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Critical Thinking , Movie About Miami Jackson's Chess Champs, Available for Download

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Critical Thinking Movie True Story Where Are They Now

Critical Thinking is a 2020 American drama film directed by John Leguizamo, which tells the true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team that won the 1998 U.S. National Chess Championship against all odds. The movie follows the journey of five talented and diverse students from an underprivileged neighborhood in Miami as they navigate the challenges of competing in the world of competitive chess.

While Critical Thinking is a fictionalized account of the real-life events that took place in 1998, many viewers may be curious about where the real members of the Miami Jackson High School chess team are today. In this article, we will explore the true story behind the movie and provide updates on where the real-life individuals are now. Additionally, we will delve into some interesting facts about the film that may surprise you.

1. The Real-Life Characters

In the movie Critical Thinking, the characters portrayed by actors are based on real individuals who were part of the Miami Jackson High School chess team in 1998. Some of the key players include:

– Marcel Martinez: Played by Jorge Lendeborg Jr. in the film, Marcel was the team captain and a talented chess player who led his team to victory.

– Ito Paniagua: Played by Angel Bismark Curiel, Ito was a skilled chess player who contributed to the team’s success.

– Rodelay Medina: Played by Will Hochman, Rodelay was another key member of the team who played a crucial role in their championship win.

– Rene Martinez: Played by Jeffry Batista, Rene was Marcel’s younger brother and a talented chess player in his own right.

– Gil Luna: Played by John Leguizamo, Gil was the team’s dedicated coach who believed in his students and helped them achieve their full potential.

2. Where Are They Now?

Since the events depicted in the movie took place over 20 years ago, many of the real individuals involved have moved on to pursue different paths in life. While some have remained involved in the world of chess, others have pursued careers in various fields. Here is an update on where some of the real members of the Miami Jackson High School chess team are today:

– Marcel Martinez: After leading his team to victory in 1998, Marcel went on to pursue a career in computer science and currently works as a software engineer in Miami.

– Ito Paniagua: Ito continued to play chess competitively for several years after high school and now works as a math teacher at a local school in Miami.

– Rodelay Medina: Rodelay pursued a career in law enforcement and currently works as a police officer in Miami.

– Rene Martinez: Rene followed in his brother’s footsteps and also pursued a career in computer science. He currently works as a software developer in Miami.

– Gil Luna: While Gil no longer coaches a chess team, he remains involved in the world of chess and volunteers at local schools to teach the game to young students.

3. Chess as a Tool for Success

One of the central themes of Critical Thinking is the idea that chess can be a powerful tool for success, especially for individuals coming from underprivileged backgrounds. The movie highlights how the discipline, critical thinking skills, and strategic thinking required in chess can be applied to various aspects of life, including academics, career, and personal development.

4. The Importance of Mentorship

Another key aspect of Critical Thinking is the role of mentorship in helping individuals achieve their full potential. Gil Luna, the coach of the Miami Jackson High School chess team, serves as a mentor to the students and helps them navigate the challenges they face both on and off the chessboard. His guidance, support, and belief in the team are instrumental in their success.

5. Overcoming Adversity

The members of the Miami Jackson High School chess team faced numerous obstacles on their journey to the national championship, including financial struggles, personal challenges, and societal stereotypes. Despite these adversities, they persevered and ultimately emerged victorious, proving that with determination, hard work, and belief in oneself, anything is possible.

6. The Power of Teamwork

Critical Thinking also emphasizes the importance of teamwork and collaboration in achieving success. The members of the chess team must work together, support each other, and trust in one another’s abilities in order to succeed. Through their collective efforts, they are able to overcome their individual limitations and achieve greatness as a team.

7. The Legacy of the Miami Jackson High School Chess Team

The victory of the Miami Jackson High School chess team in the 1998 U.S. National Chess Championship left a lasting impact on the school, the community, and the world of competitive chess. The team’s success inspired other underprivileged schools to invest in chess programs and highlighted the potential for students from all backgrounds to excel in the game.

8. Critical Thinking as a Tribute

Critical Thinking serves as a tribute to the real individuals who were part of the Miami Jackson High School chess team in 1998 and celebrates their achievements, resilience, and spirit of determination. The movie honors their legacy and reminds viewers of the power of education, mentorship, and the human spirit in overcoming challenges and achieving greatness.

9. The Message of Critical Thinking

At its core, Critical Thinking delivers a powerful message about the importance of critical thinking, perseverance, and the belief in oneself. The movie encourages viewers to think outside the box, challenge conventional wisdom, and pursue their goals with passion and determination. It serves as a reminder that success is not defined by one’s circumstances but by one’s mindset and willingness to overcome obstacles.

In conclusion, Critical Thinking is a powerful and inspiring film that tells the true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team and their remarkable journey to victory. The movie highlights the importance of critical thinking, mentorship, teamwork, and perseverance in achieving success, and serves as a tribute to the real individuals who made it all possible. While the events depicted in the film took place over two decades ago, the legacy of the Miami Jackson High School chess team lives on, inspiring others to believe in themselves, pursue their dreams, and strive for greatness.

Common Questions about Critical Thinking:

1. Is Critical Thinking based on a true story?

Yes, Critical Thinking is based on the true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team that won the 1998 U.S. National Chess Championship.

2. Who were the real members of the Miami Jackson High School chess team?

The real members of the Miami Jackson High School chess team included Marcel Martinez, Ito Paniagua, Rodelay Medina, Rene Martinez, and their coach Gil Luna.

3. Where are the real members of the Miami Jackson High School chess team now?

Marcel Martinez works as a software engineer, Ito Paniagua is a math teacher, Rodelay Medina is a police officer, Rene Martinez is a software developer, and Gil Luna volunteers as a chess instructor.

4. What is the central theme of Critical Thinking?

The central theme of Critical Thinking is the idea that chess can be a powerful tool for success, especially for individuals coming from underprivileged backgrounds.

5. What role does mentorship play in the movie?

Mentorship plays a crucial role in Critical Thinking, with Gil Luna serving as a mentor to the Miami Jackson High School chess team and helping them achieve their full potential.

6. How does the movie address the theme of overcoming adversity?

Critical Thinking highlights how the members of the Miami Jackson High School chess team overcome financial struggles, personal challenges, and societal stereotypes to achieve success.

7. Why is teamwork important in Critical Thinking?

Teamwork is essential in Critical Thinking as the members of the chess team must work together, support each other, and trust in one another’s abilities to succeed.

8. What is the legacy of the Miami Jackson High School chess team?

The victory of the Miami Jackson High School chess team in the 1998 U.S. National Chess Championship inspired other schools to invest in chess programs and highlighted the potential for students from all backgrounds to excel in the game.

9. What message does Critical Thinking deliver to viewers?

Critical Thinking delivers a message about the importance of critical thinking, perseverance, and belief in oneself in achieving success.

10. How does the movie honor the real individuals who inspired it?

Critical Thinking serves as a tribute to the real members of the Miami Jackson High School chess team and celebrates their achievements, resilience, and spirit of determination.

11. What impact did the victory of the Miami Jackson High School chess team have on the community?

The victory of the Miami Jackson High School chess team inspired others to believe in themselves, pursue their dreams, and strive for greatness.

12. What lessons can viewers take away from Critical Thinking?

Viewers can take away lessons about the power of education, mentorship, teamwork, and perseverance in overcoming challenges and achieving greatness.

13. Why is Critical Thinking an important film to watch?

Critical Thinking is an important film to watch as it highlights the potential for individuals from all backgrounds to achieve success through critical thinking, mentorship, and teamwork.

14. How does Critical Thinking inspire viewers to think differently?

Critical Thinking inspires viewers to think outside the box, challenge conventional wisdom, and pursue their goals with passion and determination.

15. What is the lasting impact of Critical Thinking on its audience?

The lasting impact of Critical Thinking on its audience is a reminder of the power of the human spirit in overcoming obstacles and achieving greatness.

16. What makes Critical Thinking a unique and compelling film?

Critical Thinking is unique and compelling in its portrayal of real-life events, themes of mentorship and teamwork, and messages of perseverance and belief in oneself.

17. How does Critical Thinking honor the legacy of the Miami Jackson High School chess team?

Critical Thinking honors the legacy of the Miami Jackson High School chess team by telling their story, celebrating their achievements, and inspiring others to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams.

In summary, Critical Thinking is a powerful and inspiring film that tells the true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team and their journey to victory. The movie highlights the importance of critical thinking, mentorship, teamwork, and perseverance in achieving success, and serves as a tribute to the real individuals who made it all possible. By watching Critical Thinking, viewers can be inspired to believe in themselves, think differently, and strive for greatness in their own lives.

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In the press materials for “Critical Thinking,” producer Carla Berkowitz drops this line about her reaction to reading the true story that inspired the film: “The image and story was haunting and I felt like I had a quantum shift in my perception of chess and who plays it.” The who in question are five Miami-area Black and Latino men who, along with their teacher, Mr. Martinez, brought back to their underprivileged Florida neighborhood the U.S. National Chess Championship. This happened in 1998. The film chronicles the loving camaraderie of the players and the events leading up to their victory.

