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Citizen Kane

Play trailer 3:44 Poster for Citizen Kane PG Released May 1, 1941 1h 59m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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99% Tomatometer 133 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
When a reporter is assigned to decipher newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane's (Orson Welles) dying words, his investigation gradually reveals the fascinating portrait of a complex man who rose from obscurity to staggering heights. Though Kane's friend and colleague Jedediah Leland (Joseph Cotten), and his mistress, Susan Alexander (Dorothy Comingore), shed fragments of light on Kane's life, the reporter fears he may never penetrate the mystery of the elusive man's final word, "Rosebud."
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Citizen Kane

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Critics Consensus

Orson Welles's epic tale of a publishing tycoon's rise and fall is entertaining, poignant, and inventive in its storytelling, earning its reputation as a landmark achievement in film.

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Critics Reviews

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Tom Huddleston Time Out It remains as witty, tragic, unlikely, unique and fascinating as ever. Rated: 5/5 Dec 12, 2024 Full Review Wendy Ide The Times (UK) Genuinely innovative film-making. Jan 18, 2024 Full Review Ida Belle Hicks Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com We aren't going to quibble about the genius business. Time will take care of that and if Welles goes down in history as one well be happy to have been among those who enjoyed the results of his great talent. Mar 2, 2021 Full Review David Parkinson Radio Times Utterly unmissable. Rated: 5/5 Jul 1, 2024 Full Review Noah Gittell Washington City Paper Kane innovated several filmmaking techniques. The film pioneered a genre. Sep 14, 2023 Full Review Manuel São Bento MSB Reviews Everything about this movie's production and origin, the precedent-setting technical aspects, and the innovative storytelling all prove that Orson Welles was a perfectionist filmmaker far ahead of its time. Rated: A+ Jul 24, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kia B Proof that all good classic films should be seen on the big screen. Seeing the issues of my grandparents time shows the more things change, the more they stay the same. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/08/25 Full Review R A true classic. It's been so homaged and referenced that it may seem cliche but thats BECAUSE it's a classic. The Mise-en-scne and thoughtfulness of the production is breathtaking on the big screen. If you get the chance to see it in a theater, GO! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/08/25 Full Review Lance L In my opinion, Citizen Kane is the greatest movie ever made. There is great acting, wonderful film shots (the dark and light contrasts throughout, along with the camera angles). A well-told story, and it's a joy to watch each time. I wrote my senior year thesis at Kent State on it. It is not my favorite film of all time, but it is, in my opinion, the greatest, which demonstrates the appeal through my objectivity. Everyone should see this film at least once in their lives, especially those wanting to be in the film business. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/05/25 Full Review Marta B Citizen Kane is definitely one of the greatest movies of all time. It is a film that must be watched multiple times so you can pick up on the subtle symbolisms that go unnoticed. The film never had a boring moment, simply because of how visually appealing it was. The plot is fantastic and will keep you hooked, overall amazing movie! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/04/25 Full Review Brian S A tower built from memory, ambition, and lies — the ultimate story of how men try to control narratives, only to be undone by them. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/27/25 Full Review thiago s Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom Rated 1 out of 5 stars 09/08/25 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Orson Welles

Director

Orson Welles

Charles Foster Kane

Joseph Cotten

Jedediah Leland

Ruth Warrick

Emily Norton Kane

Everett Sloane

Bernstein

Agnes Moorehead

Mrs. Mary Kane

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Citizen Kane

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Citizen Kane

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Movie Info

Synopsis When a reporter is assigned to decipher newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane's (Orson Welles) dying words, his investigation gradually reveals the fascinating portrait of a complex man who rose from obscurity to staggering heights. Though Kane's friend and colleague Jedediah Leland (Joseph Cotten), and his mistress, Susan Alexander (Dorothy Comingore), shed fragments of light on Kane's life, the reporter fears he may never penetrate the mystery of the elusive man's final word, "Rosebud."
Director
Orson Welles
Producer
Orson Welles
Screenwriter
Herman J. Mankiewicz, Orson Welles, John Houseman
Distributor
RKO Radio Pictures
Production Co
Mercury Productions, RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 1, 1941, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 28, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$977.3K
Runtime
1h 59m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Academy (1.33:1)
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