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Darkest Hour

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2:20

Darkest Hour

PG-13

Released Dec 22, 2017

2h 5m

History

Drama

Biography

War

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Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

310 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

The fate of Western Europe hangs on Winston Churchill in the early days of World War II. The newly appointed British prime minister must decide whether to negotiate with Hitler or fight on against incredible odds. During the next four weeks in 1940, Churchill cements his legacy as his courageous decisions and leadership help change the course of world history.

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Critics Consensus

Darkest Hour is held together by Gary Oldman's electrifying performance, which brings Winston Churchill to life even when the movie's narrative falters.

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Robert Daniels

812filmreviews

Darkest Hour demonstrates the immense courage Churchill had. It doesn't fully absolve and deify him, rather humanizes.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 5, 2018

Full Review

Mark Kermode

Kermode & Mayo's Film Review

I don't want to undermine my admiration for Gary Oldman's performance, but I think the film itself is flawed.

Aug 28, 2018

Full Review

Michael Sragow

Film Comment Magazine

In Darkest Hour, Wright's charged, blustery framework pulls the audience into a distant political landscape. But his approach here is also limiting and nearly wearying.

Mar 8, 2018

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

The film builds its mounting prospects of calamity and clashes of dissension with polish and gumption, avoiding many of the dull notes normally saddling most other behind-the-war-room yak-fests.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 7, 2024

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Joe Wright offers up compelling and timely lessons on conviction, persuasion, and the power of bipartisanship – all things our current governments could learn from.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 20, 2022

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Stirring though the proceedings may sometimes be, Darkest Hour resists absolute immersion so that its audience will notice how much effort went into its making.

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 16, 2022

Full Review

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Glafira Regina O

This film is about our world—about the present. It's a reminder that you can't make a deal with the devil, even when you "do not have the cards." Churchill is portrayed as the man who saved the world from Nazism. And indeed, not Stalin, not Roosevelt. In 1940, Stalin was actually Hitler’s ally, and Roosevelt remained neutral. It was Churchill’s determination that saved Britain—and with it, the rest of the world. The film is brilliant, and Gary Oldman's performance is nothing short of masterful. Churchill's accent is conveyed incredibly well.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/14/25

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Audience Member

I liked the movie, but they only showed few weeks of Churchill's government...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/23/25

Full Review

rhonald b

A great film. Until they make Mr. Churchill take the London Underground and speaks with THE COMMON PEOPLE. From that moment on it suddenly becomes a dreadful melodrama. Ruined an otherwise great watch.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/05/25

Full Review

Matteo G

Inspiring, beautiful, super good acting of everyone not only Gary Oldman, after 2 hours I wanted other 2h

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/16/25

Full Review

Fer S

It is well achieved overall, but it has way too many useless hollywoodized scenes. Gary Oldman's acting is great, but his character was way too goofy. It lost all seriousness. It felt like I was watching a kid's movie. You know, the clichéd old guy who always has it his way. Without those unnecessary scenes, and having continued the story after the resolution (which we all knew what was gonna happen) it would have been a great movie. I guess I should go watch a documentary.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/04/25

Full Review

Marty R

A decent film with watching. Not Churchill not by a long shot. I don’t care how much they laud the actor, I‘m sure he is very good, but we have seen heard and read of Churchill and that is not him. The Churchill on screen was weaker, wimpering, unsure, indecisive etc. I‘m sure the makers wanted to „humanize“ him but that is not the way to do it. The other characters around Winston were exactly how WC probably was, strong, decisive and convinced of their own rightness. THAT was WC, bold and inspiring. I hope someone can do a better job in the future. Not the BBC.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/18/25

Full Review

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Joe Wright

Director

Gary Oldman

Winston Churchill

Kristin Scott Thomas

Clementine Churchill

Ben Mendelsohn

King George VI

Lily James

Elizabeth Layton

Ronald Pickup

Neville Chamberlain

Darkest Hour: Official Clip - Conquer We Must, Conquer We Shall

2:59

Darkest Hour: Official Clip - Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat

4:06

Darkest Hour: Official Clip - We Shall Fight on the Beaches

4:45

Darkest Hour: Official Clip - Churchill & Roosevelt

2:59

Darkest Hour: Official Clip - The People of England

3:12

Darkest Hour: Official Clip - Death Before Disarmament

3:26

Darkest Hour: Official Clip - Saving Dunkirk

3:00

Darkest Hour: Official Clip - The Campaign of Resistance

3:16

Darkest Hour: Official Clip - Subterfuge in the Bunker

2:46

Darkest Hour: Official Clip - Up Your Bum

1:49

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Darkest Hour: Behind the Scenes - Five Weeks

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Darkest Hour: Behind the Scenes - Gary and Kristin

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Darkest Hour: Trailer 1

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See It/Skip It: Ben Mendelsohn Interview

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Darkest Hour: International Trailer 1

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Darkest Hour: Trailer 2

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Synopsis

The fate of Western Europe hangs on Winston Churchill in the early days of World War II. The newly appointed British prime minister must decide whether to negotiate with Hitler or fight on against incredible odds. During the next four weeks in 1940, Churchill cements his legacy as his courageous decisions and leadership help change the course of world history.

Director: Joe Wright
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten, Douglas Urbanski
Screenwriter: Anthony McCarten
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Working Title Films
Rating: PG-13 (Some Thematic Material)
Genre: History, Drama, Biography, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 22, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 6, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $56.3M
Runtime: 2h 5m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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