In that same press release, acclaimed writer and actor John Leguizamo , who plays Martinez and also directs, states that he wanted to make this film because there were very few representations of Latin people on-screen when he was growing up. He also mentioned that the book The Bell Curve  harmfully depicted people of color as being mentally inferior due to our genetics. I wondered if, like me, Leguizamo grew up in an environment where the Black and brown people he knew played chess, so that it wouldn’t seem unusual nor an anomaly that they did. Because Berkowitz’s statement really made me consider what exactly the standard issue chess player was supposed to look like.

Chess has appeared in a lot of movies, from Boaz Yakin ’s “ Fresh ” to Steven Zaillian ’s “Searching for Bobby Fisher” to 2016’s superb Mira Nair film, “ Queen of Katwe .” I even remember it being prevalent in a crappy Gary Coleman TV movie about a smart Black kid. The game always carries the same symbolic qualifier: the person who plays it has a mental capacity for strategy and is intelligent. Chess is often employed to teach life lessons in these movies, to the point where it has become a cliché that just so happens to be used differently depending on who’s playing it. This difference is something that I admit often sticks in my craw, so I found myself wrestling a bit with this movie even though it seemed to be addressing my concern.

Unlike Zaillian’s film, which I guess answers my question of what a “standard issue” chess player is supposed to look like, the protagonists in the other films I’ve mentioned, and in “Critical Thinking,” are people of color whose economical circumstances are far from ideal. This tends to be the model when minorities are seen playing chess in films, which bends the cinematic chess player cliché toward making the ability to play the game the audience’s reason to offer empathy. Sure, they’re broke, probably in crime-ridden areas and may even do a crime or two, but see, they’re smart, so it’s OK to feel for them! This line of thinking has to do with who stereotypically plays chess and who does not.

Leguizamo’s Mr. Martinez speaks to this early in “Critical Thinking” by asking why chess is never associated with brown people despite a Latin man playing a major role in its evolution. “Why don’t you think we know about him?” he asks the students in his critical thinking class before delivering a great, pointed monologue that speaks about how history is taught in schools. The script by Dito Montiel has some sharp commentary about the education system, from what gets funded to the over-reliance on test scores to the differences between Martinez’s inner city school and the posh preppy institutions who fall victim to our heroes on the tournament circuit. There’s a bit more bite than you may be expecting, and the writing is just prickly enough to balance out the moments when the film dives headfirst into its tropes. And there are numerous tropes to swim in; not only is this a sports movie, it’s also an entry in the “Beloved Teacher” genre.

Our chess champion team is comprised of Sedrick Roundtree ( Corwin C. Tuggles ), Ito Paniagua (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.), Gil Luna ( Will Hochman ), Rodelay Medina (Angel Curiel) and later, Marcel Martinez ( Jeffry Batista ) who joins the team after dispensing a hustler’s ass-whipping in a speed chess match. Their dialogue is peppered with the language the PG-13 won’t allow but realism will. Martinez is often telling them “watch your mouth” in his class, even if, in his less guarded moments, he’s prone to occasional profanity. Leguizamo gets good performances from each of them, especially in moments where you really feel the bond between teammates, both in the tournaments and in the streets. When they tell each other that they’ve got each other’s backs, there’s a real emotional pull that emanates straight from the actors.

Though this is an inspirational movie, Leguizamo and Montiel never sugarcoat the dangers of the environment their characters inhabit. The potential for violence, temporary homelessness, crime, and police harassment are always hovering in the margins, sometimes even invading the safe space of Martinez’s class or the school. An early sequence that shockingly ends in violence shows how good Leguizamo is at quickly establishing the audience’s tie to a character. When Rivera (Dre C) is thrown into critical thinking class after a disciplinary problem (“my class is not detention!” Martinez yells at frenemy Principal Kesler [ Rachel Bay Jones ]), he immediately runs afoul of Ito. Rivera’s lack of response is due to Spanish being his primary language, which may also have something to do with the infraction that got him sent to this class. Martinez talks to him in Spanish, lectures Ito and all seems well.

Rivera is then brutally assassinated in broad daylight after accidentally bumping into another person on the street. The film is barely 15 minutes old when this happens, but it immediately establishes that “Critical Thinking” has no plans of abandoning reality for its feel-good message. That sense of realism extends to the way the characters bond with, rib, and defend each other. Additionally, Leguizamo plays Martinez as someone who understands the temptations and frustrations of his students’ world. He challenges them to do for themselves because he knows all too well that the system has no intention of lending a helping hand.

Like Nair does in “Queen of Katwe,” Leguizamo also blatantly refuses to impose on poverty any notions of shame or requests for pity. “Chess is the great equalizer,” Martinez tells his team as they navigate snooty tournament heads and appearances against challengers from much posher ‘hoods. Even when things get expectedly dire for some of the characters, “Critical Thinking” remains focused on the characters’ response to the situation, never once stripping them of their dignity for cheap emotional manipulation.

Of all the team members, Sedrick has the most detailed arc. He has a girlfriend, Chanayah ( Zora Casebere ), who is supportive and tougher than she looks, and a father ( Michael Kenneth Williams ) whose sole job here is to fill that chess movie trope of the angry guy who uses chess as a means of brutal domination. Williams is an always welcome presence, but I could have done without him. Still, there is one very good moment where he shows some growth, and his son makes a snide comment that he silently acknowledges as being right.

The chess scenes are good even if you know nothing about chess. I’ve been playing since I was five, so of course I wanted more detailed representations than Leguizamo provides. I found his classroom lessons and the team’s banter about moves fascinating, and every time I was given a good look at a chessboard, I got closer to the screen to investigate. And yet, despite its acknowledgement of my aforementioned issues, I still felt a little itchy watching “Critical Thinking.” I am always game for a movie that makes me reckon with my personal feelings and biases, and I’m glad this one exists because representation will always speak volumes. If nothing else, “Critical Thinking” reminds you what a chess player can look like.

Odie Henderson

Odie "Odienator" Henderson has spent over 33 years working in Information Technology. He runs the blogs Big Media Vandalism and Tales of Odienary Madness. Read his answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire  here .

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Film credits.

Critical Thinking (2020)

117 minutes

John Leguizamo as Mario Martinez

Rachel Bay Jones as Principal Kestel

Michael Kenneth Williams as Mr. Roundtree

Corwin C. Tuggles as Sedrick Roundtree

Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Ito Paniagua

Angel Bismark Curiel as Rodelay Medina

Will Hochman as Gil Luna

Jeffry Batista as Marcel Martinez

Zora Casebere as Chanayah

• John Leguizamo
• Dito Montiel

Cinematographer

• Zach Zamboni
• Jamie Kirkpatrick
• Chris Hajian

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Critical thinking.

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Common Sense Media Review

Underdog chess team defies odds but plays into stereotypes.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Critical Thinking is a fact-based drama about a high school chess team from an underserved community that defies the odds to make it to the U.S. National Chess Championship. Directed by and starring John Leguizamo, the movie has frequent swearing ("f--k," "s--t," etc.), underage…

Why Age 14+?

Frequent use of the words "f--k," "s--t," and "ass."

Frequent gun use. One character is abruptly shot and killed. Another character i

Adults get drunk. Underage characters smoke cigarettes. Drug dealing.

Occasional kissing.

Any Positive Content?

Positive themes of teamwork and defiance against the odds are prevalent. While i

Main characters are depicted as underdogs whose success goes against everyone's

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Violence & Scariness

Frequent gun use. One character is abruptly shot and killed. Another character is punched and strangled to death. Parents emotionally abuse children.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Positive themes of teamwork and defiance against the odds are prevalent. While it exposes some of the broken systems in public education, it fails to fully portray its teen characters' humanity, contributing to problematic stereotypes.

Positive Role Models

Main characters are depicted as underdogs whose success goes against everyone's expectations. Some show determination, but most play into stereotypes associated with Black and Latinx teens from under-resourced communities -- i.e., unmotivated, unintelligent jokesters. That makes it seem like their success is because of some paradoxical talent instead of their strength of character. Failure to see these kids' humanity contributes to their stereotyping, on-screen and off.

Parents need to know that Critical Thinking is a fact-based drama about a high school chess team from an underserved community that defies the odds to make it to the U.S. National Chess Championship. Directed by and starring John Leguizamo , the movie has frequent swearing ("f--k," "s--t," etc.), underage cigarette smoking, drug dealing, punching, strangling, and gun violence that results in death. Parents emotionally abuse children. While positive themes of teamwork and overcoming challenges are prevalent, the movie's Black and Latinx teens are stereotypically depicted as unintelligent with little work ethic and their success as an anomaly. Rachel Bay Jones and Michael Kenneth Williams co-star. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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What's the Story?

