---
title: "RBG"
year: 2018
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/rbg"
fi1m_id: "rbg"
imdb_id: "tt7689964"
tmdb_id: 493099
wikidata_id: "Q54829190"
fi1m_score: 74
critics_score: 71
critics_reviews: 17
published: "2026-10-03T00:34:30.843684+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-03T00:34:37.543033+00:00"
region: "FI"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# RBG (2018)

Directed by Betsy West, Julie Cohen · 1h 38m · Documentary

## Identity

RBG

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/rbg
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** rbg
- **IMDb ID:** tt7689964
- **TMDB ID:** 493099
- **Wikidata ID:** Q54829190
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7689964/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/493099, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q54829190

**Fi1m score: 74** · Critics 71 from 17 reviews

*In a sentence:* Ruth Bader Ginsburg gets on with the legal arguments while her film fusses over how much it likes her

> Betsy West and Julie Cohen make an absorbing, affectionate portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, strongest on the patient legal work and her marriage. Their admiration is earned, though their reluctance to question it limits the film.

## Synopsis

Ruth Bader Ginsburg challenges laws that treat men and women differently, building a case for equality through a succession of legal arguments. Betsy West and Julie Cohen’s documentary follows the work behind her public reputation, reaching back before her service on the Supreme Court. Ruth Bader Ginsburg appears as herself alongside Jane C. Ginsburg and Nina Totenberg, who also appear as themselves. The account of her marriage brings her ambitions into family life, where her husband’s support accompanies the struggle against discrimination. Legal work, personal recollections and public acclaim supply different accounts of the woman behind the initials.

## Review

*RBG* is an engaging introduction to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, though its admiration sometimes prevents it asking the next question. Betsy West and Julie Cohen want to explain how a reserved woman became a public heroine through patient work against gender discrimination. They make that work accessible and give the person doing it room to speak. We recommend it for the legal history and the marriage, with some reservations about how readily the directors accept another expression of approval.

The strongest passages concern her case-by-case challenge to unequal treatment of men and women. The satisfaction comes from following someone who understands that persuasion requires more than being right, and is prepared to keep doing the work. The directors communicate the persistence behind that approach, even when they compress the arguments. For someone arriving with little legal knowledge, this is useful, engaging history, although there are moments when a memorable phrase has to stand in for a fuller explanation.

The account of her marriage is the part that moved us most. Her husband’s support for her ambitions makes the discussion of equality immediate, rooted in the way two people choose to live together. The directors allow that support to matter without treating it as a distraction from the legal career. It also gives the documentary some welcome warmth when the public praise starts to sound too much alike.

Claudia Raschke’s cinematography serves the film best in its attention to Ruth Bader Ginsburg herself. Her calm delivery lets us hear the force of an argument without much encouragement to find her formidable. There is pleasure in watching someone who feels no obligation to make every sentence sound like a declaration. That restraint gives these passages an authority the more enthusiastic treatment of her celebrity cannot quite match.

Carla Gutierrez’s editing makes a long working life manageable within 98 minutes, though some of the testimony would benefit from firmer cutting. Praise accumulates after the point has been made, taking time that could have gone to testing it. Miriam Cutler’s music suits the film’s warm manner, but we need less help feeling pleased with its subject. The account of the marriage supplies enough feeling on its own.

The weakness is the directors’ tendency to accept admiration as a sufficient answer. Interviewees can tell us that their subject matters, but agreement among them cannot explain every choice she made. Her judicial career needs more scrutiny than it receives here, and the attention to her celebrity makes that omission harder to overlook. The film is so pleased that people have embraced her that it spends too little time asking what they understand about her work.

A biographical documentary need not behave like a prosecution, and this one’s kindness is part of its appeal. We would still have preferred another difficult question to another expression of approval. There is enough here to make the patient business of changing minds feel worth watching for an evening. If a searching account of her judicial decisions is what you want, leave time afterwards for further reading.

