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Once Upon a Time in Harlem

Play trailer 2:10 Poster for Once Upon a Time in Harlem PG-13 In Theaters Oct 16 1h 40m Documentary History Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 42 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Verified Ratings
A decade after his death, filmmaker William Greaves's estate releases footage from a 1972 gathering of Harlem Renaissance artists.
Coming Soon In Theaters Oct 16 Buy Tickets
Once Upon a Time in Harlem

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Director David Greaves finishes what his father started with Once Upon a Time in Harlem, a strikingly immersive glimpse into a unique time and place that feels like getting to bask in a community's collective heart.

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Cast & Crew

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David Greaves

Director

William Greaves

Screenwriter

Liani Greaves

Producer

Anne De Mare

Producer

William Greaves

Cinematographer

Lynn True

Film Editor

Critics Reviews

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Dwight Brown DwightBrownInk.com Sep 22, 2026
4/4
Superlative documentary filmmaking. What began 50 years ago arrives right on time. It’s a treasure. A national treasure. Go to Full Review Nick Schager The Daily Beast Sep 16, 2026
A time capsule, history lesson, and heady hangout movie all rolled into one, it’s an invigorated portrait of radical change as the byproduct of art, politics, and roiling intellectual debate. Go to Full Review Jourdain Searles The Hollywood Reporter Feb 13, 2026
But Greaves puts us right in the room with his naturalistic, vérité approach, making us quiet spectators among some of the most influential Black writers, thinkers, artists and entertainers to ever live. Go to Full Review William Stottor Loud and Clear Reviews 1 day ago
4/5
It’s a historical time capsule as important as any film released this century. Go to Full Review Avi Offer NYC Movie Guru 2 days ago
A warm, well-edited and illuminating documentary. Go to Full Review Frank J. Avella The Contending 5 days ago
A-
This is the kind of rich and rewarding work that makes you want to own a copy so you can rewatch it over and over again and pause to look up each person speaking and the celebrated artists they discuss...so you can soak up more knowledge. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
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Once Upon a Time in Harlem

Once Upon a Time in Harlem: Trailer 1 Once Upon a Time in Harlem: Trailer 1 2:10 Now Playing Once Upon a Time in Harlem: Teaser Trailer Once Upon a Time in Harlem: Teaser Trailer 1:22 Now Playing View more videos
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Once Upon a Time in Harlem

Once Upon a Time in Harlem (2026) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A decade after his death, filmmaker William Greaves's estate releases footage from a 1972 gathering of Harlem Renaissance artists.
Director
David Greaves
Producer
Liani Greaves, Anne De Mare
Screenwriter
William Greaves
Distributor
NEON
Production Co
William Greaves Productions
Rating
PG-13 (Strong Racial Language|Brief Partial Nudity|Some Disturbing Images|Smoking)
Genre
Documentary, History
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 16, 2026, Limited
Runtime
1h 40m
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