Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project
HBO Documentary Films | Release Date: November 3, 2023 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
74
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews
Positive:
8
Mixed:
1
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
80
The GuardianCath ClarkeMar 18, 2025
Her poems, read by Giovanni herself and the actor Taraji P Henson, made the hairs on the back of my neck prickle. Read full review
80
Film ThreatMichael Talbot-HaynesNov 30, 2023
Going To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project will school you thoroughly on why this great poet is so damn important. Read full review
80
The Hollywood ReporterLovia GyarkyeJan 27, 2023
Where Going to Mars undoubtedly succeeds is in spotlighting the poet’s blazing personality, her unwavering confidence and her commitment to community without ever sacrificing herself. Read full review
80
VarietyLisa KennedyJan 27, 2023
"Going to Mars” responds creatively to the call of its ingenious subject thanks to the directors’ soulful grasp of her work, and Terra Long and Lawrence Jackman’s skillful editing. Read full review
75
RogerEbert.comSimon AbramsNov 3, 2023
The makers of Going to Mars do right by Giovanni by showing how she speaks for herself. Read full review
75
The Film StageMichael FrankJan 27, 2023
Brewster and Stephenson struggle to penetrate the armor of this famous poet, focusing instead on her career, her health, and the way that others look at her. Most often they do so with deep admiration, a longing to be fixed by Giovanni. Read full review
70
Paste MagazineAbby OlceseJan 8, 2024
Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project does an admirable job capturing the aesthetic of Nikki Giovanni’s life and poetry. It offers windows into certain parts of history, and glimpses into her ongoing evolution as an artist. Unfortunately, those glimpses don’t offer enough to be memorable. Read full review
67
IndieWireRobert DanielsJan 27, 2023
While Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project doesn’t wholly breach the bubble surrounding Giovanni, by the end, Brewster and Stephenson, through tender immersion and lyrical invention, inspires viewers who have maybe never read Giovanni to seek out her poems, the one that say everything about the spirit of the woman who cannot wholly be captured on camera. Read full review
60
The New York TimesConcepción de LeónNov 2, 2023
The documentary offers only what the poet is willing to give. Read full review
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