On This Day

American History X released

October 30th 1998

09:50 30 October 2024

'American History X' was released in the United States on this day in 1998. It's a film that remains shrouded in controversy, not only for its powerful and brutally realistic depiction of the white power skinhead and neo-Nazi movements in 1990s Los Angeles but also for the post-production difficulties that culminated in director Tony Kaye publicly disowning the movie.

Starring Edward Norton as Derek Vinyard, who having served a three year prison term for voluntary manslaughter is rehabilitated and tries to prevent his younger brother Danny (Edward Furlong) being further indoctrinated into far-right ideology.

When filming was completed Kaye and the studio clashed about the final cut with a longer version edited by Norton eventually getting a theatrical release. Kaye later admitted  "My ego got in the way. That was entirely my fault. Whenever I can, I take the opportunity to apologize".