What is the Metascore for American History X?

American History X has a Metascore of 81 out of 100 on Celluloid.

Drama Editor's Pick

American History X Review (1998) — 83% Celluloid Score

Item: American History X
Rating: 4.5
Author: Kaiser Khan

Directed by Tony Kaye · 1998 · Last reviewed August 31, 2026

Answer Summary

American History X (1998) earns a 83% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

Quick Verdict

Calculated from 4 available inputs: Celluloid editorial rating, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb. Audience sentiment is shown separately and never changes the composite. See how we calculate scores.

83%

Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

87% Editorial Rating

89% Audience snapshot · excluded

81 Metascore

★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4

8.5 IMDb /10

Watch Trailer

Runtime: 1h 59m
Cast: Edward Norton , Edward Furlong , Beverly D'Angelo , Jennifer Lien , Ethan Suplee , Fairuza Balk , Avery Brooks , Elliott Gould , Stacy Keach , William Russ
Country: United States
Language: English

Official theatrical poster for American History X (1998)

Theatrical release

Where to watch

Streaming availability varies by region — currently on HBO Max, Sky Cinema in the United Kingdom. Check local listings for your region.

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Why this score?

Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (87/100).
General viewers mostly liked it (89%).
Metascore signals universal acclaim (81/100).
Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4/5).
IMDb users score it 8.5/10.

Best for

Viewers who want a well-regarded drama pick

Not ideal for

Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

Is American History X worth watching?

Yes — American History X earns a 83% Celluloid Score. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.

Celluloid Verdict

IMDb Top 250 #43 (8.5/10) — American History X remains one of the most highly rated films of all time.
Celluloid editorial verdict

Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

What is American History X about?

Derek Vineyard is paroled after serving 3 years in prison for killing two African-American men. Through his brother, Danny Vineyard's narration, we learn that before going to prison, Derek was a skinhead and the leader of a violent white supremacist gang that committed acts of racial crime throughout L.A. and his actions greatly influenced Danny. Reformed and fresh out of prison, Derek severs contact with the gang and becomes determined to keep Danny from going down the same violent path as he did.

Watch the Trailer

Critic Reviews

critic American History X

American History X (1998) Review

★★★★½ 4.5/5

Tony Kaye's American History X (1998) remains a defining Drama landmark from United States, with scores that still shape how audiences discover the title.

Strongly recommended — holds up for new and returning viewers.

American History X stills

Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

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