Movie · 2016 · Drama, Romance · 2h 3m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 6.0/10 (79K ratings)
All love is created equal.
Overview
In 1958, in the state of Virginia, the idea of interracial marriage was not only considered to be immoral to many, it was also illegal. When Richard and Mildred fall in love, they are aware of the eyes staring at them and the words said behind their backs. It's when they get married, however, that words and looks become actions, and the two are arrested. The couple decide to take their case all of the way to the Supreme Court in order to fight for their love. Based on a true story.
Ratings
Curator score: 6.0/10
IMDb: 7.0/10
Letterboxd: 3.53/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Metacritic: 79
TMDB: 6.7/10
Director
Jeff Nichols
Production
Big Beach, Raindog Films, Augusta Films, Tri-State Pictures, Focus Features, Insiders
Cast
Joel Edgerton, Ruth Negga, Michael Shannon, Marton Csokas, Nick Kroll, Bill Camp, Sharon Blackwood, Alano Miller, Terri Abney, David Jensen, Jon Bass, Christopher Mann, Winter-Lee Holland, Michael Abbott Jr., Chris Greene, Will Dalton, Matt Malloy, Andrene Ward-Hammond, D.L. Hopkins, Jennifer Joyner
Where to watch
Starz, Philo, History Vault
Curator Review
Verdict
A restrained, quietly moving historical drama that finds power in ordinary domestic detail rather than courtroom fireworks. The performances, especially Ruth Negga’s, and the film’s patient, humane approach make it a strong watch for viewers who prefer emotional understatement over speeches.
Best for
Viewers who like intimate, character-driven dramas
Fans of civil rights stories told without melodrama
Audiences who appreciate subtle performances and lived-in period detail
People looking for a thoughtful romance grounded in real history
Skip if
You want a big, rousing legal drama
You prefer fast pacing or heightened conflict
You dislike very understated, low-key storytelling
You want the film to focus more on courtroom strategy than home life
Overview
Loving is a historical romance that refuses to behave like a conventional prestige drama. Jeff Nichols keeps the focus on the couple’s daily life, letting small gestures, silences, and domestic routines carry the emotional weight of a landmark legal battle.
Worth noting
That choice gives the film a distinctive tenderness. Rather than turning Richard and Mildred into symbols, it lets them remain a working couple trying to build a home under extraordinary pressure. The result is understated but deeply affecting, with Ruth Negga’s performance giving the film much of its ache and grace.
Bottom line
If you want a sweeping courtroom showdown, this may feel too quiet. But if you respond to films that find dignity in ordinary love and let history register through atmosphere and performance, it lands beautifully.
Top Letterboxd reviews
#1 gizmo fan (4.5★) · 323 likes
"Tell the judge I love my wife."
is michael shannon a real person? can he be my dad? can i fall in love? please?
Eli Hayes (4★) · 286 likes
Jeff Nichols' most maturely directed film yet, though Take Shelter is still my favorite film of his. Definitely gonna be an Oscar contender: it'll probably get a Best Picture nomination, and I'd put money on Ruth Negga at the very least getting a Best Actress nom; well deserved too. It's not "Oscar bait," just a film with great intentions, impressively understated performances and subtle poignancy -- no oversentimentality or grand, expository dialogue.
SilentDawn (2.5★) · 216 likes
49/100
Loving isn't understated, it's *barely* stated. Jeff Nichols' new installment in his consistently boring filmography utilizes a kind of languid serenity which is at peace with the chosen story and the larger resonance of its ramifications in modern culture, but it's also not a very exciting situation or one which lends its hand to engaging, articulate drama. Nichols was the perfect fit for the project, but just because sensibility lines up with intention doesn't mean it's a story meant… more
Erik 🎼 (5★) · 206 likes
"tell the judge i love my wife" HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHDHDHDHDHHDBHHBDDFBD IM IN PAIN
cinéfila... 🕯️ (3.5★) · 149 likes
me before loving (2016): love is a scam and a social construct
me after loving (2016): Love is a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes that ranges from interpersonal affection ("I love my mother") to pleasure ("I loved that meal"). It can refer to an emotion of a strong attraction and personal attachment. It can also be a virtue representing human kindness, compassion, and affection—"the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another"