*Fi1m score 74, published 3 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics find RBG an engaging, affectionate portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, with praise clustering around her patient work for gender equality and her partnership with her husband, Marty. The marriage emerges as a particularly moving element, giving the account of her public achievements warmth and personal detail. Several reviews also find Ginsburg herself compelling company, praising her quiet force, eloquence and the opportunity to hear her legal arguments.

The spread is wide, however, and the main disagreement concerns how much the film’s admiration limits its scrutiny. Even favourable reviews question its emphasis on celebrity, its occasionally cutesy approach and its limited dissenting perspectives. The AV Club finds the judicial career glossed over and the interviews reduced to generic praise, while Slant Magazine argues that legal victories and arguments become slogans. For these dissenters, the celebration leaves too little room for a searching account of Ginsburg’s work.

## Straight answers

**Is RBG worth watching?**

*RBG* is worth watching for its accessible legal history and moving account of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s marriage; we scored it 74. We recommend it as an affectionate introduction to her work against gender discrimination, though viewers seeking close scrutiny of her judicial decisions will find the directors too ready to settle for praise.

**How long is RBG, and what is it rated?**

*RBG* runs 1h 38m. It is a documentary film.

**Where can I watch RBG in Finland?**

*RBG* is available to rent from Apple TV from €2.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does RBG compare to The Gleaners and I?**

*RBG* offers an affectionate biographical introduction, while [*The Gleaners and I*](https://film.one/film/the-gleaners-and-i) is a more curious, wandering documentary about people finding uses for what others discard. We favour Varda’s film for the space it gives people to explain themselves, despite occasional detours; *RBG* suits those who want accessible legal history, though its admiration leaves too many questions unasked.

### Reviews we read (17)

- **Evening Standard**, Charlotte O'Sullivan (5/5): O'Sullivan gives the documentary an enthusiastic verdict, calling it revealing and inspiring. She singles out its warm, candid portrait of Ginsburg's marriage and family life. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/rbg-review-ruth-bader-ginsburg-proves-an-icon-of-the-supreme-court-in-revealing-documentary-a4030276.html)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (90/100, inferred): Turan finds the documentary completely engrossing and admiring, presenting Ginsburg as a force whose influence began well before the Supreme Court. He especially praises her eloquence and candid presence, alongside the film’s attention to her marriage and personal life. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-rbg-documentary-review-20180503-story.html)
- **The New Yorker**, Sheelah Kolhatkar (90/100, inferred): Kolhatkar is mesmerized by the documentary and finds it informative and inspiring. She praises its account of Ginsburg’s landmark legal work and its portrait of her partnership with her husband. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/recommends/watch/rbg)
- **Time Out**, Joshua Rothkopf (4/5): The review makes a strong case for the documentary’s importance. It singles out Ginsburg’s serene yet forceful presence as compelling to watch. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/rbg)
- **Empire**, Beth Webb (75/100, inferred): Webb finds the documentary an uplifting, timely celebration, though it sometimes makes Ginsburg seem too cute. She praises its account of Ginsburg’s perseverance and the landmark work that advanced women’s rights. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/rbg-review/)
- **The Guardian**, Wendy Ide (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the documentary solid and quietly eloquent. She praises its capture of Ginsburg’s lasting impact as a feminist pioneer. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jan/06/rbg-review-ruth-bader-ginsburg)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Leslie Felperin (70/100, inferred): Felperin finds the documentary warmly reassuring and admiring, though it leaves Ginsburg somewhat enigmatic. She praises its fine-grained portrait and absorbing anecdotes, while noting that it never fully penetrates Ginsburg’s reserve. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/rbg-review-1076848/)
- **Variety**, Amy Nicholson (70/100, inferred): Nicholson finds the documentary a cheerful, inspiring portrait that celebrates Ginsburg’s patient work for equality. She singles out the moving account of Ruth and Marty Ginsburg’s marriage as the film’s best part. [Read](https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/rbg-review-1202677562/)
- **Vulture**, David Edelstein (70/100, inferred): Edelstein finds the documentary affectionate and largely hagiographic, but cheeky and ultimately compelling. He especially praises its account of Ginsburg’s methodical, case-by-case fight against gender inequality and the thrill of hearing her arguments. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/rbg-review.html)
- **The New York Times**, A.O. Scott (65/100, inferred): The page could not be accessed, so its verdict cannot be verified. The review’s specific praise or criticism is likewise unavailable. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/03/movies/rbg-review-documentary.html)
- **The AV Club**, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky (C-): The critic finds the documentary superficial and unconvincing in its portrayal of Ginsburg. He faults it especially for glossing over her judicial career and reducing its interviewees to generic praise. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/rbg-makes-an-unconvincing-case-for-the-supreme-court-s-1825683074)
- **Slant Magazine**, Keith Watson (1.5/4): The critic finds the documentary hagiographic and frustratingly superficial in its treatment of Ginsburg’s legal work. He singles out its reduction of landmark victories and legal arguments to slogans and catchy phrases. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/rbg/)
- **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (85/100, inferred): Hammond finds the documentary an inspiring, rich portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her significance. He especially praises its moving account of Ginsburg’s lifelong romance with her husband Marty. [Read](https://deadline.com/2018/05/rbg-review-ruth-bader-ginsberg-documentary-video-1202379999/)
- **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (B): Goldberg calls the documentary a rousing celebration, though its attention to Ginsburg’s celebrity sometimes feels excessive. He praises its account of how her legal work reshaped America and highlights her supportive marriage as a moving personal element. [Read](https://collider.com/rbg-review-ruth-bader-ginsburg-documentary/)
- **Consequence**, Caroline Siede (70/100, inferred): The review finds the documentary an effective, moving tribute, though it stays too surface-level in places. It especially praises its portrayal of Ruth and Marty Ginsburg’s unusually supportive marriage. [Read](https://consequence.net/2018/05/film-review-rbg-examines-the-complex-inspiring-woman-behind-all-the-memes/)
- **Eye for Film**, Amber Wilkinson (70/100, inferred): The review finds the portrait powerful and engaging, while noting that its upbeat approach limits dissenting perspectives. It praises the film for revealing Ginsburg’s personality and showing how her persistent legal strategy advanced equality. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/rbg-2018-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson)
- **The Wrap** (35/100, inferred): The critic finds the documentary proficient but overly surface-level, ultimately more legend-printing than revealing. They praise its portrait of Ginsburg’s life and accomplishments but fault its shallow treatment of her legal legacy and modern fame. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/rbg-film-review-ruth-bader-ginsburg-2018-documentary/)