In CRITICAL THINKING, teacher Mr. T ( John Leguizamo ) oversees an unofficial detention hall at Miami Jackson Senior High School, where students are sent if they're deemed troublesome. Mr. T seizes the opportunity to start a chess team, all while navigating limited resources, a school with little faith in his students' abilities, and the stressors of his students' turbulent personal lives. When the team starts to succeed, the students come up with creative fundraisers to pay for travel and lodging at their competitions. But none of this is easy. One teen faces pressures at home from an emotionally abusive father who resents his son's talents. Another is pulled into dealing drugs to make ends meet. All the while, Mr. T is the loving, encouraging adult they crave.

Is It Any Good?

This drama is the classic story of an underdog team overcoming the odds and making it all the way; unfortunately, it falls back on stereotypical characterizations to tell its tale. The Miami Jackson team seems to be in this position because its members -- Black and Latinx teens from under-resourced communities -- have historically underestimated identities. The film plays on the biases that are often held about these identities by depicting the teens as shiftless and unfocused. They're careless in their fundraising efforts, they try to pass notes during tournaments, and they use the threat of physical violence to intimidate their opponents.

Their chess skills are an afterthought, making their success feel like an anomaly. And it certainly doesn't help that a White teen joins the team as they gain momentum and becomes their shining star -- teaching the other kids new chess moves and giving them vocabulary lessons. He's the only teen character whose background, personal life, and stressors aren't explored. So while Critical Thinking is diverse in its casting and exposes some of the broken systems in public education, it misses the mark in humanizing its characters. The failure to see these kids' humanity contributes to their stereotyping, on-screen and off.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how Critical Thinking handles stereotypes and biases. Can media offer positive representations while still promoting stereotypical characterizations?

What does Critical Thinking teach viewers about student engagement and the importance of teaching things in a fun way?

What role does teamwork play in Critical Thinking ? Why is it an important character strength ?

Movie Details

• In theaters : September 4, 2020
• On DVD or streaming : September 4, 2020
• Cast : John Leguizamo , Rachel Bay Jones , Michael Kenneth Williams
• Director : John Leguizamo
• Inclusion Information : Latino directors, Latino actors, Female actors
• Studio : Vertical Entertainment
• Genre : Drama
• Topics : High School
• Character Strengths : Teamwork
• Run time : 117 minutes
• MPAA rating : NR
• Last updated : February 19, 2023

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Critical Thinking

‘Critical Thinking’ Review: John Leguizamo’s Inspirational High-School Chess Drama

The true story of the Miami Jackson High chess team — five brainy wizards from the inner city — is told in a rousing but conventional way.

By Owen Gleiberman

Owen Gleiberman

Chief Film Critic

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“ Critical Thinking ” is one of those up-from-the-streets high-school competition movies where just mentioning the true story it’s based on kind of gives the game away. Set in 1998, it’s about the five chess wizards from Miami Jackson High who became the first inner-city chess team to win the National Championship. Boom! But, of course, it’s how they got there that matters, and even if this movie weren’t based on a true story, you’d know more or less know where it’s going. “Critical Thinking” has some appealing young actors, and it’s been directed, by John Leguizamo (who costars as the film’s tough-saint teacher), in a way that gives them the space to clown around and then get serious. It’s still, in the end, a bit of a connect-the-inspirational-dots movie, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be inspired.

Leguizamo plays Mario Martinez, who teaches an elective class in chess at Miami Jackson, where his students call him “Mr. T.” They’re a rowdy, bellicose, street-smart bunch, hard to control in class, so at first we think we’re seeing one of those movies, like “Stand and Deliver” or “To Sir, with Love,” about a captivatingly square gadfly instructor who shows a bunch of underprivileged kids how to transcend the expectations (or lack thereof) that have been thrust upon them.

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In a way, “Critical Thinking” is one of those movies, though with a crucial caveat: The basic training — the intellectual whipping into shape — has all happened before the drama even starts. Martinez, in his thankless underpaid plaid-shirts-off-the-rack way, is beloved by his students, and he has taught them well; they’re chess players who’ve got the game in their blood. (It’s the only thing that gets them to settle down .) Leguizamo, who spent a number of his early one-man stage shows sketching in (often quite brilliantly) the lives of young people from a similar background, knows how to create scenes that bubble with spontaneity. And he himself plays Martinez with an effusive, slightly weary middle-aged demeanor that’s touching, because what he nails is the unabashed corniness of certain great high-school teachers — their willingness to put on a show for their kids, to turn the life of the mind into energized nerd theater.

At one point, using the magnetic chess board at the front of the class, he plays out a chess match authored (and recorded) by Paul Morphy in 1858, and he makes it sound as exciting as something on Roblox. He employs silly accents (Southern, French, Austrian) and puts on wigs and fake beards to enact the game, and he draws the kids into it, challenging them in his geek-with-cool-slang way (“Why is it a wack move, Sedrick? Don’t just talk to me, man, show me!”).

It’s one of the only scenes where we actually witness the mechanics of chess, and while that’s always a challenge for a chess drama (there’s only so much it can lure the lay audience into the heady intricacies of the game), I wish the students’ connection with chess were less of a given, and a little less abstract. Watching “Critical Thinking,” you’d never even know that the art of chess is rooted in thinking several moves ahead. Yet Leguizamo stages the matches with percussive power, the kids pounding their time clocks even as their eyes burrow into the board like lasers.

Much of the film’s appeal lies in the way it revels in chess as a pure symbol of leveling the playing field of opportunity. As Mr. T explains, chess is “the great equalizer.” It doesn’t matter how rich or poor you are, what Ivy League college or prison you’re in: The elemental nature of the game shears away everything but intellectual ability. So in a drama like “Critical Thinking,” where five students (four Latinx and one African-American) bust out of a high school with limited resources to attend a series of tournaments, there’s a democracy-in-action, anyone-can-win-in-America spirit.

The actors are terrific; the roles, as written, less so. Leguizamo is working from a script, by Dito Montiel, that walks the line between lived-in experience and overboiled cliché. Sedrick is played by Corwin Tuggles, who has a great pensive face, and he lends conviction to the character’s struggles at home. But it still feels like a contrivance that his father (Michael Kenneth Williams), an angry curmudgeon who treats his son’s chess victories as if they were beneath contempt, is also…the guy who plays chess with him every day! The other pivotal character is the canny hothead Ito (Jorge Lendeborg Jr,.), who begins to moonlight as a drug dealer, and though it’s not that we don’t buy it, it plays out like one of those obligatory flirtation-with-delinquency subplots from the 1980s.

There’s also a newly arrived immigrant from Cuba who joins the class — a sleek prodigy named Marcel (Jeffrey Batista), who can play (and win) four simultaneous games with his eyes closed. Always good to have someone like that on your team! As likable an actor as Leguizamo is, “Critical Thinking” never generates the teacher/student face-off intensity that “Stand and Deliver” did. The issue of how the team members fund their trips, with Martinez having to win over a skeptical principal (Rachel Bay Jones), creates some tension along the sidelines, yet once these kids start to win their tournaments it seems like they can do no wrong. The picture is pleasant enough, but watching it you’re always one or two moves ahead.

Related: 

Reviewed online, Aug. 31, 2020. MPAA Rating: Not rated. Running time: 113 MIN.

• Production: A Vertical Entertainment release of a Chaplin/Berkowitz production, in association with NRSP, Cinema Veritas. Producers: Scott Rosenfelt, Jason Mandl. Executive producers: Harvey R. Chaplin, Carla Berkowitz, Emilio Estefan Jr.
• Crew: Director: John Leguizamo. Screenplay: Dito Montiel. Camera: Zach Zambone. Editor: Jamie Kirkpatrick. Music: Chris Hajian.
• With: John Leguizamo, Corwin Tuggles, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Will Hochman, Angel Curiel, Jeffrey Batista, Michael Kenneth Williams, Rachel Bay Jones, Zora Casebere.

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CULTURE MIX

Where Lifestyle Cultures Blend

Review: ‘Critical Thinking,’ starring John Leguizamo, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Angel Bismark Curiel, Corwin Tuggles, Will Hochman, Rachel Bay Jones and Michael Kenneth Williams

Arts and Entertainment

Angel Bismark Curiel , Corwin Tuggles , Critical Thinking , drama , Jeffry Batista , John Leguizamo , Jorge Lendeborg Jr. , Miami , Michael Kenneth Williams , movies , Rachel Bay Jones , reviews , Will Hochman , Zora Casebere

September 5, 2020

by Carla Hay

“Critical Thinking”

Directed by John Leguizamo

Culture Representation:  Taking place primarily in Miami in 1998, the drama “Critical Thinking” has a racially diverse cast (Latino, African American and white people) representing the working-class and middle-class.

Culture Clash:  A dedicated teacher in a tough Miami school encourages his students to learn how to play chess to boost their learning skills, even though they live in an area where some people pressure the students to become school dropouts and criminals. 

