Apple TVRoots (1977)
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Progressive
Viewer Rating
Rating: 7.8
Overview
The epic tale of celebrated Pulitzer-prize winning author Alex Haley's ancestors as portrayed in the acclaimed twelve hour mini-series Roots, was first told in his 1976 bestseller Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The docu-drama covers a period of history that begins in mid-1700s Gambia, West Africa and concludes during post-Civil War United States, over 100 years later. This 1977 miniseries eventually won 9 Emmy awards, a Golden Globe award, and a Peabody award, and still stands as the most watched miniseries in U.S. history.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Apple TV
Prime VideoBias Dimensions
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: High
Christianity: Positive
Islam: Positive
Overview
The epic tale of celebrated Pulitzer-prize winning author Alex Haley's ancestors as portrayed in the acclaimed twelve hour mini-series Roots, was first told in his 1976 bestseller Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The docu-drama covers a period of history that begins in mid-1700s Gambia, West Africa and concludes during post-Civil War United States, over 100 years later. This 1977 miniseries eventually won 9 Emmy awards, a Golden Globe award, and a Peabody award, and still stands as the most watched miniseries in U.S. history.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Apple TVPrime VideoDetailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Progressive
Primary
The film's central thesis explicitly promotes progressive ideology by chronicling the multi-generational struggle against systemic racism and slavery, emphasizing themes of human dignity, cultural identity, and liberation.
The miniseries 'Roots' is a seminal work that explicitly centers the historical experiences of African Americans, depicting the brutality of slavery and the struggle for freedom. Its narrative offers a strong and direct critique of historical racial oppression, portraying white slave owners and figures involved in the slave trade in a negative light. The casting is entirely dedicated to authentically telling this specific minority group's story.
Secondary
The film critically portrays the hypocrisy of slaveholders who used Christianity to justify their cruelty, yet it also depicts the faith as a source of solace, community, and moral guidance for enslaved people and abolitionists. The narrative condemns the abuse of faith, not the faith itself, aligning with its virtues when genuinely practiced.
Islam is portrayed positively through Kunta Kinte, whose faith provides him with a strong sense of identity, dignity, and resilience in the face of enslavement. His prayers and adherence to Islamic customs are depicted with respect and as a source of inner strength.
The miniseries 'Roots' does not feature any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes. Its extensive narrative arc is dedicated to depicting the generational saga of an enslaved family, focusing on themes of survival, identity, and the fight for freedom.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
The 1977 miniseries "Roots" is a faithful adaptation of Alex Haley's novel, portraying all major characters with the same gender as established in the source material and historical accounts. No canonical or historical characters were depicted with a different gender.
The 1977 miniseries "Roots" is an adaptation of Alex Haley's novel, which chronicles an African-American family's history. The show's casting accurately reflects the racial identities of the characters as established in the source material, with no instances of characters being portrayed as a different race.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
7.8
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
User Ratings
8.4
7.4
Critic Ratings
7.7
N/A
More Like This
Progressive
7.1
Show Boat
(1951)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: High
Progressive
6.8
Candyman
(1992)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: High
Leans Progressive
8.4
The Holdovers
(2023)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Neutral
Progressive
7.6
Pleasantville
(1998)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Leans Progressive
6.6
Tortilla Soup
(2001)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Leans Progressive
7.0
Les Misérables
(2012)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: Low
Progressive
7.3
Fried Green Tomatoes
(1991)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Positive
Leans Progressive
8.4
The Last of the Curlews
(1972)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
Leans Progressive
7.2
THX 1138
(1971)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
Leans Progressive
6.7
Vice
(2018)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Neutral
Leans Progressive
8.0
The Imitation Game
(2014)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Leans Progressive
7.4
Invictus
(2009)
Political: Center
Diversity: High
Leans Progressive
7.7
The Hours
(2002)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Progressive
7.6
Torch Song Trilogy
(1988)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Positive
Leans Progressive
7.6
King Kong
(2005)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: Moderate
Leans Progressive
7.1
Diary of a Mad Housewife
(1970)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
Leans Progressive
7.9
Good Night, and Good Luck.
(2005)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: Low
Leans Progressive
6.7
Titan: The OceanGate Submersible Disaster
(2025)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: Moderate
Progressive
7.2
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
(1967)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: High
Leans Progressive
6.7
I Love You Phillip Morris
(2010)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive