Should you watch When We Were Kings?
Who it’s good for, who it isn’t, and what’s in it. No ratings, no scores.

When We Were Kings
Documentary · 1996
It's 1974. Muhammad Ali is 32 and thought by many to be past his prime. George Foreman is ten years younger and the heavyweight champion of the world. Promoter Don King wants to make a name for himself and offers both fighters five million dollars apiece to fight one another, and when they accept, King has only to come up with the money. He finds a willing backer in Mobutu Sese Suko, the dictator of Zaire, and the "Rumble in the Jungle" is set, including a musical festival featuring some of America's top black performers, like James Brown and B.B. King.
The sides of When We Were Kings
- Muhammad Ali against George Foreman in Zaire
- A music festival with James Brown and B.B. King
- Don King and a dictator's money
When We Were Kings is good for you if…
- you like the Rumble in the Jungle and Ali's rope-a-dope.
- you like Muhammad Ali talking, joking and believing he can win.
- you like soul and African music filling a documentary.
When We Were Kings is bad for you if…
- you can't watch men punching each other.
- you find 1970s archive footage dated.
About: pride · black identity · comeback
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