Culture Audience: “Critical Thinking” will appeal primarily to people who like feel-good stories about people who overcome obstacles, despite having the odds stacked against them .

There have been many movies about underestimated students, led by an inspirational teacher, who go on to achieve a certain goal together. In these movies, the students are usually underprivileged or disadvantaged in some way when they go up against people who are more privileged and have more advantages than the “underdogs” have. “Critical Thinking” (which is a very bland title for a movie that’s actually quite good) takes this concept and makes a slightly above-average movie, even though it hits a lot of familiar tonal beats that lead to a very predictable ending.

John Leguizamo not only stars in “Critical Thinking,” but he also makes his theatrical-release feature-film directorial debut with the movie, which is based on true events about a group of underprivileged students who competed in a national chess championship. Under his solid direction, “Critical Thinking” has some moments that are less cliché than others. Dito Montiel’s screenplay for “Critical Thinking” doesn’t clutter the movie with too many backstories, although it leaves the impression that the teacher gave higher priority and more attention to the male students than the female students.

In “Critical Thinking,” which takes primarily in place in Miami, it’s 1998 at Miami Jackson High School, where many students are from financially deprived homes in crime-ridden neighborhoods. Mario Martinez (played by Leguizamo) is a teacher for an elective class called Critical Thinking. Mario knows his class is often a dumping ground where delinquent students are sent, but that doesn’t stop him from fighting for the type of respect (and budget) that the financially strapped school gives to regular classes.

Mario’s boss is school principal Ms. Kestel (played by Rachel Bay Jones), a hard-nosed cynic who has an air of racial condescension about her when she deals with Mario and the school’s students, who are mostly people of color. Ms. Kestel comes across as someone who wants everyone to think she’s doing her part to help underprivileged kids, but she’s the type that thinks she’s too good to actually mix with people of color in her personal life.

The threat of violence is always a danger to many of the school’s students. A Spanish-speaking immigrant student who is transferred into Mario’s class doesn’t attend the class for very long, because he gets shot and killed on the street by a local gangster over a petty misunderstanding. Ms. Kestel has this reaction when she and Mario talk about the murder: “While unfortunate, it’s not a total shock anymore.” This police investigation into the murder becomes a subplot to the movie, since one of Mario’s students witnessed the crime, but he doesn’t want to snitch on the gangster.

Meanwhile, life has to go on in Mario’s class, where he teaches a hodgepodge of topics, including art, literature, history and philosophy. The favorite thing he likes to teach is chess. He encourages his students to “dig deeper than your dusty old Britannica encyclopedia” and find things that aren’t taught in textbooks.

He’s not shy about telling his students that influential people of color have often been erased from history because white men were in charge of writing history books for centuries. Mario is aware he could get in trouble for this kind of talk in the classroom, so he peeks outside the classroom door first to make sure that a white co-worker such as Ms. Kestel isn’t lurking nearby to possibly overhear him. On the subject of chess, Mario tells his students, “How come we don’t know that chess was invented in India, perfected in Persia and modernized by a [Puerto Rican] guy named Maura?”

Mario shows the students how chess can help in all aspects of life because it involves the skill of thinking ahead and strategizing. Although he has about 30 students in his classroom on any given day, there are four (and then later five) students who end up being the focus of the story, since they’re the chosen ones for the school’s chess team.

Sedrick Roundtree (played by Corwin Tuggles) is the unofficial student leader of the chess team and the one most likely to encourage the others when they feel defeated. Even before he took Mario’s class, Sedrick was an avid chess player. Sedrick has an unassuming confidence about himself that most people respect.

Oelmy “Ito” Paniagua (played by Jorge Lendeborg Jr.) has a big rebellious streak and is Sedrick’s closest friend. Ito doesn’t really think chess is cool until Sedrick convinces him to join the school’s chess team. Ito is also the student in this chess group who’s most likely to be tempted into joining a gang or becoming a drug dealer. It’s hinted at, but not shown, that Ito comes from an abusive home.

Rodelay “Roddy” Medina (played by Angel Bismark Curiel) is the group’s jokester. He dislikes confrontation and arguments, and he gets easily hurt if he thinks his friends are disloyal. Just like Sedrick, Roddy has a passion for chess and is highly competitive when it comes to the game.

Gil Luna (played by Will Hochman) is the quietest and most mellow member of the group. Although he has a Latino name, he can easily pass for being white. His apparent “whiteness” makes him the target of some teasing by the darker-skinned members of the group, but the teasing is never mean-spirited. All of the members of the group end up getting teased or taunted by one another at some point.

Much later in the story, a fifth student joins the chess team. His name is Marcel Martinez (played by Jeffry Batista), a Cuban immigrant who doesn’t know much English. Sedrick recruited Marcel to enroll in the school and join the chess team, after Sedrick and Roddy were playing some chess in Domino Park, invited some local people to pay chess with them, and were blown away by Marcel’s extraordinary talent. There’s a scene in the movie where Marcel can play chess with multiple people at a time, with his back turned to them and without looking at the chessboard, and by calling out the moves that he wants to play.

Sedrick is also the only student whose unhappy home life is shown in the movie. He lives with his alcoholic widower father (played by Michael Kenneth Williams), whose first name is never revealed in the movie. Sedrick father, when he’s not passed out drunk, frequently gets angry and picks fights with Sedrick.

The only time that Sedrick and his father bond is when they play chess together, but his father is a sore loser. Sedrick’s mother was killed by a hit-and-run accident that Sedrick witnessed when he was 6 years old. It’s obvious that he and his father haven’t been able to grieve or talk about her death in a way that can help them heal from the trauma of their loss.

When Sedrick’s father hears about Sedrick being on the school’s chess team, he scoffs at Sedrick and tells him it’s a waste of time because chess isn’t the kind of thing that most people can do as a job. And his father gets even more irritated when Sedrick’s chess team starts competing with other schools’ chess teams. Although it’s never said out loud, it’s clear that Sedrick’s father didn’t have an opportunity to be part of a school chess team that got to travel to different competitions, and he’s jealous and resentful that Sedrick is doing what he never got to do.

Although “Critical Thinking” has some heavy issues, such as gang violence, alcoholism and abusive homes, the movie also has some humor—namely, the camaraderie that the boys have with each other, especially when Roddy is around. And in a rarity for a movie about high-school students, dating isn’t really the cause of any of the angst or conflict in the story, because the boys are so focused on chess. Sedrick is the only one in the group who has a girlfriend. Her name is Chanayah (played by Zora Casebere), and she attends the same school, but she’s written as a fairly minor character.

In fact, the movie’s biggest flaw is how the female students in the movie are essentially written as background characters, with the implication being that the female students weren’t good enough to be on Mario’s chosen chess team. It’s not clear if the girls in his class aren’t interested in chess or if Mario didn’t think they were worth encouraging as much as he encourages the male students to be on the chess team.

Whatever the case, there’s definitely more than a whiff of sexism about how this chess team was assembled—and the gender imbalance is all the more noticeable when Miami Jackson High School’s chess team competes against other schools who have plenty of girls on their chess teams. That’s not to say that the movie needed to rewrite history and put girls on the Miami Jackson team, which was apparently an all-male team in real life in 1998. But the screenplay should have at least addressed why none of the girls in Mario’s class ended up on the team.

Another big question left unanswered in the movie is: “What is Mario’s own background and why did he want to become a teacher?” In one of his many “tough love” lectures to his chosen chess students when they get discouraged or act too rowdy, Mario hints that he also comes from a troubled and tough background like they do. But that’s as far as it goes. No further details are given about what kind of man Mario is when he’s not working as a teacher. There’s no “home life” shown for any of the movie’s characters except for Sedrick.

“Critical Thinking” is not a disappointing movie, but parts of the story could have done more to fill in some blanks. For example, something happens to Ito toward the end of the film and the outcome is never fully explained. If not for the acting of the main cast members, several parts of “Critical Thinking” would be quite boring to watch. Leguizamo’s fast-talking, sometime wisecracking persona serves him well in this role, since Mario is supposed to be an unconventional teacher who can relate to his students.

Lendeborg (as Ito) and Curiel (as Roddy) also stand out in their roles. Ito is a tough guy who doesn’t want to show his vulnerabilities, while Roddy is a vulnerable guy who doesn’t want to be so tough that he alienates his friends. Both portrayals are nuanced and worth watching, since these two characters are more than just generic roles.

Tuggles (as Sedrick) also does a commendable performance, particularly in some emotionally raw scenes that Sedrick has with his father. Williams is a very good actor, but he’s had many roles in movies and TV shows where he’s a guy with a mean streak/bad temper, so there’s really nothing new or noteworthy that Williams does in this movie.

“Critical Thinking” is worth a look for people who want to see a real-life inspirational story portrayed in a familiar way. The believable performances from most of the cast go a long way in preventing the movie from sinking into forgettable mediocrity. With “Critical Thinking,” Leguizamo also has proved that he can do well as a director who makes very good casting choices and who has a knack for telling a crowd-pleasing story.

