or


[11/16/20 - 12:59 PM]
HBO's "40 Years a Prisoner" Debuts December 8
The documentary chronicles one of the most controversial shootouts in American history: the 1978 police raid on the radical, back-to-nature group MOVE by the Philadelphia Police Department.

[via press release from HBO]

HBO's 40 YEARS A PRISONER Debuts December 8

Documentary Film Is Written And Directed By Tommy Oliver And Executive Produced By Common And Get Lifted Film Co.'s Mike Jackson, John Legend And Ty Stiklorius

Feature documentary 40 YEARS A PRISONER, debuting TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8 (9:00-10:50 p.m. ET/PT), chronicles one of the most controversial shootouts in American history: the 1978 police raid on the radical, back-to-nature group MOVE by the Philadelphia Police Department. Using eyewitness accounts and archival footage of the not widely known confrontation, the film illuminates the story of a city grappling with racial tension and police brutality with alarming topicality and modern-day relevance. Mike Africa Jr., the son of two MOVE members imprisoned for the death of a police officer that day, has committed his life to finding out the truth about what really happened and fighting for the release of the parents that he has only ever known through prison walls.

The film will debut on HBO and be available to stream on HBO Max.

An official selection of the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival, AFI Fest and DOC NYC, 40 YEARS A PRISONER was directed, produced and shot by Tommy Oliver ("1982") through his company, Confluential Films, with music by The Roots. It was executive produced by Common, Derek Dudley, and Shelby Stone for Freedom Road Productions, John Legend, Mike Jackson, and Ty Stiklorius for Get Lifted Film Co., and Keith Gionet and Adam Platzner for Confluential Films, and Kelly Ryan, Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson. The film was edited by Joe Kehoe and Tommy Oliver.

On the morning of August 8, 1978, the Philadelphia Police Department, at the direction of hardline Mayor Frank Rizzo, engaged in a confrontation with the MOVE organization and fired thousands of rounds of ammunition into the West Philadelphia home of the social justice group. When the smoke cleared, a police officer named James Ramp had been killed and an unarmed MOVE member named Delbert Africa had been beaten to within an inch of his life by three police officers.

The MOVE organization was an activist group based on the anti-establishment teachings of John Africa, who preached a rejection of technology and a quest for justice for all living creatures. The violent clash with the police was the result of months of escalation centered around the organization's refusal to move the location of their headquarters from the Philadelphia neighborhood of Powelton Village. The authorities used aggressive tactics in their efforts to shut the group down, including cutting off food and water supplies, establishing a street blockade and building up police presence and use of firepower.

After the final clash with police ended, all nine MOVE members, including Debbie Africa, who was eight months pregnant, and her husband, Mike Africa Sr., were arrested and charged with murder in connection with the death of Officer James Ramp, who was killed on the scene. Immediately after the arrests, Mayor Rizzo ordered MOVE's headquarters to be demolished, leading to questions of whether there was enough concrete physical evidence remaining to link MOVE to Ramp's death, or whether it may have been caused by friendly fire.

While incarcerated, Debbie Africa gave birth to her son Mike Jr. who was taken from her after only one week. Mike Africa Jr. grew up knowing his parents only through prison bars, but was determined to fight for their parole and unearth the truth about a crime they insist they were not guilty of committing.

The film bristles with topicality, revealing a city overrun with social inequalities and entrenched racism where vocal, committed activism frequently clashed with hardline policing. With startling immediacy, 40 YEARS A PRISONER maps the tumultuous events that led up to the tragic shootout and its controversial aftermath and shines a light on a son's impassioned 40-year fight for freedom.

40 YEARS A PRISONER is an HBO Documentary Films presentation of A Confluential Films Production in association with Freedom Road Productions and Get Lifted Film Co. Directed by and produced by Tommy Oliver; executive produced by Common, Derek Dudley, and Shelby Stone for Freedom Road Productions, John Legend, Mike Jackson, and Ty Stiklorius for Get Lifted Film Co., and Keith Gionet and Adam Platzner Confluential Films, and Kelly Ryan, Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Quest Love" Thomson. For HBO: executive producers Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller; senior producer Sara Rodriguez.





