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Coup 53

Play trailer 1:45 Poster for Coup 53 2020 1h 58m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 44 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
The story of Operation Ajax, the CIA/MI6 staged coup in 1953 in Iran that overthrew Prime Minister Mossadegh.
Coup 53

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Rife with the political intrigue promised by its title, Coup 53 is a spellbinding documentary with the heart of a thriller.

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Critics Reviews

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John Powers NPR 09/10/2020
An exhilarating... historical documentary that unfolds with the pace and complexity of a thriller. Go to Full Review
Charlotte O'Sullivan London Evening Standard 09/03/2020
4/5
Coup 53 is stranger than fiction and a terrifying reminder that the past never goes away. Go to Full Review
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh The Times (UK) 09/03/2020
5/5
[Amirani] transforms sifting through dusty plastic bags and filing cabinets into a thrilling detective case... Go to Full Review
Josh Parham Next Best Picture 06/05/2022
7/10
There’s an incredibly fascinating story at the heart of Coup 53 that anybody who has an interest in world history and the effects of dirty politics will take an instant liking toward. Go to Full Review
Guillem Martinez Oya Cinematismo 08/08/2021
4/5
A necessary film research about the nowadays status of iran. [full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
A.S. Hamrah The Baffler 01/09/2021
It's an exhaustive, riveting exegesis... Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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10/19/2021 Dull. The movie tries desperately to be sensational, but contains very little new or original See more 08/20/2021 Very comprehensive coverage of the 1953 coupe in Iran. It could answer my question and curiosity about what exactly happened back then. Nice work! See more 09/27/2020 A brilliant movie about a very sensitive subject. As a long time researcher about the 1953 coup, I didn't expect to be surprised at all, but this movie brought up so much testimony and archival evidence that it belongs in a whole different category of documentary. I was reminded of The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (2003). The depth of description of the crucial months and years leading up, during and after the coup is really remarkable. I learned tons. I really can't say enough about this movie. If you have the chance, watch it! See more 09/19/2020 What a timely reminder of the perils of meddling, especially with a cynical, mercenary and racist intent. The pace and tension of this film build beautifully, no small feat when you consider the reams and reams of paper-based detective work that lie at its heart. See more 09/06/2020 An absolutely essential watch, superbly done. Highly recommend this movie to those who want to understand a great part of the true underlying reasons for the belligerent dynamics of the world today. See more 09/05/2020 An exceptional documentary made based on official sensitive documents that Mr. Amirani had permission to access. You will see how he accessed every information he used to make this thrilling documentary. An art work that illuminates on dark sections of history which are crucial for global peace. See more Read all reviews
Coup 53

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Movie Info

Synopsis The story of Operation Ajax, the CIA/MI6 staged coup in 1953 in Iran that overthrew Prime Minister Mossadegh.
Director
Taghi Amirani
Producer
Taghi Amirani, Paul Zaentz
Screenwriter
Taghi Amirani
Distributor
Amirani Media
Production Co
Amirani Media
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 21, 2020, Limited
Runtime
1h 58m