How good is Let the Fire Burn?

Let the Fire Burn has a Lunoo score of 8.3/10. This score is based on AI-powered analysis of category fit, feature coverage, pricing signals, public reception, and recency.

Is Let the Fire Burn worth it in 2026?

Let the Fire Burn scores 8.3/10 in the Documentary category on Lunoo. Compare it with alternatives to find the best fit for your needs.

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Let the Fire Burn

8.39

Great

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description Let the Fire Burn Overview

“Let the Fire Burn” examines the tragic 1985 confrontation between Philadelphia police and the Black Panther Party’s MOVE organization. The documentary details the events surrounding the standoff at a West Philadelphia rowhouse and the subsequent bombing that resulted in eleven deaths including children. Osder's film provides historical context to this controversial event, exploring its impact on the city’s Black community and raising questions about police tactics and government response. It is of interest to historians, journalists, and anyone seeking to understand a pivotal moment in American civil rights and law enforcement history.

insights Ranking position

Let the Fire Burn ranks #94 of 552 in the Documentary ranking, behind Four Daughters, ahead of Gates of Heaven.

help Let the Fire Burn FAQ

What was the MOVE organization in Philadelphia?

MOVE was a radical back-to-nature group founded in 1972 by John Africa in Philadelphia. Members lived communally and repeatedly clashed with neighbors and city officials over sanitation, noise, and other quality-of-life complaints in the years leading up to the 1985 confrontation.

What happened during the 1985 MOVE bombing?

On May 13, 1985, Philadelphia police dropped a bomb from a helicopter onto the MOVE compound on Osage Avenue. The resulting fire killed 11 people including five children and destroyed more than 60 homes in the surrounding West Philadelphia neighborhood.

What footage does "Let the Fire Burn" use to tell the story?

Director Jason Osder constructed the documentary entirely from archival footage, including local news broadcasts, the public hearing investigation, and a deposition from Birdie Africa (born Michael Moses Ward), the only child to survive the fire. There are no contemporary talking-head interviews or added narration.

Did any city officials face criminal charges for the MOVE bombing?

No police officers or city officials were criminally charged for the bombing. A subsequent federal civil rights lawsuit resulted in a jury awarding over $1 million to the sole adult survivor, Ramona Africa, and relatives of those killed.

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