Rotten Tomatoes
Suggestions will appear as you start typing. Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Soul Patrol

Play trailer Poster for Soul Patrol In Theaters Nov 6 1h 39m Documentary History War Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
95% Tomatometer 19 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
Soul Patrol uncovers a hidden chapter of American military history by focusing on the Vietnam War's first Black special ops team, an elite unit operating deep behind enemy lines. With unprecedented access to this once-secretive group of African-American veterans, director J.M. Harper reconstructs their journey with an immediacy rarely seen in Vietnam War storytelling, using raw Super 8 footage, photographs, and audio recordings from their personal archives. Opening on the war's 50th anniversary, the surviving members reunite in a hotel that becomes a surreal liminal space, where memory, brotherhood, and unresolved trauma collide. As the men reflect on their experiences, the film interrogates the contradictions of fighting for freedom abroad while facing inequality at home. Winner of the Directing Award for U.S. Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival, Soul Patrol is not just a war story, but a reckoning -- an intimate portrait of survival, memory, and the enduring cost of war on those asked to fight it.
Coming Soon In Theaters Nov 6 Buy Tickets

Cast & Crew

View All

J.M. Harper

Director

Myles Simms-Aur

Emanuel

Deion Smith

Brock

Elijah Richardson

Mackey

Okea Eme-Akwari

Reid

Michael Oloyede

Mattox

Critics Reviews

View More
Dwight Brown DwightBrownInk.com Feb 6, 2026
3.5/4
After viewing, one phrase will come to mind for most audiences, “Thank you for your service.” Go to Full Review Robert Daniels RogerEbert.com Jan 28, 2026
At times, "Soul Patrol" can be a harrowing viewing. Go to Full Review Lisa Kennedy Variety Jan 27, 2026
The credits begin their roll with Jimmy Ruffin’s aching ballad “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted?” playing. Like Emanuel and his comrades, Harper and his film go a meaningful way in asking and offering an answer to that plaint. Go to Full Review Gerald Peary Arts Fuse Jun 23, 2026
Soul Patrol offers a melancholy, touching elegy to a brave and honorable bunch of ex-soldiers, proud of what they did even if still conflicted about whether the Vietnam War was worth fighting. Go to Full Review Sarah Manvel Movies We Texted About Mar 4, 2026
Watching such a well-done therapeutic exercise does indeed have some value. But limiting itself to that purpose prevented Soul Patrol from being a truly great documentary. Go to Full Review Brooke Obie Black Girl Watching Feb 18, 2026
A complicated portrait of exploited Black men and what mythology is necessary to cope. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
View All

Soul Patrol

View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Soul Patrol uncovers a hidden chapter of American military history by focusing on the Vietnam War's first Black special ops team, an elite unit operating deep behind enemy lines. With unprecedented access to this once-secretive group of African-American veterans, director J.M. Harper reconstructs their journey with an immediacy rarely seen in Vietnam War storytelling, using raw Super 8 footage, photographs, and audio recordings from their personal archives. Opening on the war's 50th anniversary, the surviving members reunite in a hotel that becomes a surreal liminal space, where memory, brotherhood, and unresolved trauma collide. As the men reflect on their experiences, the film interrogates the contradictions of fighting for freedom abroad while facing inequality at home. Winner of the Directing Award for U.S. Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival, Soul Patrol is not just a war story, but a reckoning -- an intimate portrait of survival, memory, and the enduring cost of war on those asked to fight it.
Director
J.M. Harper
Producer
Sam Bisbee, Danielle Massie, J.M. Harper, Nas, Peter Bittenbender
Distributor
Kino Lorber
Production Co
Park Pictures
Genre
Documentary, History, War
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 6, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 15, 2026
Runtime
1h 39m
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings