American History X poster
8.3/10 1998 1h 59m Released

Some legacies must end.

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.

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Top Cast

Edward Norton
Edward Norton
Derek
Edward Furlong
Edward Furlong
Danny
Beverly D'Angelo
Beverly D'Angelo
Doris
Jennifer Lien
Jennifer Lien
Davina
Ethan Suplee
Ethan Suplee
Seth
Fairuza Balk
Fairuza Balk
Stacey
Avery Brooks
Avery Brooks
Sweeney
Elliott Gould
Elliott Gould
Murray
Stacy Keach
Stacy Keach
Cameron
William Russ
William Russ
Dennis
Guy Torry
Guy Torry
Lamont
Joe Cortese
Joe Cortese
Rasmussen
Jason Bose Smith
Jason Bose Smith
Little Henry
Antonio David Lyons
Antonio David Lyons
Lawrence
Alex Sol
Alex Sol
Mitch McCormick
Keram Malicki-Sánchez
Keram Malicki-Sánchez
Chris

Reviews

tmdb15435519 9/10

Despite having a somewhat weak cast, this is an incredibly poignant drama of one man's struggle to live a new life. Probably too violent and close-to-home for some.

Andre Gonzales 5/10

There's really no point to the movie. Just a lot of violence. That's pretty much it.

GenerationofSwine 1/10

You could use this as a skinhead recruitment film because it failed so miserably in the message it was trying to push, and it failed miserably because they were too concerned about pushing the message that they forgot how they were framing the film. So a bunch of skinheads win a turf war basketball game, to stop the gang violence around the basketball courts, and then one of the Black people on the losing side…

CinemaSerf 7/10

"Danny" (Edward Furlong) isn't making much progress at school so his teacher "Sweeney" (Avery Brooks) gives him a project. He is to document the life of his elder brother "Derek" (Edward Norton) whom he adores. "Derek" was a neo-Nazi - and an active one at that who has only recently been released from prison for killing two men who tried to steal his car, but after spending time behind bars he has begun to question…

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FAQ about American History X

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…
When was American History X released?
American History X was released in 1998.
What genres does American History X belong to?
American History X is categorised as Drama.
Who stars in American History X?
The cast of American History X includes Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D'Angelo, Jennifer Lien, Ethan Suplee.