Free State of Jones | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

48% Tomatometer 194 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings

In 1863, Mississippi farmer Newt Knight serves as a medic for the Confederate Army. Opposed to slavery, Knight would rather help the wounded than fight the Union. After his nephew dies in battle, Newt returns home to Jones County to safeguard his family but is soon branded an outlaw deserter. Forced to flee, he finds refuge with a group of runaway slaves hiding out in the swamps. Forging an alliance with the slaves and other farmers, Knight leads a rebellion that would forever change history.

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Free State of Jones

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Critics Consensus

Free State of Jones has the noblest of intentions, but they aren't enough to make up for its stilted treatment of a fascinating real-life story.

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Critics Reviews

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Free State of Jones | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Soraya Nadia McDonald Andscape Because Free State of Jones concentrates so singularly on making [Matthew] McConaughey the hero of the film, it ends up being a series of missed opportunities. Sep 26, 2017 Full Review Free State of Jones | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online While all the performances are solid, there's too much of a distance from the setting of the story to truly create an immersive experience between the audience and the film. Rated: C Mar 21, 2017 Full Review Free State of Jones | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Dwight Brown National Newspaper Publishers Association A surprisingly enlightening film. Nov 8, 2016 Full Review Free State of Jones | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson The more unforgivable flaws center on narrative choices and misplaced emotion. Rated: 3/5 Oct 13, 2024 Full Review Free State of Jones | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies ...a well-made film that’s both gripping and informative. Rated: 3.5/5 Aug 20, 2022 Full Review Free State of Jones | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review No matter what's happening in the story, Ross finds a way to formally detach his audience from the drama to a frustrating degree. Rated: 2/4 Apr 11, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Christopher M Great action with great acting. But it feels like its miss something. An enjoyable watch none-the-less. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/06/24 Full Review Fiona H Loved it!! Excellent acting, and an important history lesson…. Highly recommend Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/19/24 Full Review Chris H This is a fascinating subject and a well acted and emotional film, but the pacing is very peculiar in parts; just when things get interesting, we skip ahead several months. Well worth a couple of hours of your time though. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/29/24 Full Review Patrick M I only have one word - Outstanding!!! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/04/24 Full Review Rob A If you don't give a darn about history you should probably skip this one. But it tells a powerful true story few know about, with solid acting, costumes, set design etc. I find the American Civil War under-emphasized by Hollywood (not unlike WW1); the Nazis get most of Tinseltown's attention. 'Free State of Jones' isn't quite Gone With the Wind, but it'll transport you back there, teach you a thing or two and most certainly hold your interest. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/01/24 Full Review Kevin P A movie of two halves. Plenty of gritty storytelling in the first half, but then strangely pulls its punches in the second. What could have been a dramatic tale of the realities of the South resisting Emancipation, it waters most of it down into a docu-drama.Still well worth a watch to learn about the history. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/21/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Gary Ross Director Matthew McConaughey Newt Knight Gugu Mbatha-Raw Rachel Mahershala Ali Moses Keri Russell Serena Knight Brendan Gleeson Actor
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Free State of Jones

Matthew McConaughey as Newton Knight in "Free State of Jones." (L-R) Mahershala Ali as Moses Washington and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Rachel in "Free State of Jones." (L-R) Matthew McConaughey as Newton Knight and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Rachel in "Free State of Jones." (L-R) Matthew McConaughey as Newton Knight and Bill Tangradi as Lt. Barbour in "Free State of Jones." (L-R) Mahershala Ali as Moses Washington and Matthew McConaughey as Newton Knight in "Free State of Jones." Matthew McConaughey as Newton Knight in "Free State of Jones." Matthew McConaughey as Newton Knight in "Free State of Jones." Matthew McConaughey as Newton Knight in "Free State of Jones." (L-R) Jacob Lofland as Daniel and Matthew McConaughey as Newton Knight in "Free State of Jones." (L-R) Matthew McConaughey as Newton Knight and Jacob Lofland as Daniel in "Free State of Jones." View more photos

Synopsis In 1863, Mississippi farmer Newt Knight serves as a medic for the Confederate Army. Opposed to slavery, Knight would rather help the wounded than fight the Union. After his nephew dies in battle, Newt returns home to Jones County to safeguard his family but is soon branded an outlaw deserter. Forced to flee, he finds refuge with a group of runaway slaves hiding out in the swamps. Forging an alliance with the slaves and other farmers, Knight leads a rebellion that would forever change history.

Director
Gary Ross

Producer
Scott Stuber, Jon Kilik, Gary Ross

Screenwriter
Gary Ross, Leonard Hartman

Distributor
STX Entertainment

Production Co
Huayi Brothers, Route One Films, Larger Than Life, IM Global, Bluegrass Films, Vendian Entertainment

Rating
R (Disturbing Graphic Images|Brutal Battle Scenes)

Genre
History, Drama, Biography, War

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 24, 2016, Wide

Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 6, 2016

Box Office (Gross USA)
$20.8M

Runtime
2h 19m

Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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Free State of Jones | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

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