2003
PG-13
Miramax
1 h 35 m

2003
PG-13
Miramax
1 h 35 m

Summary Documentary filmmakers DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus catch up with the great soul singers of the 1960s and early 1970s. The result is a musical celebration of soul, a glimpse into the skewed world of the music industry, and a compelling narrative of these seven talented acts. (Miramax)

Directed By: Chris Hegedus, D.A. Pennebaker

2003
PG-13
Miramax
1 h 35 m

2003
PG-13
Miramax
1 h 35 m

Only the Strong Survive

Name: Only the Strong Survive
Genre: Documentary, Music
Released: 2003-05-09
Duration: 1 min 35 s
Rating: 59
Cast: Wilson Pickett, Sam Moore, Mary Wilson, Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas

Metascore Mixed or Average Based on 21 Critic Reviews

User Score Generally Unfavorable

3.3

My Score

Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Directed By: Chris Hegedus, D.A. Pennebaker

Critic Reviews

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Metascore

Mixed or Average Based on 21 Critic Reviews

62% Positive
13 Reviews

24% Mixed
5 Reviews

14% Negative
3 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

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Metascore

Mixed or Average Based on 21 Critic Reviews

62% Positive
13 Reviews

24% Mixed
5 Reviews

14% Negative
3 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Boston Globe

The movie is the product of his (Friedman) big, shiny love of forgotten soul legends whom superstardom (and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I might add) has eluded.

By Wesley Morris FULL REVIEW

New York Magazine (Vulture)

This is no antique show: Faced with an audience, they are still amazingly vital and sometimes amazingly lewd.

By Peter Rainer FULL REVIEW

USA Today

The No. 1 thing Only the Strong Survive will have to survive is being overshadowed by "Standing in the Shadows of Motown." Less focused than last fall's slam-dunk Funk remembrance, Survive is a more modest soul review.

By Mike Clark FULL REVIEW

Portland Oregonian

Agreeable and warm, is content for the most part merely to allude to complexity and darkness in the lives of its subjects.

By Shawn Levy FULL REVIEW

Variety

Less an historical flashback than a present-tense valentine.

By Dennis Harvey FULL REVIEW

L.A. Weekly

The rather sad performances boast more clams than a Pismo beach party.

By Hazel-Dawn Dumpert FULL REVIEW

Salon

All Only the Strong Survive has to offer are scraps, and it's a sad thing to sit through a movie billed as a tribute to a group of terrific performers and to come away with nothing more than scraps.

By Charles Taylor FULL REVIEW

See All 21 Critic Reviews

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User Score

Generally Unfavorable Based on 4 User Ratings

3.3

0% Positive
0 Ratings

50% Mixed
2 Ratings

50% Negative
2 Ratings

User Reviews

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User Score

Generally Unfavorable Based on 4 User Ratings

3.3

0% Positive
0 Ratings

50% Mixed
2 Ratings

50% Negative
2 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

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Production Company Pennebaker Hegedus Films

Release Date May 9, 2003

Duration 1 h 35 m

Rating PG-13

Genres

Tagline A celebration of soul.

Website https://www.miramax.com/movie/only-the-strong-survive/

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Awards

Chicago International Film Festival

• 1 Nomination

Cannes Film Festival

• 1 Nomination

Only the Strong Survive

Top Cast

Wilson Pickett

Self

Sam Moore

Self

Mary Wilson

Self

Isaac Hayes

Self

Rufus Thomas

Self

Carla Thomas

Self

The Chi-Lites

Themselves

Ann Peebles

Self

Jerry Butler

Self

Jaye Michael Davis

Self

Don Bryant

Self

Luther Ingram

Self

Joyce Moore

Self

Jon Tiver

Self

Gail Webb

Self

William Bell

Self

Bro Paul Brown

Self - Performer

Al Chez

Alan Chez

Roger Friedman

Self

Robert 'Squirrel' Lester

Self

Critic Reviews

Critic Reviews

Critic Reviews

Critic Reviews

User Reviews

User Reviews

User Reviews

User Reviews

Details

Details

Awards

Awards

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