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Celluloid
Drama TIFF 2016

Moonlight Review (2016) — 70% Celluloid Score

Directed by Barry Jenkins · 2016 ·

Short answer

Is Moonlight worth watching?

Yes. Moonlight (2016) earns a 70% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

70%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

74% Editorial Rating
77% Audience snapshot · excluded
63 Metascore
★★★☆☆ Letterboxd 3.4
7.4 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
1h 51m
Age rating
R (US) · 15 (UK) · M (Australia) · 15 (South Korea) · R15+ (Japan)
Cast
Trevante Rhodes , André Holland , Janelle Monáe , Ashton Sanders , Jharrel Jerome , Alex R. Hibbert , Jaden Piner , Naomie Harris , Mahershala Ali , Shariff Earp
Streaming
Netflix
Language
English

Also known as Luz de luna Moonlight: Sob a Luz do Luar ムーンライト 문라이트 月光男孩 月光下的藍色男孩 Ay Işığı มูนไลท์

🏆 2 award wins — Won Best Picture, Academy Awards 2017

Where to watch

  • Netflix

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

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

Where to watch Moonlight by country

Country Streaming on
Japan Hulu, U-NEXT
South Korea Netflix
United States Netflix

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (74/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (77%).
  • Metascore is generally favorable (63/100).
  • Celluloid Score 70% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Fans of Drama

Not ideal for

  • Viewers who only watch top-tier, 90%+ rated films

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 Moonlight worth watching?

Yes — Moonlight earns a 70% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits fans of Drama, but viewers who only watch top-tier, 90%+ rated films may want to skip it. Read our full review (3.5/5).

Celluloid verdict

Barry Jenkins’ triptych of Black queer coming-of-age won Best Picture — still the most cited modern American indie in “best of” lists.

, Founder & Editor

Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

What is Moonlight about?

The tender, heartbreaking story of a young man’s struggle to find himself, told across three defining chapters in his life as he experiences the ecstasy, pain, and beauty of falling in love, while grappling with his own sexuality.

Watch the Trailer

Critic Reviews

Short review 4 min read English Moonlight

Moonlight (2016) Review: Three Ages of Tenderness

Moonlight is Barry Jenkins's Best Picture-winning drama about a young Black man in Miami, told in three chapters: beautifully made, if at times too withholding.

Yes, with reservations. Its performances and images are exceptional, but its quiet, elliptical style asks viewers to fill in more than some will want to.

Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

Moonlight stills

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

Moonlight production still 1
Moonlight production still 2
Moonlight production still 3
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Moonlight production still 6

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

Reader takes

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Moonlight: frequently asked questions

Is Moonlight worth watching?

Yes. Moonlight (2016) has a Celluloid Score of 70%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

Where can I watch Moonlight?

In the United States, Moonlight streams on Netflix with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: Hulu, U-NEXT in Japan; Netflix in South Korea. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

How long is Moonlight?

Moonlight runs 1 hour 51 minutes (111 minutes).

What is Moonlight rated?

Moonlight is rated R in the United States, 15 in the UK, M in Australia, 15 in South Korea and R15+ in Japan. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

Who stars in Moonlight?

Moonlight is directed by Barry Jenkins and stars Trevante Rhodes, André Holland, Janelle Monáe, Ashton Sanders, Jharrel Jerome.

What is the Metascore for Moonlight?

Metacritic's Metascore for Moonlight is 63 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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