Vertical Entertainment released “Critical Thinking” in select U.S. virtual cinemas, on digital and on VOD on September 4, 2020.

Critical Thinking: Is the 2020 Movie Based on Real Chess Players?

Directed by John Leguizamo, ‘Critical Thinking’ is a 2020 sports film that follows a group of kids from Miami Jackson High School trying to win the National Chess Championship. Led by Mario Martinez, the team comprises Sedrick Roundtree, Marcel Martinez, Gilbert Luna, Rodelay Medina, and Olemy Paniagua. The five boys come from the inner parts of Miami, where the families strive daily for necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing. Coach Mario Martinez sees their interest in chess as an opportunity for growth and sets out on a quest to create history.

Set in 1998, the film portrays what it’s like to come from underprivileged backgrounds and how classism deprives poor people of great opportunities. In addition, the narrative tackles subjects such as racism and juvenile crimes and depicts how the latter results from several other factors in a system that doesn’t uplift the downtrodden. The various characters and backdrops feel authentic and allow the audience to empathize with the people they see onscreen. The compelling performances and organic character journeys have made many wonder if the the story is rooted in reality. Well, allow us to shed some light on the matter.

Critical Thinking: Based on True Events

Yes, ‘Critical Thinking’ is a true story. Written by Dito Montiel and directed by John Leguizamo, the movie captures the events leading up to the 1998 National Chess Championship. It showcases how Mario Martinez and his team of boys from Miami Jackson High School won the title. The group is also the first-ever team from Miami to win the national title in chess . Executive producer, Carla Berkowitz, came up with this idea when she read an article in 1997 about the boys of Miami Jackson. She wanted to tell the story of all these boys doing such incredible things in the chess world with Mario Martinez’s help.

Interestingly the movie is quite close to how the events unfolded in real life. All 5 players in the movie are based on real-life chess players. Even the character of Coach Mario Martinez in the film has a real-life counterpart, who is a chess teacher . The real-life figures also played a significant role in the filming process. In an interview with CineMovie, Carla Berkowitz said , “All the boys that were portrayed and Mario obviously were the consultants in the chess movie.”

Another fascinating aspect is that Berkowitz wanted to make the movie for about two decades. Although filming began in 2018, Carla Berkowitz has been in touch with all players and Mario Martinez since 1997. While describing the movie’s accuracy, the real Mario Martinez and Carla Berkowitz mentioned a few things. First, all games we see the players play in the movie were played by their real-life counterparts. Second, Marcel’s book of chess moves also existed in real life. Third, the scene where Marcel plays with Mario, Sedrick, Roddy, and Gil, with his eyes closed, happened in reality too.

Numerous events in the movie mirror circumstances that transpired in reality, which elevates the narrative’s authenticity. ‘Critical Thinking’ is far more than a chess championship for Mario Martinez and the boys. The group comes from a place where they have nothing but want to create a better life for themselves. However, the boys do not get a fair shot at anything due to racial discrimination and financial circumstances. Coach Martinez sees chess as an opportunity and a metaphor for their life.

At the film’s beginning, Martinez says that chess is an equalizer that puts everyone on a level playing field. In fact, the teacher solves almost every problem with a chess move because he considers the game symbolic of life. The ideology comes from the real-life coach. In an interview with Orlando Sentinel, he said , “Chess is a way of looking at choices and realizing, ‘If I do this, then this will happen. If I do that, then that will happen,'” Martinez deduced, “Choices have consequences. That’s critical thinking. That’s analytical. And that’s life.”

The coach always applies this philosophy in the movie, which leads the boys to bag the national title. Marcel wins the title for the individuals’ category, and Miami Jackson High School wins in the teams’ category. In real-life, Coach Martinez didn’t stop with the 1998 championship title. The teacher went on to win several more via kids who developed an interest in the sport. In the next four years, he offered his guidance to various teams comprising different players representing Miami Jackson and won 4 more national championship titles.

In 2000, Rodelay Medina became the national champion in the expert division. Marcel played three opponents simultaneously while being blindfolded. Therefore, to reiterate, ‘Critical Thinking’ is a true story of a group of boys and their coach from Miami Jackson. It essays how Martinez and his team become the first from Miami to win the National Chess Championship. The narrative also portrays how the boys overcome several struggles and move toward a hopeful future.

Read More: Is Mario Martinez Based on a Real-Life Coach? Where is He Now?

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‘Critical Thinking’ Review: All the Right Moves

John Leguizamo directs and stars in this warmhearted drama about underprivileged teenagers who enter a national chess championship.

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By Jeannette Catsoulis

Whether championing math, poetry, or just how to be a decent human being , the inspirational teacher is as familiar to movie audiences as the class stoner. “Critical Thinking” does little to detach itself from genre cliché; yet this heartfelt drama about a rough-and-tumble group of high-schoolers who claw their way to a national chess tournament has a sweetness that softens its flaws.

Based on a true story and set in an underserved Miami neighborhood in 1998, the movie drops us into the boisterous classroom of Mr. Martinez (played by the director, John Leguizamo).

“Chess is the great equalizer,” he tells his multiethnic students, using the game to teach his critical thinking elective — with a side of racial history discouraged by his school board. The principal (Rachel Bay Jones) might treat his classroom like a dumping ground for miscreants, but Martinez, assisted by wigs and funny accents, explains complicated chess moves with a deftness that cuts through their indifference.

With goals as modest as the lives of its characters, “Critical Thinking” follows the predictable arc of the underdog drama as the chess team overcomes troubled home situations and other setbacks on the road to a Beverly Hills-set finale. Slow and straightforward, the movie knows that a chess match is hardly a barnburner; but its lively young performers and their eventual triumph are easy to warm to. Drugs and gangs might beckon — and immigration officers hover just outside the frame — but they’re no match for the values of sportsmanship and teamwork. And Mr. Martinez’s pep talks.

Critical Thinking Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 57 minutes. Watch through virtual cinemas, or rent or buy on iTunes , Google Play and other streaming platforms and pay TV operators.

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Critical Thinking

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• Rachel Bay Jones

• Corwin C. Tuggles

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• "'Critical Thinking' shows that Leguizamo makes a good teacher on screen and behind the camera (...) A story that is truly inspiring and educational"  Joe Blessing : The Playlist
• "The picture is pleasant enough, but watching it you’re always one or two moves ahead."  Owen Gleiberman : Variety
• "Leguizamo has delivered an outstanding directorial achievement"  Ethan Anderton : SlashFilm
• "'Critical Thinking' does little to detach itself from genre cliché; yet this heartfelt drama (...) has a sweetness that softens its flaws."  Jeannette Catsoulis : The New York Times
• "The script by Dito Montiel has some sharp commentary about the education system (...) Leguizamo and Montiel never sugarcoat the dangers of the environment their characters inhabit (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"  Odie Henderson : rogerebert.com
• "The beauty of Leguizamo's film is that the filmmaker never tries to outmaneuver the viewer. This may be a textbook case of an inspirational teacher/underdog sports drama, but it surehandedly delivers the feels"  Gary M. Kramer : Salon
• "This inspirational sports drama has a worthy message (...) but viewers may ultimately prefer to have seen a documentary about the real-life participants rather than this earnest, conventional dramatisation."  Tim Grierson : Screendaily

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User history

Critical Thinking

The true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team which was the first inner city team to win the U.S. National Chess Championship. Critical Thinking featuring John Leguizamo and Rachel Bay Jones is streaming with subscription on Netflix, streaming with subscription on Netflix with Ads, streaming with subscription on STARZ (Via Prime Video), and 4 others. It's a drama movie with an average IMDb audience rating of 6.5 (2,821 votes).

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Currently you are able to watch Critical Thinking streaming on Kanopy, Netflix, STARZ (Via Prime Video), and Netflix with Ads. It is also possible to buy Critical Thinking on Prime Video, VUDU, and Apple TV or rent it on Prime Video, VUDU, and Apple TV.

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More Information onCritical Thinking

John leguizamo.

Principal Kestel

Rachel Bay Jones

Mr. Roundtree

Michael Kenneth Williams

Sedrick Roundtree

Corwin C. Tuggles

Ito Paniagua

Jorge Lendeborg Jr.

Rodelay Medina

Angel Bismark Curiel

Will hochman.

Marcel Martinez

Jeffry Batista

Zora casebere.

Andre Lamar

Ramses Jimenez

Detective Ransone

Todd Allen Durkin

Harutyun Akopyan

Brandon Somers

Isaac beverly, ruben e.a. brown, sydney arroyo, carlos guerrero.

News Reporter

Michele Lepe

Flight Attendant

Tatum Price

Jason mandl, scott m. rosenfelt.

Executive Producer

Carla Berkowitz

Emilio estefan jr., harvey chaplin, dito montiel, chris hajian.

