A dramatic thriller based on the incredible true David vs. Goliath story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth to be known. Omalu's emotional quest puts him at dangerous odds with one of the most powerful institutions in the world.
Ratings
Curator score: 2.9/10
IMDb: 7.1/10
Letterboxd: 3.25/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 58%
Metacritic: 55
TMDB: 7.1/10
Director
Peter Landesman
Production
Village Roadshow Pictures, Columbia Pictures, The Cantillon Company, LStar Capital, The Shuman Company, Cara Films
Cast
Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Albert Brooks, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, David Morse, Arliss Howard, Mike O'Malley, Eddie Marsan, Hill Harper, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Stephen Moyer, Richard T. Jones, Paul Reiser, Luke Wilson, Matthew Willig, Elizabeth Tulloch, Jason Davis, Sara Lindsey, Kevin Jiggetts, Gary Grubbs
Where to watch
Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
An important, timely true-story drama elevated by a strong Will Smith performance, but the film itself is often too conventional, over-scored, and emotionally blunt to fully land. It works best as a sober issue movie about institutional resistance and public health, less as a gripping thriller.
Best for
viewers interested in true stories about whistleblowers and institutional cover-ups
fans of restrained prestige dramas led by a committed star performance
audiences curious about the origins of the CTE/NFL concussion controversy
Skip if
you want a tightly written investigative thriller
you’re sensitive to heavy-handed scoring and sentimental drama
you prefer sports films with on-field action or underdog energy
Overview
Concussion has a subject that matters and a lead performance that keeps it upright. Will Smith plays Dr. Bennet Omalu with seriousness and control, giving the film its most persuasive emotional and intellectual force. When the movie stays focused on the science, the evidence, and the pressure from powerful institutions, it has real weight.
Worth noting
The problem is that the filmmaking often feels like it is announcing its importance rather than earning it. The script leans on familiar prestige-drama beats, the romantic material is thin, and the score pushes too hard. Instead of building tension through discovery and conflict, it sometimes settles for broad, didactic emphasis.
Bottom line
Even so, it remains watchable and worthwhile for the story it tells. If you care more about the real-world issue than about cinematic elegance, there is enough here to recommend it with caution. It is strongest as a reminder of how long institutions can resist uncomfortable truths.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Eli Hayes (3★) · 214 likes
Will Smith is really fucking good in this.
His performance is much better than the film itself, as you might've read.But it's good enough that the film is, at the very least, worth seeing.Certainly wasn't a fan of the score;the script could've been improved,but it hit most of the necessary notes.
Recommended, but not highly recommended.
Michael James (2.5★) · 131 likes
For a movie dealing with such an important subject matter, the over sentimentality ain’t never a problem, but the narrative needed much tighter impactful execution. The romantic sub plot don’t help the proceedings either. Though strictly mediocre, the content and strong performance from Will Smith in his serious role, make it watchable. Don’t know if he got his accent right, but he did sell it really well.
matt lynch (3★) · 123 likes
Diet THE INSIDER, and not so bad as such. Your dad will like this.
Sean Gilman (2★) · 109 likes
I was a most unlikely football player. As a 5'10", 110 lb, 14 year old high school freshman, I literally knocked myself out for a few seconds attempting a tackle. The coaches didn't let me play the rest of the game, or much of any other game, after that. I was mad at the time, all I wanted to do was play, but in retrospect, they probably saved my brain a lot of damage. The thing is, if I was… more I was a most unlikely football player. As a 5'10", 110 lb, 14 year old high school freshman, I literally knocked myself out for a few seconds attempting a tackle. The coaches didn't let me play the rest of the game, or much of any other game, after that. I was mad at the time, all I wanted to do was play, but in retrospect, they probably saved my brain a lot of damage. The thing is, if I was… more
Josh Bell (2★) · 92 likes
Has all the dramatic weight of a PowerPoint presentation.