Newborn Film

Solitary confinement beyond 14 days is defined by the UN as torture. It’s time to change the narrative. Watch the trailer for Newborn and join the movement to end the arbitrary use of solitary confinement.

Support one of CPR’s national partners!

The Newborn film will be released nationwide on April 10th, alongside an impact campaign focused on raising awareness and advancing systemic change around solitary confinement and the experiences of people directly impacted. Unlock the Box is serving as an advocacy partner on the impact campaign. The film offers a powerful look inside the realities of isolation and helps challenge the narratives that continue to shape policy and public understanding.

About the Film & Campaign

Written and directed by Nate Parker, Newborn follows Chris Newborn, David Oyelowo, who, after serving seven years in solitary confinement, seeks to rebuild his life and reconnect with his family. As a high-stakes psychological thriller, the film captures the disorientation of “reentry-identity,” showing that freedom can become its own psychological battleground. Chris must navigate a world that feels both unfamiliar and isolating, mirroring the very punishment he thought he left behind. Starring alongside Oyelowo are Olivia Washington, Barry Pepper, and Jimmie Fails.

The Newborn Impact Campaign is designed to position this story as a catalyst for national dialogue regarding broken systems, redemption, and second chances. By shifting the public perception of solitary confinement from a “safety measure” to a human rights crisis, the campaign aims to transform passive awareness into active concern. Grounded in the intersection of culture and narrative change, the goal is to move audiences from indifference toward the recognition that prolonged isolation constitutes a moral and societal failure, ultimately supporting legislative efforts to cap solitary confinement at a maximum of 15 days.

Only in select AMC theaters April 10, 2026. 

#Newborn #ReframeSolitary