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The Reelgood Score is a comprehensive weighted index designed to evaluate movie & TV quality, deriving its value from a blend of Reelgood user engagement, external ratings metrics expressed through content popularity, and user feedback, including ratings such as "loved," "liked," and "disliked." The score is presented on a scale from 1 to 100, where 100 signifies content that is highly esteemed and positively rated within the community.

Great chess movie. Felt like a sport of video game. Very moving!

Cast & Crew for Critical Thinking

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20 Best Existentialist Movies That Will Make You Reevaluate Life

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Movies have a kind of power that few other art forms possess. They can make you laugh, cry, bite your nails in suspense, or look away in fear. Sometimes, a few very special films can present fascinating themes of profound philosophical value that will make a reevaluation of one's way of thinking about life itself necessary. Some of these films are generally agreed to be better than the others, but their exploration of deep universal themes is always complex.

Existentialism films have been around for quite some time, exploring narratives where characters are confronted with the absurdity of existence , the burden of freedom, and the question of how to create meaning in their lives. When done right, existentialist movies like Solaris and The Truman Show can stay in the mind forever, leaving a message that leads one to live life in a different way.

20 'Like Someone in Love' (2012)

Directed by abbas kiarostami.

Iranian auteur Abbas Kiarostami 's final masterpiece, the French-Japanese production Like Someone in Love is among the most underrated examples of existentialism in film. Set in the bustling streets of Tokyo, the movie follows sociology student Akiko ( Rin Takanashi ), who is also a high-end sex worker. When she's sent to the elderly former professor Takashi ( Tadashi Okuno ), she's surprised at how he's more interested in dinner and conversation than sex.

Akiko's story may not seem like an existential one at first glance, but a closer look at Kiarostami's subtle approach to her narrative highlights the protagonist's feeling of being trapped and ashamed . Viewers are forced to watch Akiko's burden of loneliness as she struggles to reach out to her grandmother. In the end, the movie delicately examines self-discovery and identity. – Hannah Saab

Rent on Apple TV

19 'Stranger than Fiction' (2006)

Directed by marc forster.

A criminally underrated comedy film , Stranger than Fiction follows an IRS auditor named Harold Crick ( Will Ferrell ) who lives a mundane life. One day, he begins to hear a bizarre voice that seems to be narrating his life story. As he tries to uncover the source of the narration, he learns that he's a character in a book that's bound to end at some point.

While billed as a gut-busting comedy, Stranger than Fiction is also among the most dread-inducing existential movies . As Harold attempts to fight back against his predetermined fate, viewers are forced to question their own predictable daily routines and even the very concept of free will. The film is not usually commended as the extraordinary dramedy that it is, but its thought-provoking narrative definitely makes it worthy of more praise. – Hannah Saab

stranger than fiction

Rent on Amazon

18 'Melancholia' (2011)

Directed by lars von trier.

Anyone looking for a good dose of existential dread needn't look further than Melancholia . This apocalyptic film revolves around the relationship between two sisters, Justine ( Kirsten Dunst ) and Claire ( Charlotte Gainsbourg ). When a mysterious planet threatens to collide with Earth, the sisters' already strained relationship is challenged. It's far too depressing a movie for many viewers, but those able to stomach it are in for an unforgettable experience.

The movie is one of the best ever about mental illness , exploring the various reactions people can have to depression and mortality. Melancholia 's artful slow sequences evoke an almost visceral fear and understanding that death is never truly far away , but the only constant certainty in life. The film's message about acceptance and the value of connection makes the uniquely subtle sci-fi elements hit hard. – Hannah Saab

Melancholia

Two sisters find their already strained relationship challenged as a mysterious new planet threatens to collide with Earth.

Watch on Hulu

17 'Sideways' (2004)

Directed by alexander payne.

Based on Rex Pickett 's eponymous 2004 novel, Sideways is a road trip film unlike any other. It's centered on two men in their forties, Miles ( Paul Giamatti ) and Jack ( Thomas Haden Church ), who go on a wine-tasting trip to California. Along the way, audiences learn about Miles' struggles as a failed novelist and Jack's anxieties about getting married.

One of the great films where "not much happens" , most of Sideways is just two middle-aged men finding purpose and adventure in their lives through wine (just not Merlot) and sex. Their flaws, fears, desires, and need for purpose are brilliantly spliced into drunken conversations and funny mishaps on their road trip, its relatable existential themes slowly bubbling toward the surface. – Hannah Saab

16 'Anomalisa' (2015)

Directed by charlie kaufman.

Writer-director Charlie Kaufman has existentialist themes in pretty much every single one of his films, but rarely as strongly as in Anomalisa , the story of a middle-aged man called Michael ( David Thewlis ) who struggles with crossing the gap between the self and the other. In his world, everyone speaks with an identical voice ( Tom Noonan ), until a unique woman voiced by Jennifer Jason Leigh comes into his life.

A stop-motion work of art that proves animation isn't just for children , Anomalisa is full of Kaufman's typical surrealistic idiosyncrasies . It's a powerful film about loneliness, the difficulty of connecting with others, and the crushing weight of subjectivity, which audiences immediately responded to. Anomalisa thus got a Best Animated Feature Oscar nomination, the only R-rated movie to ever do so.

Watch on Kanopy

15 'The Great Beauty' (2013)

Directed by paolo sorrentino.

The Great Beauty is a gorgeous art drama that follows Jep Gambardella ( Toni Servillo ), a 65-year-old seasoned journalist and theater critic who spends his days attending the social events of Rome and appreciating its beauty and history. Jep begins to have a crisis after his 65th birthday, though, and looks beyond mindless parties and mundane activities to find "the great beauty."

This award-winning movie is one of the highest-rated Italian films on IMDb . Yet, The Great Beauty is rarely cited alongside other existential films, but it should be. Jep's growing discontent with his social circle, questions about his own identity, and incredible search for meaning in the absurdity of the everyday encapsulate a version of the existential journey most people must eventually take. – Hannah Saab

Watch on Max

14 'Fight Club' (1999)

Directed by david fincher.

Fight Club is a cult classic that needs no introduction. It tells the story of an unnamed protagonist known only as the Narrator ( Edward Norton ), who lives with insomnia and depression. His life changes when the anarchic soap salesman Tyler Durden ( Brad Pitt ) talks him into starting an underground fight club with him.

While it may not be the most subtle or nuanced existentialist movie, Fight Club offers powerful commentary on consumerist culture and alienation , aided by visceral twists and turns. The message ends up becoming a question about whether "the things you own end up owning you." Coupled with an explosive ending, the movie inspires existential dread and a reevaluation of one's place in the consumerist world.

13 'Synecdoche, New York' (2008)

Charlie Kaufman's directing debut might just be his most ambitious work to date. In Synecdoche, New York , a theater director (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman in one of the best acting performances of the 21st century ) struggles with his work and the women in his life as he tries to create a life-size replica of New York as part of his new play.

Synecdoche , no doubt one of the best existentialism movies of the 21st century, presents the heartbreak brought by failure in capturing the entire scope of life through art. Endlessly complex and analyzable, Kaufman's masterpiece shows the poignant relationship between life and death , and how inherent to human nature it is to want to leave a legacy behind. While definitely best suited for audiences that enjoy head-scratchingly bizarre films, it's a must-see for anyone who enjoys philosophical movies.

Synecdoche, New York

12 'birdman' (2014), directed by alejandro g. iñárritu.

Another one of the great examples of existentialism in pop culture, the multi-awarded modern masterpiece Birdman is a film that showcases the flaws of fame . Made to look like it's all one long unbroken shot, it's centered on Riggan Thomson ( Michael Keaton ), a Hollywood has-been known for his titular superhero role, who is now trying to prove his worth as a thespian with a Broadway play.

Frantic, stressful, and strangely relatable despite Birdman 's very specific characters , it's impossible not to feel what the protagonist does as he tries and fails to rebuild relationships, revive his career, and deal with the difficulties that come with the artist life. Of course, Riggan's perspective is unique as a faded actor, which only makes his entire ordeal more interesting. – Hannah Saab

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

11 'waking life' (2001), directed by richard linklater.

Waking Life is a mind-boggling animated film that should never be excluded when discussing existentialist movies. This experimental animated film follows the ethereal experience of an unnamed young man who meets all sorts of people on a surreal journey, each imparting important bits of knowledge from their respective fields and personal experiences.

Its stunning rotoscoped trippy visuals only serve to emphasize the heaviness, range, and depth of subjects it covers in a way that's both enthralling and easy to follow. Viewers can expect to think about topics like free will, consciousness, the value of dreams, and the meaning of life over the course of Waking Life , presented in the kind of down-to-earth way that Richard Linklater's filmography tends to be characterized by. – Hannah Saab

Waking Life

10 'wild strawberries' (1957), directed by ingmar bergman.

Swedish director Ingmar Bergman is known for sensitively and poignantly dealing with dark existentialist themes that most filmmakers don't dare to touch. Wild Strawberries , one of his best works, sees an elderly professor ( Victor Sjöström ) confront the voidness of his existence after leading a life of coldness and apathy.

