Join more than 5 million users

using PlayPilot to find the best movies and shows on all streaming services!

Promo

Ratings

Profile photo for
Your rating:
IMDb rating Visit page
IMDb rating 7.3
Critic rating Average critic rating
Critic rating 8

Reviews

Add a review
Critic Leslie Felperin
rated 8

...not only a rousing story of radicals sticking it to the man, but also a thriller of sorts, a portrait of the times and a moving narrative about people willing to risk their safety and happiness to do what they thought was right.

Read full review at The Guardian

Cast & Crew

Richard Nixon
As Self (archive footage)
J. Edgar Hoover
As Self (archive footage)
Marilyn Ness
As Citizens' Commission
George McGovern
As Self (archive footage)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 1971 about? Toggle content

In 1971, a group of ordinary Americans daringly broke into an FBI office in Media, Pennsylvania, and stole hundreds of files. Their goal was to expose the government's illegal surveillance of civilian political activists, which was infringing on their First Amendment rights. The stolen files revealed the FBI's extensive, illegal operations aimed at spreading paranoia and distrust among New Left and black civil rights organizations. The group, calling themselves the Citizens' Commission to Investigate the FBI, mailed copies of the files to various newsrooms, but only The Washington Post ran a front-page story about the stolen documents. The most significant element in the stolen materials turned out to be a single file mentioning "COINTELPRO," a secret surveillance program run by J. Edgar Hoover. This film tells the captivating story of those who dared to challenge the government's abuse of power, raising questions about security leaks in activism today.

Where can I stream 1971? Toggle content

You can stream 1971 on:

What movies are similar to 1971? Toggle content