Wattstax (1973)

86% of critics liked it
(22 reviews)
90% of users liked it
(693 ratings)

The climactic concert of the seventh annual Watts Summer Festival, commemorating the 1965 riots, and featuring performances by Isaac Hayes, Luther Ingram, Richard Pryor, and many more.

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Mel Stuart
Genres: Documentary, Musical & Performing Arts, Special Interest

In Theaters: May 5, 2000 Limited
On DVD: Sep 7, 2004
Studio: Columbia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
The restored rerelease is a time capsule of Afros, anger and attitude.
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger
A time when not only a single record company could put together a day like this, but could then give every dollar made to charity.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
It just has the air of something too carefully laid out in advance. It's so busy being glossy and optimistic that it doesn't even allow its performers time to create on screen a measure of the excitement they might have created in person.
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
A candid, colorful and deeply meaningful sociocultural time capsule.
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
A disorienting and ironic moviegoing experience.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
A remarkably penetrating documentary.
Rob Nelson, City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul
Whether or not you call it "blaxploitation," there was something like a riot goin' on in the American cinema of 1973.
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Soul providers light up the stage.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Even Richard Pryor's tired old rant gets more screen time than any of the musicians
Tiffany Maleshefski, San Francisco Examiner
Hardcore fans of the music of the times will get a kick out of seeing their old idols in their former glory, and footage of the city of Watts is fascinating.
Marshall Fine, Journal News (Westchester, NY)
Pure old school.
John Beifuss, Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
As Richard Pryor says, it's 'a soulful expression of the black experience'...
Frank Ochieng, Movie Eye
Wattstax was more than just an elaborate musical gathering of gifted energetic artists out to corral a spirited mood-it was an undeniably ultimate black lyrical experience...this stylish funky forum is infectious.
John Hartl, Seattle Times
A recording of a historic moment, Wattstax has considerable value.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Mister C

Released in 1973,the classic documentary masterpiece was the Woodstock of Stax. Directed by Mel Stuart(of Willa Wonka and the Chocolate Factory)this was a grand event which the climatic concert of the seventh annual Watts Summer Festival that was held at the Los Angeles Coliseum… More
Released in 1973,the classic documentary masterpiece was the Woodstock of Stax. Directed by Mel Stuart(of Willa Wonka and the Chocolate Factory)this was a grand event which the climatic concert of the seventh annual Watts Summer Festival that was held at the Los Angeles Coliseum before an estimated crowd of 70,000 in the summer of 1972. This was also commemorating the 1965 Watts riots that engulf South Central Los Angeles. If you want to experience the Memphis sound that was Stax Records then you're in for a treat. Especially for those who saw this masterpiece concert film when it was in theatres in 1973. You have some of the biggest stars from Stax to perform on one awesome incredible show. You have some of the biggest stars ever former Motown great Kim Weston(who sings the black national anthem "Lift Every Voice and Sing")to some of the great performers ever to come out of Stax Records... You have on one incredible show "The Emotions","The Staple Singers", "The Soul Children", "The Dramatics", "Johnnie Taylor", "Carla Thomas", "The Bar-Kays", "Luther Ingram",and featuring acts from Rufus Thomas(doing the Funky Chicken in front huge crowd of folks),and the incredible Issac Hayes(in gold chains attire singing some of his greatest hits). Also onboard this too was some of the social commentary of the times with everyday people talking about the struggles of the streets not to mention seeing the Rev. Jesse Jackson at his prime,and the classic comedy stylings of the legendary Richard Pryor. A Must See for those who love classic black cinema.
Ping C

This is some of the best footage you'll ever see of Rufus Thomas doing the Chicken Strut in a hot pink leisure suit. f'in amazing performances by some of the most influential soul artists of the early 70s. And hilarious yet pithy dialog and narration by Richard Pryor gives… More
This is some of the best footage you'll ever see of Rufus Thomas doing the Chicken Strut in a hot pink leisure suit. f'in amazing performances by some of the most influential soul artists of the early 70s. And hilarious yet pithy dialog and narration by Richard Pryor gives the documentary the proper historical context it deserves.

Cast

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Wattstax (1973)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Mister C

Ping C

Cast

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