Wattstax (1973): cast, story & where to watch
1973 · Film · ★ 7.5
Released in 1973, Wattstax is a music and documentary film directed by Mel Stuart, running about 98 minutes. “100,000 brothers and sisters turning onto being black... and telling it like it is!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Wattstax is the 1973 documentary film about the Afro-American Woodstock concert held in Los Angeles seven years after the Watts riots. Director Mel Stuart mixes footage from the concert with footage of the living conditions in the current day Watts neighborhood. The film won the Golden Globe for Best Documentary Film.
Who’s in it. Wattstax stars Richard Pryor as Self, Isaac Hayes as Self, Rufus Thomas as Himself and Melvin Van Peebles as Himself, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.5/10, Wattstax has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Wattstax page.
If you liked it. Fans of Wattstax tend to enjoy Whiplash, Coco, Green Book and The Legend of 1900.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Wattstax (1973)?
- In US, Wattstax is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Wattstax worth watching?
- Wattstax holds an audience score of 7.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy music and documentary. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Wattstax?
- Wattstax stars Richard Pryor, Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, Melvin Van Peebles and Kim Weston.
- When was Wattstax released?
- Wattstax was released in 1973, with a runtime of about 98 minutes.