Watch Viola Davis in The Woman King Now on Netflix
Netflix just added The Woman King to its “New,” “Black,” and on “Netflix” slate on February 16.
After making $19 million in the box office during its opening weekend in September 2022, the film has secured the number-one movie spot on Netflix.
Based on a true story, the film, starring Viola Davis and John Boyega, fictionalizes the history of a group of women warriors called the Agojie. The height of their power in West Africa was during the 19th century, known for being some of the fiercest and strongest warriors in history.
After nominations for SAG Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and BAFTA Awards, The Woman King was expected to be in the pool of 2023 Oscar nominees. Controversy sparked after the film was snubbed of an Oscar nomination.
In the history of the Academy Awards, a Black filmmaker has never won or been nominated for best director. The Woman King director Gina Prince-Bythewood told The Hollywood Reporter, “But the Academy made a very loud statement, and for me to stay quiet is to accept that statement. So I agreed to speak up, on behalf of Black women whose work has been dismissed in the past.”
I don’t approve of anyone dragging winners + nominees but you’re seriously kidding yourself if you are saying we are supposed to believe that voters not wanting to watch films like ‘Till,’ ‘The Inspection,’ + ‘The Woman King’ isn’t vastly because of race. The excuse YOU gave of… https://t.co/jYqvbYhqzj
— Nikki Fowler (@NikkiFowler28) February 21, 2023
Films like The Woman King and Till were excluded from the nominations this year. Some believe it’s due to the popularity of the other films, others believe it’s due to systemic racism.
When you say ” regular people” you mean white people. Right? All my life I’ve been witness to 1000s of movies where white people are always and only the center of the story. I have been entranced, educated, and transported by individual performances nevertheless. It’s racism!
— CocoaQueen (@cocoaqueen55) February 22, 2023
Regardless of how popular films like Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar are, The Woman King still had its moment and fans loved it. It currently grosses over $67 million at the box office and scored a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.
If you haven’t seen The Woman King yet, it is now on Netflix for at least the rest of February.
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