‘The Hate U Give’ Is Available To Rent For Free On Digital Platforms As Protests Supporting Black Lives Matter Continue
As the protests supporting the Black Lives Matter movement continue across the country, more and more people are looking for movies and shows to watch that address the root issues of that movement. (And no,The Helpisnot exactly the best available option.) Studios and filmmakers are making some particularly relevant movies free to rent, and it’s hard to get more relevant than 2018’sThe Hate U Give, which involves the police shooting an unarmed black man, and what happens when the officer’s non-conviction inspires massive protests and riots.
If you missed the movie when it came out, now’s your chance to catch up with it.The Hate U Givehas been made available for free on digital platforms, and you’re able to read the director’s statement below.
The Hate U Give Free Rental Announcement
I’m Excited that#TheHateUGiveis avail Tues at no charge on digital platforms. I hope the film provides a bit of understanding. Our story is a reminder to never be afraid to raise our voice in the name of justice. We must stand up for what we believe. The time for change is now!pic.twitter.com/e9FZuqKb33
— George Tillman Jr. (@George_Tillman)August 01, 2025
The Hate U Givewas very well-received when it opened. It’s currently sitting at 97% onRotten Tomatoes, and the Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society, an organization that counts /Film’s Peter Sciretta among its members,gave it several major awardsin 2018, including Best Picture, Best Breakthrough Performance (Amandla Stenberg), Best Adapted Screenplay (Audrey Wells), and Best Supporting Actor (Russell Hornsbytied for the honor). You can read our review of the moviehere.
Here’s the trailer:
This movie is the latest major Hollywood film which pointedly deals with race to be made free to rent, joining Ava DuVernay’sSelmaand Destin Daniel Cretton’sJust Mercy. Amandla Stenberg (The Hunger Games,The Eddy) stars in this one alongside Russell Hornsby,Regina Hall,Issa Rae,KJ Apa,Algee Smith,Sabrina Carpenter,Common, andAnthony Mackie.George Tillman Jr., the director of the Notorious B.I.G. biopicNotorious, the Dwayne Johnson action filmFaster, and an indie calledThe Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete(which is also worth your time) directed it.
Here’s the film’s official synopsis:
Starr Carter is constantly switching between two worlds: the poor, mostly black, neighborhood where she lives and the rich, mostly white, prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Now, facing pressures from all sides of the community, Starr must find her voice and stand up for what’s right. THE HATE U GIVE is based on the critically acclaimed New York Times bestseller by Angie Thomas and stars Amandla Stenberg as Starr, with Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, Issa Rae, KJ Apa, Algee Smith, Sabrina Carpenter, Common and Anthony Mackie.
