A Movie About Obama in College Is Coming to Netflix

Netflix buys the rights to 'Barry,' the Barack Obama biopic that focuses on his college years.

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Complex Original

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Netflix has bought the worldwide rights to Barry, the critically acclaimed biopic based on President Barack Obama’s college years. According to a Deadline exclusive, the giant streaming service beat out several other distributors with a reported bid within the $4.5 million range. It’s a pretty hefty sum, but not too surprising considering the film’s stellar reception at this year’s Toronto Film Festival.

As previously reported, Barry is set in the early 1980s, and follows a 20-year-old Obama who just transferred to Columbia. It is at this time that the future first black POTUS is given a new perspective on the issues of race and privilege. It’s an honest and not-so-idolized depiction of Obama that has resonated with the majority of its viewers. Deadline points out that Barry has received a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The film, directed by Vikram Gandhi, stars Devon Terrell as the title character. Jason Mitchell of Straight Outta Compton and Ellar Coltrane of Boyhood are also in the cast, along with Ashley Judd, Avi Nash, and Jenna Elfman.

Barry’s Netflix premiere date has not been announced, so keep it locked for more information. 

Also released earlier this year was Southside With You, another biographical movie based on Obama's first date with Michelle Obama.

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