exploring his life.
It’s a truly touching film, and there were multiple times where I began to tear up. The story of his life is magnificent; if they were to make it into a film, there is no doubt that it would be a success. Other than the story being interesting, the editing is amazing; you can tell that the people making this documentary loved Ebert and wanted to tell his story in the best way possible, and that is exactly what they did.
It’s a truly touching film, and there were multiple times where I began to tear up. The story of his life is magnificent; if they were to make it into a film, there is no doubt that it would be a success. Other than the story being interesting, the editing is amazing; you can tell that the people making this documentary loved Ebert and wanted to tell his story in the best way possible, and that is exactly what they did.
Roger Ebert is a true hero to me and many other fans of film; this film did a terrific job of exploring his life.
It’s a truly touching film, and there were multiple times where I began to tear up. The story of his life is magnificent; if they were to make it into a film, there is no doubt that it would be a success. Other than the story being interesting, the editing is amazing; you can tell that the people making this documentary loved Ebert and wanted to tell his story in the best way possible, and that is exactly what they did.
It’s a truly touching film, and there were multiple times where I began to tear up. The story of his life is magnificent; if they were to make it into a film, there is no doubt that it would be a success. Other than the story being interesting, the editing is amazing; you can tell that the people making this documentary loved Ebert and wanted to tell his story in the best way possible, and that is exactly what they did.
Ben MORTON
★★★★
Roger Ebert loved movies. Through that shared connection, I, by extension, love Roger Ebert and his reviews. This documentary covers his love (or more famously, his occasional ‘hate’) for cinema and much more in journaling the life of arguably the world’s most famous film critic. Most people would’ve heard of the ‘two-thumbs-up’/‘thumbs-up, thumbs-down’ ratings from the TV show Siskel and Ebert, or that iconic line ‘I hated, hated, hated this movie’ that would later serve as a title for a collection of Ebert’s essays and reviews of films he (rather strongly) disliked, or that Ebert was the first person to win the Pulitzer Prize for film criticism. But I imagine most casual readers of film criticism, of which the numbers are unfortunately dwindling, are perhaps unaware of the life of Ebert beyond, before, and after Siskel and Ebert and his effect on writing about film and upon the industry. This film details that wonderfully.
Roger Ebert loved movies. Through that shared connection, I, by extension, love Roger Ebert and his reviews. This documentary covers his love (or more famously, his occasional ‘hate’) for cinema and much more in journaling the life of arguably the world’s most famous film critic. Most people would’ve heard of the ‘two-thumbs-up’/‘thumbs-up, thumbs-down’ ratings from the TV show Siskel and Ebert, or that iconic line ‘I hated, hated, hated this movie’ that would later serve as a title for a collection of Ebert’s essays and reviews of films he (rather strongly) disliked, or that Ebert was the first person to win the Pulitzer Prize for film criticism. But I imagine most casual readers of film criticism, of which the numbers are unfortunately dwindling, are perhaps unaware of the life of Ebert beyond, before, and after Siskel and Ebert and his effect on writing about film and upon the industry. This film details that wonderfully.
★★★★
Roger Ebert loved movies. Through that shared connection, I, by extension, love Roger Ebert and his reviews. This documentary covers his love (or more famously, his occasional ‘hate’) for cinema and much more in journaling the life of arguably the world’s most famous film critic. Most people would’ve heard of the ‘two-thumbs-up’/‘thumbs-up, thumbs-down’ ratings from the TV show Siskel and Ebert, or that iconic line ‘I hated, hated, hated this movie’ that would later serve as a title for a collection of Ebert’s essays and reviews of films he (rather strongly) disliked, or that Ebert was the first person to win the Pulitzer Prize for film criticism. But I imagine most casual readers of film criticism, of which the numbers are unfortunately dwindling, are perhaps unaware of the life of Ebert beyond, before, and after Siskel and Ebert and his effect on writing about film and upon the industry. This film details that wonderfully.
Roger Ebert loved movies. Through that shared connection, I, by extension, love Roger Ebert and his reviews. This documentary covers his love (or more famously, his occasional ‘hate’) for cinema and much more in journaling the life of arguably the world’s most famous film critic. Most people would’ve heard of the ‘two-thumbs-up’/‘thumbs-up, thumbs-down’ ratings from the TV show Siskel and Ebert, or that iconic line ‘I hated, hated, hated this movie’ that would later serve as a title for a collection of Ebert’s essays and reviews of films he (rather strongly) disliked, or that Ebert was the first person to win the Pulitzer Prize for film criticism. But I imagine most casual readers of film criticism, of which the numbers are unfortunately dwindling, are perhaps unaware of the life of Ebert beyond, before, and after Siskel and Ebert and his effect on writing about film and upon the industry. This film details that wonderfully.
Medhansh
9.2★ · 06/03/25
Director- Steve James.This is the second film I have seen of him.This is a documentary that sheds light on the journey of Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Roger Ebert.This was a fantastic watch that gave me new information about Ebert's love for big ones.This also shed light on his bouts with illness that I didn't know about, and also showed us how he and Gene Siskel fought during their shows.The interviews with other people made it quite interesting.This also shed light on his marriage and relationship with his wife, which was a nice inclusion.
Director- Steve James.This is the second film I have seen of him.This is a documentary that sheds light on the journey of Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Roger Ebert.This was a fantastic watch that gave me new information about Ebert's love for big ones.This also shed light on his bouts with illness that I didn't know about, and also showed us how he and Gene Siskel fought during their shows.The interviews with other people made it quite interesting.This also shed light on his marriage and relationship with his wife, which was a nice inclusion.
John Flame
6.0★ · 02/10/25
I could listen to Ebert talk for hours, and to an extent, I wish I had done that instead of watching this.
I could listen to Ebert talk for hours, and to an extent, I wish I had done that instead of watching this.
ytfbatumn
God this was sad. What an interesting life though. Some people’s lives lend themselves well to the biographical documentary format and Roger is one of those people.
God this was sad. What an interesting life though. Some people’s lives lend themselves well to the biographical documentary format and Roger is one of those people.