13th (film) - Best Films On Netflix

13th is a 2016 American documentary by director Ava DuVernay. Centered on race in the United States criminal justice system, the film is titled after the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which outlawed slavery (unless as punishment for a crime). DuVernay's documentary argues that slavery is being effectively perpetuated through mass incarceration.

13th has garnered acclaim from film critics.

Production

The full Thirteenth Amendment reads as follows: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."

Filmed in secrecy, 13th was only revealed after it was announced as the opening film for the 2016 New York Film Festival.

Release

It was released on October 7, 2016 on Netflix.

Reception

13th currently holds a 90/100 on Metacritic based on 23 critic reviews, indicating 'universal acclaim.' On Rotten Tomatoes the film received a 97% 'Certified Fresh' rating based on 58 critic reviews with the critical consensus "13th strikes at the heart of America's tangled racial history, offering observations as incendiary as they are calmly controlled."

Peter Travers of Rolling Stone awarded the film four stars and named it one of the best films of 2016. It was the highest-ranking documentary on his year-end list.

Accolades