Judas and the Black Messiah is a biographical drama film that tells the story of William O'Neal, an African-American man who was recruited by the FBI to infiltrate the Black Panther Party in the late 1960s. O'Neal, who had been arrested for car theft, avoided jail time by working with FBI Agent Roy Mitchell, who saw him as an opportunity to gather intelligence on the Black Panthers.
As O'Neal gets deeper into the organization, he becomes close to Black Panther leader Fred Hampton, who is emerging as a powerful voice for the Black community in Chicago. Hampton is a charismatic leader who is able to inspire people with his speeches and his ideas about revolution and racial equality.
O'Neal is conflicted as he develops a friendship with Hampton while also betraying him to the FBI. The tension between O'Neal's loyalty to the Black Panthers and his loyalty to the FBI builds throughout the movie, leading to a tragic outcome.
Judas and the Black Messiah features powerful performances from Daniel Kaluuya as Fred Hampton and Lakeith Stanfield as William O'Neal. The movie explores themes of racism, betrayal, and the struggle for social justice that continue to resonate today.
The film was directed by Shaka King and produced by Ryan Coogler, who also produced Black Panther. It premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and was released in theaters and on HBO Max on February 12, 2021. The movie received critical acclaim and earned numerous awards nominations, including six Academy Award nominations.