  [november 2020]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[10/24/25 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix Announces "Hollywood Arts," A Brand-New Spinoff of Hit Live-Action, "Victorious," with Daniella Monet Returning as Star and Executive Producer
The series is set to debut on Netflix in 2026, followed by releases on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.

[10/24/25 - 07:14 AM]
FOX Sports Readies for Major League Baseball's 121st World Series Presented by Capital One
Action leads off Friday, October 24, between the National League and current reigning World champion Los Angeles Dodgers and American League champion Toronto Blue Jays from Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 9: The Reunion - Official Trailer - Netflix
Denver singles shake up their search for "the one" and step into the pods, braving twists, turns and love triangles to find their soulmate sight unseen.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Experience the Family, the Fun, and the Fantastic! Marvel Studios' "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Lands Exclusively on Disney+ November 5
Continuing the celebration of Marvel's First Family, the announcement was made live from SpaceCon 2025 in San Antonio, where The Fantastic Four: First Steps Immersive Pop-Up Experience invites attendees to step inside the iconic Baxter Building.

[10/24/25 - 06:00 AM]
The CW Network and Xfinity Celebrate 11 Years of the NASCAR Xfinity Series by Presenting the Third Stage of the Championship Race Commercial-Free
Taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, November 1, the commercial-free stage presented by Xfinity was created to thank the loyal race fans who have supported the NASCAR Xfinity Series for more than a decade - helping the series grow through their unwavering enthusiasm, increased viewership, and continued trackside attendance.

[10/23/25 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "As You Stood By" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When two women plot to end an abusive marriage through murder, an unexpected visitor arrives - threatening to shatter everything they've carefully planned.

[10/23/25 - 02:33 PM]
Largest Audience for "NBA Tip-Off" Doubleheader Since 2010 as NBA Returned to NBC and Debuted on Peacock
Tuesday night's audience across NBC and Peacock peaked at 7.1 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-point win over the Houston Rockets in double overtime.

[10/23/25 - 02:28 PM]
The 305 Just Got Hotter: "Love & Hip Hop: Miami" Moves to BET Season 7 Premieres Tuesday, November 4 at 8 PM ET/PT
The upcoming seventh season dives deeper than ever into Miami's thriving entertainment scene, following a cast of stars who are rebuilding, rebranding, and redefining success in real time.

[10/23/25 - 01:30 PM]
Critically Acclaimed Noir Thriller, "Dark Winds," to Return to AMC and AMC+ Sunday, February 15
The series' gripping fourth season focuses on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito from the safety of Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.

[10/23/25 - 12:01 PM]
Video: BET+ Releases Trailer for Horror Film "A Demon's Revenge"
In the film, following the bloodshed in Belize, Peaches, played by Jhoné Lucas, delves deeper into Caribbean folklore and the terrifying truth that lurks beneath.

[10/23/25 - 12:00 PM]
FOX Entertainment Acquires Equity Stake in Chain, Forging Strategic Partnership with Experiential Food Phenomenon Co-Founded by B.J. Novak
Included in the investment is a first look development deal through Chain Media.

[10/23/25 - 11:28 AM]
"High Potential" Rises to Season High as Show Nears Fall Finale
ABC's popular drama rose to a multiplatform season high in Total Viewers (12.50 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.31 rating) after seven days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms.

[10/23/25 - 11:13 AM]
USA Network Renews "The Rainmaker" for Second Season
Across the first nine premiere episodes of the season, "The Rainmaker" has averaged 1.3 million total viewers.

[10/23/25 - 11:06 AM]
Global Box Office Sensation "Wicked" Arrives Nov. 19 on NBC
The NBC telecast of "Wicked" leads up to the November 21 premiere of "Wicked: For Good," the epic finale to the global cultural phenomenon.

[10/23/25 - 11:01 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Releases Official Trailer for New Documentary "My Nightmare Stalker: The Eva LaRue Story"
The powerful two-part documentary premieres Thursday, November 13, exclusively on Paramount+.