Watch Roots Online (1977)

Where to watch “Roots” (1977) online legally? See US streaming options first, plus English-region fallbacks.

Roots first aired in 1977 • originally associated with ABC • 1 season • 8 episodes • around 90 minutes per episode • status: Ended.

If you searched for “watch Roots online” (1977), the safest approach is to verify legal availability in your region (US first, then English-region fallbacks).

It sits in the Drama space, which helps set expectations for tone and pacing.

Ratings vary by audience taste—check the synopsis and cast to see if it matches what you like.

This page includes season navigation, episode list, cast, trailer (when available), and legal provider hints to help you decide quickly.

Synopsis

The epic tale of celebrated Pulitzer-prize winning author Alex Haley's ancestors as portrayed in the acclaimed twelve hour mini-series Roots, was first told in his 1976 bestseller Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The docu-drama covers a period of history that begins in mid-1700s Gambia, West Africa and concludes during post-Civil War United States, over 100 years later. This 1977 miniseries eventually won 9 Emmy awards, a Golden Globe award, and a Peabody award, and still stands as the most watched miniseries in U.S. history.

Keywords

africa, slavery, plantation, family history, miniseries, historical drama, captivity, genealogy.

Stills

Similar series

Roots: The Next Generations, The Blue and the Gray, Alex Haley's Queen, Parenthood, Doctor Thorne, The Bible, The Long Song, Brothers and Sisters.

Main cast

There isn’t detailed cast information available right now.

Official trailer