Judas and the Black Messiah + Discussion

Set in late 1960s Chicago, Judas and the Black Messiah tells the story of Fred Hampton, the charismatic chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party, whose vision of community organising and radical solidarity made him a target of the FBI.

The film unfolds through the perspective of William O’Neal, a small time criminal coerced into becoming an informant for the federal government. As O’Neal rises within the Panthers and gains Hampton’s trust, the tension between survival, guilt, and complicity intensifies and leads to devastating consequences.

Rated 15+ and with a runtime of 126 minutes, the film blends intimate character study with high stakes political drama. It highlights the Panthers’ grassroots work including free breakfast programmes, education, and coalition building while revealing the lengths the state went to suppress Black political movements.

A post film chat at Circle Screening is available for those who wish to stay and discuss the film’s historical context, ethical questions, and continued relevance.