Soul Man
He didn't give up, he got down.
1986 • 104 min • Comedy
Synopsis
A white prospective grad student's affluent family won't pay his way through law school, so he takes tanning pills to darken his skin in order to qualify for an African-American scholarship at Harvard. He soon gets more than he bargained for, as he begins to learn what life is really like for blacks in America.
Our family guide
Best from age 13- 53 Audience · 172 · 100%
Mark, a wealthy student, fakes his identity to secure a scholarship for Harvard Law. He uses tanning pills to appear Black, expecting an easy ride, but quickly faces the realities of racial prejudice and systemic challenges. The film explores his evolving understanding as he experiences life from a different perspective.
- Violence & peril
- 2/10
- Language
- 4/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 2/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 2/10
- Scary moments
- 1/10
Heads up
- Deceptive behavior as a plot device
- Outdated stereotypes for comedic effect
- Brief discriminatory language
What it models well
- Empathy and understanding
- Confronting prejudice
- Personal growth
Talk about it after
- The impact of racial prejudice
- The idea of "walking in someone else's shoes"
- Why diverse representation matters
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Soul Man. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
Where to watch
Amazon Video
Google Play Movies
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Top billed cast
Director: Steve Miner • Crew: Carol Black
Trailers & clips
Soul Man - C. Thomas Howell - Trailer
Reviewer notes
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Gallery
Details
- TMDB audience
- 5.3/10 (172)
- Age rating
- PG-13
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $4,500,000
- Box office
- $35,000,000
- IMDb
- tt0091991