The film beautifully portrays the pain of loneliness and the journey of correcting one's mistakes, as well as the implications of aging with a fascinating senior character as its protagonist . It reminds viewers about the good things in life and the importance of spiritual growth, with a kind of deep emotional relatability that only Bergman was capable of in his time .

9 'The Truman Show' (1998)

Directed by peter weir.

Everyone remembers their first existential crisis, that weird moment when they first started to wonder whether there was more to life than they originally thought. In The Truman Show , Truman Burbank (played by Jim Carrey in one of his greatest works ) has a whole other kind of crisis as he begins to discover that for his entire life, he has unknowingly been the star of a reality show.

At once a beautiful coming-of-age and an idiosyncratic dramedy, The Truman Show has two core concerns in its narrative : On the one hand, the ubiquity of surveillance in mass media and the control it holds over people's lives; on the other, a scathing existentialist satire that ponders on concepts like free will and the quest for identity. There aren't many movies that inspire viewers to wake up to new views of reality, but this one surely does.

The Truman Show

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8 'Solaris' (1972)

Directed by andrei tarkovsky.

Andrei Tarkovsky , one of cinema's greatest poets and philosophers, dove deep into what it means to be human across his entire filmography, but rarely with as big a focus on existentialism as in Solaris . Based on Stanislaw Lem 's seminal novel of the same name, this is a sci-fi film about a psychologist sent to a space station orbiting a mysterious planet, in order to discover what's driving its crew mad.

One of Tarkovsky's most complex and thematically rich works, Solaris deals with philosophy and love as one and the same : Love makes people more human, and so does philosophy. The film celebrates life and nature, and it asks the question of whether existence is possible without human interaction. Typically regarded as one of the best sci-fi movies of all time , Solaris is an obligatory watch for fans of the genre.

Watch on Criterion

7 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' (2022)

Directed by daniel kwan and daniel scheinert.

Multiverses are the new big thing nowadays; and in the midst of this new sensation, the Daniels ' award-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once (the first-ever film to win six above-the-line Oscars) came out. An infinitely complex and ambitious sci-fi dramedy, the movie shows a middle-aged Chinese immigrant ( masterfully played by Michelle Yeoh ) on a mission to save reality by connecting with the lives she could have led in other universes.

The film tackles countless intricate themes like nihilism, love, generational trauma, and parenthood, to name but a few. Everything Everywhere All at Once is hilarious, incredibly emotional, and profoundly thought-provoking . The movie argues that if we're already here in this massive and senseless world, we might as well face it with kindness and positivity.

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Watch on Amazon Prime

6 '8½' (1963)

Directed by federico fellini.

Wonderfully directed and written by perhaps the greatest Italian auteur in history, Federico Fellini , 8½ sees a film director played by Marcello Mastroianni creatively barren at the peak of his career, looking for refuge in his memories and fantasies. It's one of those surrealistic movies that leave you scratching your head in delightful confusion after the credits roll, and it's always a treat to re-watch.

Dynamic, visually stunning, incredibly meta, and weird like few of its kind, the movie was called "the best film ever made about filmmaking" by the famous critic Roger Ebert . It's about art, about fractured consciousness, and about what makes life worth living.

5 'The Seventh Seal' (1957)

Another legendary film by director Ingmar Bergman, The Seventh Seal is an important work of art that depicts the journey of a disillusioned knight ( Max von Sydow ) who comes back from the Crusades in the 14th century to find devastation in his community. Soon, he meets the personification of Death ( Bengt Ekerot ), one of the best representations of the Grim Reaper in media, and plays chess with him in an attempt to find out the purpose of his life and faith.

Despite being almost 70 years old, the film has held up incredibly well and is worth watching today. The protagonist's search for meaning in the face of chaos, violence, and death gives the movie an atmosphere of existential dread. As with any great masterpiece, it doesn't directly answer any of the questions it poses, instead inviting audiences to contemplate those ideas themselves. It's usually agreed to be not just one of Bergman's best, but one of the best films of all time in general .

4 'Ikiru' (1952)

Directed by akira kurosawa.

Legendary director Akira Kurosawa , one of the greatest Japanese filmmakers , was no stranger to existentialist themes in his movies, but few of them are quite as life-changing as Ikiru (which means "to live"). It's a film about a bureaucrat trying to find the meaning of life after discovering that he's dying of cancer, with a groundbreaking second half that is bound to surprise even the most seasoned cinephiles.

Aside from being absolutely heartbreaking and yet beautifully life-affirming, Ikiru is a moving contemplation of mortality and a reaffirmation that one's life holds whatever meaning one wants it to hold . It's the kind of story that makes viewers want to go out into the world seeking to be better people, thanks to a level of emotional power that very few other films hold.

3 'Stalker' (1979)

In the world of Tarkovsky's classic movie Stalker , without a doubt one of the best in the sci-fi genre , faith has disappeared and people don't believe in anything. In this spiritually barren environment, a man guides a writer and a professor through an area known as the Zone, in search of a room that grants one's innermost desire.

In this film, Tarkovsky depicts the importance of faith, spirituality, human connections, and how all those things intersect . It's a celebration of philosophy and of the arduous but ultimately rewarding path to transcendence, characterized by Tarkovsky's typical deliberate pacing and keen eye for some of the most gorgeous scenes in any film of this kind.

2 'Apocalypse Now' (1979)

Directed by francis ford coppola.

One of the best war movies of all time , Apocalypse Now is a timeless classic and a masterpiece. Set during the Vietnam War, the film follows Captain Willard ( Martin Sheen ), who is given a top-secret task up the Nung River to track down and kill the rogue Colonel Kurtz ( Marlon Brando ). In the process, Willard begins to understand precisely why Colonel Kurtz has started his own cult-like murderous group deep in the jungle.

While it may not be the first thing viewers think of when considering existentialism, Apocalypse Now is so much more than a war film. Apocalypse Now is a surreal, disturbing, and hallucinatory voyage into the dark heart of the jungle , as well as an unsettling trip into the worst of humanity. It will make audiences contemplate the unimaginable horror individuals are truly capable of given an inhuman context like war.

Apocalypse Now

Rent on YouTube

1 '2001: A Space Odyssey' (1968)

Directed by stanley kubrick.

Stanley Kubrick is considered by many the single greatest filmmaker in history; and watching 2001: A Space Odyssey , which also happens to be widely considered Kubrick's best work , it's not hard to see why. In this two-and-a-half-hour-long sci-fi epic, king among movies about existentialism, humanity finds a mysterious object buried in the Moon and sets off to find its origin with the help of the world's most advanced computer, HAL 9000 ( Douglas Rain ).

With minimal dialogue, 2001 tells a rousing story spanning millennia. It's an intimidating but also inspirational evaluation of the human condition in relation to the infinity of time and space. Kubrick reminds viewers that in the grand scheme of things, humanity still has a long way to go in awakening its spirit and consciousness . 2001 is considered one of the most ambitious, beautiful, and memorable films ever made, a reputation that it has rightfully earned.

2001: A Space Odyssey

NEXT: Iconic Mind-Boggling Movies You Have to Watch Twice

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The 11 most brutal horror movie deaths that are still seared into our brains

It’s spooky season y’all, and you know what that means; movies like Scream , Halloween , Final Destination , and Psycho are on the brain. You know the phrase it takes all kinds of kinds? The same is true in the horror realm, from slashers to stalkers and terrifying dolls — we’re all drawn to (and terrified by) the worst of the worst.

Sometimes, it’s not the killers that terrify us the most; it’s the deaths themselves — scary movie end-game moments are brutal and horrifying! From the deaths we saw coming and were still shocked by to ones that took our breath away from surprise and horror, some scenes in scary movies are seared into our brains, giving us life lessons on things to avoid and urging us not to answer phones or place our knives in the dishwasher without a buffer.

When it comes to the type of deaths that leave a lasting impact, aside from romantic dramas that leave audiences crying enough tears that we could float out of the room in them, no one does it like horror films; none stay with you like deaths in the realm of everything spooky and unnerving. When thinking back to the most brutal horror deaths that stay with us, we consider a few things: one — the way the death happened; some of them are so gory that we can’t erase them from our minds.

We also thought back to what we were experiencing when we saw them and how our parents tried to shield us from the painful truth of what would soon play out on screen. We also look at the circumstances surrounding the death, who was around…who tried hard to stop them unsuccessfully, and finally, we examine the moments that made it hard to think of scary movies without thinking of these instances of death.

Kirk’s early death – Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Almost every horror movie boasts at least one death that will stick with you forever, and — while certain gruesome ends will haunt me to the end of my days — never has a movie death affected me, over seemingly so little, like the earliest kill in  The Texas Chainsaw Massacre . The film is, as one can easily guess, overflowing with death, but the film’s presence as a ‘70s staple really tones down the express violence. You don’t see much in the way of actual gore in the flick, but I’d argue the decision serves it well. Instead of recoiling at the gratuitous violence,  Texas Chainsaw Massacre  reels you in by teasing viewers with minor but still deeply impacting moments of violence.

