tmdb15435519
9/10Despite 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.
Reviewed on April 15, 2021
American History X(1998)
Some legacies must end.
8.3(12,876)1h 59m1998-07-01
Drama
American History X Synopsis
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.
American History X (1998) is a drama film directed by Tony Kaye, released on July 1, 1998 with a runtime of 1h 59m. It stars Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D'Angelo and Jennifer Lien. Viewers rate it 8.3 out of 10 across 12,876 ratings.
- Director:
- Tony Kaye
- Writers:
- David McKenna
- Producers:
- John Morrissey
- Cinematographer:
- Tony Kaye
- Composer:
- Anne Dudley
- Production:
- New Line Cinema, Savoy Pictures, The Turman-Morrissey Company
- Budget:
- $20,000,000
- Revenue:
- $23,900,000
- Status:
- Released
American History X (1998) Trailer
Watch the official trailer for American History X before you stream it.
American History X Videos & Clips
Official trailers, teasers, clips and featurettes for American History X.
American History X (1998) Original Trailer [HD]
Trailer
Derek's Out of Prison
Clip
American History X Cast & Crew
Main cast
Edward Norton
as Derek
Edward Furlong
as Danny
Beverly D'Angelo
as Doris
Jennifer Lien
as Davina
Ethan Suplee
as Seth
Fairuza Balk
as Stacey
Avery Brooks
as Sweeney
Elliott Gould
as Murray
Stacy Keach
as Cameron
William Russ
as Dennis
Guy Torry
as Lamont
Joe Cortese
as Rasmussen
Key crew
Directed by Tony Kaye, written by David McKenna, produced by John Morrissey.
Explore more Drama titles
American History X Reviews & Ratings
Average viewer score of 8.3/10 from 12,876 ratings.
Andre Gonzales
5/10There's really no point to the movie. Just a lot of violence. That's pretty much it.
Reviewed on April 16, 2023
GenerationofSwine
1/10You 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…
Reviewed on December 4, 2025
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…
Reviewed on July 1, 2026
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American History X – Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch American History X online?
+
American History X (1998) is currently available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home. No subscription streaming option is listed right now, so availability may change.
Who stars in American History X?
+
The main cast of American History X (1998) includes Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D'Angelo, Jennifer Lien and Ethan Suplee. The film was directed by Tony Kaye. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
When was American History X released?
+
American History X was released on July 1, 1998 and runs for 1h 59m.
Is American History X worth watching?
+
American History X (1998) holds an average rating of 8.3 out of 10 from 12,876 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy drama films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Is there a trailer for American History X?
+
Yes. The official American History X trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.