Emancipation 2022
“Emancipation” might be the biggest streaming gamble of the month as it marks the first major release for Will Smith following the 2022 Oscars, where he slapped Chris Rock.
The film is based on a true story and stars Smith as a runaway slave named Peter, known better to the world as “Whipped Peter” after photographs of keloid scarring on his back were distributed to show the brutality of slavery. The film follows Peter as he navigates the swamps of Louisiana to escape the plantation owners that nearly killed him. Smith said in an interview that he “completely understands” if moviegoers ignore the movie because they aren’t ready for his comeback so soon after the Oscars slap, adding,
“The people on this team have done some of the best work of their entire careers, and my deepest hope is that my actions don’t penalize my team. At this point, that’s what I’m working for.”