The one that sticks with me, years after first setting eyes on the film, serves as the first death in the lineup. It’s not as eye-catching as the meat hook, nor as iconic as Sally’s flight through the fields, but Kirk’s swift, merciless death purchased prime real estate in my brain and refuses to sell. The suddenness of Kirk’s death, paired with its stark simplicity, is a big reason behind my fixation. A simple, jarring strike to the head is all it takes to end his life forever, and the fact that it’s so carefully foreshadowed only heightens its impact. – Nahila Bonfiglio

Olga’s last dance – Suspiria

After crossing Madame Blanc (Tilda Swinton), Olga (Elena Fokina) is locked in the mirrored rehearsal hall. She obviously knows that she’s in danger and tries frantically to find a way out. What follows is a ghoulish choreography where she’s seemingly under a spell, and her limbs are tied to those of Susie (Dakota Johnson) as she practices a sequence for the upcoming Volk for Madame Blanc in another room. Her body is impossibly contorted in conjunction with Susie’s every move, causing her skin to rip and bones to break until she’s left a wrecked bloody mess on the floor.

The artistic quality, intercut with Johnson’s lithe performance, is palpable. And you gotta admit, killing someone without ever actually laying a hand on them is pretty metal. – Misty Contreras

The reason we don’t drive behind trucks – Final Destination 2

When it comes to horror deaths, films like the Final Destination franchise stay with you in a way that many others don’t. These deaths stand out because they could happen; that’s the major component of the horror in movies like these — it hinges on death not being cheated and life ending in inhumane ways when you try to outsmart it. When I first saw Final Destination 2 , I knew I was in for a wild ride, but I didn’t anticipate impacting me as much as it did.

The crash scene changed me forever, and that’s not a euphemism; when I saw the unsuspecting victim being taken out by things falling off of a tractor-trailer, I vowed there and then to never drive behind one, and it’s a promise I’ve kept to myself. In fact, I missed an exit once because I was too scared to try to drive behind a truck carrying something in its trailer, and it’s illegal to pass it on the right. I knew Becky (my map on my phone) would soon yell at me about missing my exit, but that was fine with me — I’d rather her have to rework a route for me than end up, well, impaled and inflamed. – Ashley Marie

That shower scene – Psycho

There’s a reason this iconic  Psycho   moment is basically in every horror movie parody nowadays. Watching Janet Leigh in such a vulnerable moment about to meet her grizzly doom may seem overrated now, but the first time you watch  Psycho,  it disturbs you to the point of not wanting to shower for a week. No wonder Jamie Lee Curtis is such an iconic scream queen; her mother is the  original  one. — Bethany Wade

Impaled by knives – Chucky  TV show

Don Mancini’s  Chucky  series on the SyFy network has proven to be a gift in the world of horror, not least of all because of all the creative kills seen in the show that, for the most part, are filmed in a rather traditional manner, instead of overly-relying on CGI. A great example of this can be found in season 1, episode 2, “Give Me Something Good To Eat,” in which the killer doll targets a housemaid. Looking for a knife, the maid opens the dishwasher, only to find several of the utensils blade side up in the front slot. As she is bent over and about to grab one, Chucky uses the opportunity to push her into the sharp objects, impaling her in the face.

It’s all made to look like a freak accident, of course, which only adds to the paranoia I now have around dishwashers. The scene has always stuck with me out of an irrational fear that improperly loading a dishwasher could be deadly. Ever since, I’ve placed the sharper knives in the bottom tray, usually covered by a face-down saucepan, just for good measure. — Danny Peterson

That kitchen scene – Final Destination 2

If I’m cracking my knuckles to type about one of the best yet most disbursing horror scenes ever, then I’d be a complete fool if I didn’t nominate the apartment kitchen scene from  Final Destination 2 . Yes,  that  scene. You know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s the scene where Evan gets his hand stuck in the dishwasher after dropping his watch while the food he’s cooking in a pan on the stove catches on fire, which eventually leads to a kitchen explosion.

Still following? Anyway, that’s not even the scariest part about this scene. What’s truly terrifying is when Evan is on the balcony of his apartment, slips on leftover spaghetti, and watches as a fire escape ladder falls and crushes his eye. If I’m being honest, that scene was burned in my brain so badly at eight years old that I was afraid of ladders for the next two years. Yikes.  — Taylor Mansfield

That opening kill — Scream

Opening kills don’t come any more iconic than  Scream . You could make the argument that it’s the perfect evolution of the  Psycho  twist. Just as Alfred Hitchcock killed off protagonist Janet Leigh halfway through his movie, Wes Craven fooled ’90s audiences into thinking Drew Barrymore was the star of his film before Ghostface got to fulfill his wish of seeing what poor Casey Becker’s insides looked like.

The threat of the genre-savvy slasher villain has evolved with the times – these days, he can hack into your home security system – but nothing has managed to top the simple fear of someone on the other end of the phone turning out to be a killer. Millennials famously hate receiving unexpected phone calls, finding it to be a source of extreme anxiety. Is it because, deep down, we’re all terrified of being Ghostface’s next victim? – Christian Bone

Alex Kinter – Jaws

“It’s going to be fine,” my mom told me in the moments leading up to a child being eaten by a shark in  Jaws.  “Kids never get hurt in Steven Spielberg movies,” she continued as the final precious seconds of the little boy’s life ticked by.

In hindsight, the whole situation could have benefited from some critical thinking on my part. I knew who Spielberg was, even as a 10-year-old. I’d watched him vicariously stab a tween named Rufio to death in  Hook  and shoot Tim off the side of an electric fence in  Jurassic Park.  I hadn’t finished  Temple of Doom  at that point, or I would’ve had another solid example of how much child torture we’ve gotten from the director of  E.T. –  which, by the way, is a movie where a little boy goes into a diabetic coma from loving an alien too much or something.

The point is, I wasn’t thinking critically when Alex Kinter went splashing into the waters of Amity on our family’s old box television that day. I trusted that my mom wouldn’t lie to me about whether or not I was about to watch a kid get eaten by an apex predator from the dawn of time. I’ve since moved past the fear of the ocean that  Jaws  inspired in my young mind. I have not, and will not, re-learned how to trust my mom. — Tom Meisfjord

Chestbuster scene – Alien

If you’re anything like me, you were introduced to horror films way before you were actually ready for them. Seeing  Alien  at a tender young age has arguably made me a more interesting person, but it also means the “chest-burster” scene is seared into my retinas. The iconic death/birth scene has been imitated in all sorts of media, but nothing beats the shock value and just plain  grossness  of the original. What a way to go! – Staci White

Charlie’s untimely death – Hereditary

I know it’s an obvious choice, but  someone  had to bring up Charlie’s horrifying end in  Hereditary . The 2018 film delivered plenty of nightmare fuel across its two-hour runtime, but none of the ever-piling deaths quite match up to its first.

Charlie, for the uninitiated, is the youngest member of the Graham family. She is killed near the film’s front end in a shocking, ghastly accident that leaves her beheaded. Her death launches the film’s primary plot and leaves every single person who’s ever witnessed this flick with permanent scars. It’s not just the shock value that leaves us wounded and unable to rewatch Ari Aster’s gripping directorial debut, either. It’s the carefully ramped-up tension, stunning acting from both Alex Wolff and Milly Shapiro, flawless soundtrack, and the unexpected cause of death. It’s unique and haunting, and — should you ever choose to witness it for yourself — I can guarantee you’ll never forget it. – Nahila Bonfiglio

Wes’ heartbreaking end – Scream (2022)

Wes’ death in Scream was significant for many reasons, one being the distance between himself and his mom when it happened and in the scenes leading up to Ghostface claiming him as a victim. Wes and his mom, Deputy Judy, had been simply having a lovely evening together, and she was going to pick up takeout for the pair for dinner. Wes first hops in the shower and then begins getting everything ready for dinner with his mom, but he begins to hear noises that alert him to something being amiss.

It doesn’t take long for Ghostface to strike, and the scene is ruthless; we’ve seen more bloody kills from the masked slasher, sure, but the emotion here was at an all-time high. Judy was on the phone with the killer as he taunted her while sneaking up on her unsuspecting son, and though she drove as fast as she could, trying desperately to reach him, it was too late.

As fans know, Judy would also meet her untimely fate at the hands of the killer, and it happened before Wes even died. The only silver lining is that she didn’t have to live with the pain of losing Wes (although she did die thinking he had passed) for long. As Wes sets a place for them to eat, his mom has passed away on their porch, and he has no idea. Both meeting too premature a death, both Wes and Judy’s losses in this one really sting, but I’m a dreamer, and I imagine the two spending afternoons together in a great beyond; that’s the only solace in this one. – Ashley Marie