Research evidenceResearch evidence — scores and sourced research

Scored entertainment-first on WhatSphere's content-balance model 3

Its director and screenwriter stated on the record that "updating the timeframe of Athol Fugard's novel, the politics of apartheid that spurred the story in the book has given way to the tragedy of AIDS, The politics…" 1. Its director and screenwriter stated on the record that "thematically, in terms of the ideas of redemption, personal responsibility and forgiveness, which are the central three themes, that is exactly the same, The c…" 2. Taken together, the content-balance model places it entertainment-first at 6 of 100 3. Relative to the expected cast make-up for its production origin, on-screen representation registers below the baseline for Black 4.

The receipts — every claim above is sourced
  1. 1
    Creator statementdirector and screenwriter: "Updating the timeframe of Athol Fugard's novel, the politics of apartheid that spurred the story in the book has given way to the tragedy of AIDS. The politics of the day is HIV and AIDS and poverty,…"Killer Movie Reviews / ComingSoon.net interviews, 2006 source ↗
  2. 2
    Creator statementdirector and screenwriter: "Thematically, in terms of the ideas of redemption, personal responsibility and forgiveness, which are the central three themes, that is exactly the same. The character of Tsotsi and his arc emotional…"ComingSoon.net interview, 2006 source ↗
  3. 3
    Content balanceAdvocacy 6 of 100, tier entertainment-first.WhatSphere content-balance model, score_version 1
  4. 4
    RepresentationRepresentation vs production-origin baseline: Black 28.WhatSphere representation model, score_version 1

WhatSphere presents the sourced record; it does not cast the judgement. Every statement above is drawn from a stored, sourced row — shown beside it — and nothing is asserted beyond what those receipts support.

Verified June 17, 2026Scores accuracy-checked against current data.Think a score is wrong? Submit a correction.

Synopsis

A young South African boy from the Johannesburg ghetto named Tsotsi, meaning Gangster, leaves home as a child to get away from his helpless parents. Now a teenage thug, Tsotsi finds a baby in the back seat of a car he's just stolen. He decides that it is his responsibility to care for the infant and in the process learns that maybe the criminal life isn’t the best way.

Young MaleYoung FemaleMature MaleMature Female
Primary audienceOlder Men
Targeted

Quadrant Scores

Young Men
63
Young Women
0
Older Men
100
Older Women
37
Advocacy6
Entertainment

Audience Representation

White
44
Black
28
Hispanic
50
Asian
48
South Asian
46
Middle Eastern
46
Indigenous
46
Mixed
42
Other
48
LGBTQ+
0

Where to Watch (US)

Free
PlexPlexPlex ChannelPlex Channel
Rent
Apple TV StoreApple TV StoreGoogle Play MoviesGoogle Play MoviesYouTubeYouTube
Buy
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View streaming options ↗

Score version: v1Data confidence: 100%How are scores calculated?

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Advocacy Over Time in Crime

The average advocacy score of Crime titles by release year, with this title marked. Higher is more advocacy-driven.

25507519292026
Average advocacy score of Crime titles by release year
YearAverage advocacyTitles
192913
193102
193204
193702
194113
194413
194602
194802
195023
195102
195403
195502
195602
195803
195904
196003
196102
196222
196303
196402
196514
196704
196802
196905
197118
197214
197307
197415
197515
197604
197842
198003
198314
198415
198607
198707
198803
1989110
199015
199134
199218
199307
1994210
1995110
199628
199729
1998010
1999312
2000113
2001010
200238
2003113
2004212
2005120
2006015
2007115
2008212
200927
201052
201125
201293
201358
201495
201576
201769
2018710
201947
202028
202179
202247
202365
202468
2025613
202635
This title (2005)61

This title (2005): advocacy 6 · explore Crime

Cast & Crew

Gavin Hood (director) · Lance Gewer (director)