This documentary dissects a slanderous aspect of cinematic history that has run virtually unchallenged form the earliest days of silent film to today's biggest Hollywood blockbusters. The film explores a long line of degrading images of Arabs--from Bedouin bandits and submissive maidens to sinister sheikhs and gun-wielding "terrorists"--along the way offering devastating insights into the origin of these stereotypic images, their development at key points in US history, and why they matter so much today.
Directed by Jeremy Earp and Sut Jhally
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.5 / 5
Crew
Sut Jhally
Director
Sut Jhally
Editor
Popular Reviews
6 reviews
Jake Sammon
“Washington & Hollywood spring from the DNA”. Shiiiiii
“Washington & Hollywood spring from the DNA”. Shiiiiii
niki
6.0★ · 02/02/26
dude was way too optimistic about the state of the world… noah fence
dude was way too optimistic about the state of the world… noah fence
Charlotte
Watched for one of my college classes; definitely very insightful to how much anti-Arab sentiment there is in American media but I do agree with the critiques that it is very surface level. Overall, I think it is a good starting point to discussing anti-Arab and Islamophobia in film.
Watched for one of my college classes; definitely very insightful to how much anti-Arab sentiment there is in American media but I do agree with the critiques that it is very surface level. Overall, I think it is a good starting point to discussing anti-Arab and Islamophobia in film.
Z
5.2★ · 03/07/24
Frank Herbert would love this
Frank Herbert would love this
Nick
6.0★ · 02/24/26
Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People (2006) | Flick
