Free Leonard Peltier

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Free Leonard Peltier

2025

1h 50m

Documentary

Crime

History

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87%

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15 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

In the early 1970s, the United States was roiled by protest: Vietnam, women's rights, gay rights, black power and, rising up at the forefront, the American Indian Movement, AIM. Leonard Peltier was a young mechanic when he joined AIM to advocate for his people and quickly found himself swept up in a war between activists and the US government. FREE LEONARD PELTIER, the new documentary from acclaimed directors Jesse Short Bull and David France, revisits the turbulent era of AIM, bringing alive the occupations, arrests, demands, and assassinations and culminating in the FBI's descent onto the compound on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation where Peltier was staying. After two FBI agents are killed in the ensuing shootout, Peltier is arrested, tried, convicted of their murder and sentenced to two life terms in prison in one of the most notorious and discredited legal judgments in modern America. Now, fifty years later, with Peltier still in jail, FREE LEONARD PELTIER arrives to revisit his case in a new era and to advocate for just what its title suggests.

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Alissa Wilkinson

New York Times

Oct 16, 2026

Peltier may not be in prison anymore, but his story remains a symbol of a much larger failing.

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Ty Burr

Ty Burr's Watch List (Substack)

Jan 31, 2025

3/4

A solid, stirring account of the fight to release Peltier, in his 80s and ailing, after five decades in prison for a crime everyone but the FBI believes he didn’t commit.

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Robert Daniels

RogerEbert.com

Jan 29, 2025

“Free Leonard Peltier” is as defiant as its subject.

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Jose Solís

Common Sense Media

6 days ago

3/5

This is a tight, thoroughly-researched documentary that follows the case of the longest-serving political prisoner in American history.

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John Stark

Mac the Movie Guy

Oct 18, 2026

86/100

One of the best documentaries of the year.

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John Serba

Decider

Oct 13, 2026

Free Leonard Peltier is a rock-solid activist documentary, informative and thoroughly watchable.

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Biliana G

@RT70580265 Oct 19, 2026

I watched this film at the theatrical opening in NYC and was so profoundly moved. Emotional, captivating and extremely well-crafted storytelling. I learned so much about Leonard and the journey so many have been on to fight for his freedom, especially the team behind this film. Hats off to all of you for bringing Leonard home and for sharing his story with the entire world.

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cyprien N

@cyprien Oct 14, 2026

Such an essential, eye-opening documentary. decades of history, advocacy, and a powerful look at justice in America definitely a must-watch for everyone.

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David France

Director

Jesse Short Bull

Director

Leonard Peltier

Self

David France

Producer

Jhane Myers

Producer

Paul McGuire

Producer

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Synopsis

In the early 1970s, the United States was roiled by protest: Vietnam, women's rights, gay rights, black power and, rising up at the forefront, the American Indian Movement, AIM. Leonard Peltier was a young mechanic when he joined AIM to advocate for his people and quickly found himself swept up in a war between activists and the US government. FREE LEONARD PELTIER, the new documentary from acclaimed directors Jesse Short Bull and David France, revisits the turbulent era of AIM, bringing alive the occupations, arrests, demands, and assassinations and culminating in the FBI's descent onto the compound on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation where Peltier was staying. After two FBI agents are killed in the ensuing shootout, Peltier is arrested, tried, convicted of their murder and sentenced to two life terms in prison in one of the most notorious and discredited legal judgments in modern America. Now, fifty years later, with Peltier still in jail, FREE LEONARD PELTIER arrives to revisit his case in a new era and to advocate for just what its title suggests.

Director: David France, Jesse Short Bull
Producer: David France, Jhane Myers, Paul McGuire, N. Bird Runningwater
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Public Square Films
Genre: Documentary, Crime, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 12, 2026
Runtime: 1h 50m

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