Once Upon a Time in Harlem

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Once Upon a Time in Harlem

PG-13

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1h 40m

Documentary

History

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75 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

In Harlem 1972, filmmaker William Greaves assembles the living members of the Harlem Renaissance for a cocktail party at Duke Ellington's townhouse after decades apart. Over the course of two days, they reminisce, debate, and discuss their lives, work, and the cultural movement that shaped them.

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Critics Consensus

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

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Odie Henderson

Boston Globe

2 days ago

4/4

Greaves’s son David, one of the cameramen at Ellington’s house in Harlem, restored and assembled the 16mm footage. The finished product is one of the most informative and important documentaries I’ve ever seen.

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Ben Kaye

Chicago Reader

2 days ago

Most wonderfully, the film is an act of remembrance for the spirit of William himself, an inimitable artist who bent the form toward his own self-reflexive ends with gusto.

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Candice Frederick

Salon.com

Oct 27, 2026

It deepens audiences’ understanding of healthy, effective debate through a reflection of our not-so-distant past at a time when too many are consumed by self-aggrandizement rather than the roadmap those who came before them already laid out.

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Timothy Lee

Geeks of Color

2 days ago

8/10

It’s truly a miracle that Once Upon a Time in Harlem not only exists but is also as impressively made and presented as it is, with so much incredible filmmaking on display.

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Maxance Vincent

FilmSpeak.net

2 days ago

A

A living, breathing testament.

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Armond White

National Review

5 days ago

These images are precious beyond estimation because -- as Schuyler himself might say -- they rectify the legacy of black American art and language that has been hijacked by recent political chicanery.

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A Believer

1 day ago

It’s simply a wonderful thing to behold.

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Torrance L

5 days ago

Excellent film.

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Giovanni P

@imgiovanni 7 hrs ago

One of the most amazing documentaries I've seen in years, it's an oral history not only of Harlem, but New York City and the black experience in the United States. Some of the most talented writers, artists, musicians, and political figures gather for an evening of incredibly intelligent and funny discussion. We are blessed to have this document of a long lost era. It's a masterpiece.

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Bea R

@BeaintheBronx 2 days ago

What we have lost is unfathomable...

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Greg C

@RT16861902 3 days ago

Incredibly moving.

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Treble D

@Trebdec 3 days ago

What a moving and eye opening film.

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David Greaves

Director

William Greaves

Screenwriter

Liani Greaves

Producer

Anne De Mare

Producer

William Greaves

Cinematographer

Lynn True

Film Editor

Once Upon a Time in Harlem: Exclusive Movie Clip - James Van Der Zee Photographs at the Piano

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Once Upon a Time in Harlem: Trailer 1

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Once Upon a Time in Harlem: Teaser Trailer

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Synopsis

In Harlem 1972, filmmaker William Greaves assembles the living members of the Harlem Renaissance for a cocktail party at Duke Ellington's townhouse after decades apart. Over the course of two days, they reminisce, debate, and discuss their lives, work, and the cultural movement that shaped them.

Director: David Greaves
Producer: Liani Greaves, Anne De Mare
Screenwriter: William Greaves
Distributor: NEON
Production Co: William Greaves Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Strong Racial Language|Brief Partial Nudity|Some Disturbing Images|Smoking)
Genre: Documentary, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 16, 2026, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $272.6K
Runtime: 1h 40m

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