Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Ambitious activist retro drama has profanity, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Big Cigar
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE BIG CIGAR, Black Panther Party founder Huey P. Newton (Andre Holland) enlists help from Hollywood to evade the Feds and make an elaborate escape to Cuba. Chased by an agent masquerading as a long-haired hippie, and trying to settle disputes among the Black Panthers, Newton must find a way to trust producer Bert Schneider (Alessandro Nivola) to help him flee the country.
Is It Any Good?
Many streaming series attempt to stretch a little bit of story out to a long running time, but this show goes in the opposite direction. Despite its six-episode run, the Don Cheadle-helmed The Big Cigar packs too much into too little time. The result is a dizzying series that never digs deep enough into its fascinating premise and doesn't give viewers many reasons to root for its heroes if they don't already know their history.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the Black Panthers. How familiar were you with the Black Panther organization and their role in American culture during and after the Civil Rights Movement? How are the Black Panthers portrayed in this series? How true do you think this is to real life?
How does The Big Cigar use the action genre as a launchpad to discuss real American history? What did you learn from the series? Which characters do you want to know more about?
TV Details
- Premiere date : May 17, 2024
- Cast : Andre Holland , Alessandro Nivola , Tiffany Boone
- Network : Apple TV
- Genre : Action
- Topics : Activism , History
- TV rating :
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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