## Details

- **Director:** Betsy West, Julie Cohen
- **Director:** Betsy West, Julie Cohen
- **Cinematography:** Claudia Raschke
- **Editor:** Carla Gutierrez
- **Music:** Miriam Cutler
- **Producer:** Julie Cohen, Betsy West
- **Cast:** Ruth Bader Ginsburg as Self; Jane C. Ginsburg as Self; James Steven Ginsburg as Self; Nina Totenberg as Self; Clara Spera as Self; Gloria Steinem as Self; Bill Clinton as Self; Sharron Frontiero as Self
- **Runtime:** 1h 38m
- **First release (the US):** 21 January 2018
- **Genres:** Documentary
- **Box office:** $2 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biIRlcQqmOc

## Where to watch in Finland

- Apple TV: rent €2.99, hd
- Apple TV: buy €6.99, hd

*Checked 2026-10-03.*

Also available in: AE, AT, AU, BE, BG, CA, CH, DE, EE, FI, FR, GB, HK, IE, IN, IT, KR, LT, NO, NZ, SE, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Academy Awards 2019: Best Documentary Feature Film (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *The Times of Harvey Milk* (1984): Another portrait of political change that makes the person matter alongside the public work.
- *Sisters in Law* (2005): Women put legal authority to practical use, with patience and welcome humour.
- *Made in Dagenham* (2010): For a more boisterous account of women refusing to accept unequal treatment.
- *The Gleaners and I* (2000), Fi1m 85: A curious, personal documentary that gives overlooked people room to explain themselves. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-gleaners-and-i.md)
- *13th* (2016): A sharper examination of American law and the inequalities it can preserve.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/rbg