Citizen Kane

PG

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1 hr. 59 min.

Drama

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99%

133 Reviews

Tomatometer

90%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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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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Jay H

Believe the hype. One the best movies I've seen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/11/24

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Chris H

Horrible. Absolutely the most overrated movie in the history of our planet.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/11/24

Full Review

Anuj S

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."

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/17/24

Full Review

Joshua C

This is probably considered blasphemy in the film community, but I just don't really connect with Citizen Kane. While it's well acted, and the cinematography was groundbreaking for the time, I just don't find its story as engaging as other classic Hollywood movies. Before you dismiss me as some ADHD zoomer, I've posted about multiple classic movies which I've enjoyed, some of which are even longer than Citizen Kane. It's a simple story told fairly well, but it's nothing which really warrants the nauseating amounts of praise it's received. It does pain me to say this, but minus the groundbreaking camera techniques and nonlinear storytelling, it's pretty overrated in my view. Solid, but overrated. Okay, crucify me now.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/17/24

Full Review

Greg T

Despite the lack of an interesting story, still one of the best films ever made!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/24

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Giacomo M

After years of hearing rave revues and being told that this is the greatest film ever made I watched it. Disappointed. Very disappointed. Whilst the cinematography is amazing and very avant-garde for 1941, the storyline itself is really very dull. Experts say that any film made after Citizen Kane has used techniques used in the film. I really disliked Charles F. Kane. He is a self-centred, tormented and arrogant character who always thinks about himself first and basically destroys anything good or worth keeping around him. He shuns then sacks his best friend Jed and uses people to improve his own standing. He is a figure who reminds me of so many modern media moguls and politicians of today. For me it is a well made brilliantly filmed movie with a wretched central character and rather boring storyline.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/19/24

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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: Trailer 1

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Wendy Ide

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

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Marjory Adams

Boston Globe

The sheer brilliance and audacity of Citizen Kane... make the film the most astounding cinematic achievement of the season. It ranks with Disney's Fantasia as a milestone in motion picture technique.

Mar 2, 2021

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Noah Gittell

Washington City Paper

Kane innovated several filmmaking techniques. The film pioneered a genre.

Sep 14, 2023

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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

Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

Many argue it to be the greatest film ever made.

Jun 27, 2023

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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
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
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Academy (1.33:1)

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