Downfall

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Downfall

R

Released Sep 8, 2004

2h 34m

History

Drama

War

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Popcornmeter

90%

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137 Reviews

94%

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50,000+ Ratings

In 1942, young Traudl Junge (Alexandra Maria Lara) lands her dream job -- secretary to Adolf Hitler (Bruno Ganz) at the peak of his power. Three years later, Hitler's empire is now his underground bunker. The real-life Traudl narrates Hitler's final days as he rages against imagined betrayers and barks orders to phantom armies, while his mistress, Eva Braun (Juliane Köhler), clucks over his emotional distance, and other infamous Nazis prepare for the end.

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Critics Consensus

Downfall is an illuminating, thoughtful and detailed account of Hitler's last days.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Does Downfall "humanize" Hitler and his henchmen, as its critics have complained? Yes, and it should: to pretend these villains were less than human is to let ourselves off the hook, to take the easy and dangerous exit of demonology.

Jan 22, 2013

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Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

Some demons are too extreme to comprehend, but Hirschbiegel's film nonetheless provides a painfully unflinching glimpse into the outer workings of the mortally wounded Third Reich.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 3, 2005

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Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

Viewed through a North American lens, the movie itself seems more familiar than fascinating, more innocuous than inflammatory, and, at 21/2 hours, more tedious than anything else.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 18, 2005

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Jane Freebury

The Canberra Times (Australia)

A provocative, thoughtful perspective on an arch-criminal guilty of heinous crime.

Aug 18, 2022

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James Croot

The Post NZ

It is a stunning performance of light and shade, tracing his descent from total denial to despair, disillusionment and defeat.

Rated: 4.5/5

Mar 26, 2021

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Most impressive of all is how, with the world closing in on the ranting, paranoid monster, Ganz ratchets down his performance from towering to cowering in minute increments.

Rated: 5/5

Apr 3, 2020

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Kenneth L

A gripping, compelling, and horrifying look at the last days of the Third Reich.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/14/25

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Cem Okan Y

Probably the first movie to watch if interested in WW2 and Hitler

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/12/25

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Larry K

Bruno Ganz with an epic performance. Fantastic movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/26/25

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21 - Priyan B

Excellent documentation of Hitler's last days. Rating: 8.3/10

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/16/25

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Tyler S

This has never been my type of movie. But this definitely kept me intrigued the whole time. Pacing was very good, story was very interesting, and the acting was phenomenal.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/15/25

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Fer S

The acting is superb. However, I was not a fan of the drama. I'd much rather the movie let the audience imagine how tragic a moment was instead of trying to show how it could have been.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/08/25

Full Review

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Oliver Hirschbiegel

Director

Bruno Ganz

Adolf Hitler

Alexandra Maria Lara

Traudl Junge

Corinna Harfouch

Magda Goebbels

Ulrich Matthes

Joseph Goebbels

Juliane Köhler

Eva Braun

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Synopsis

In 1942, young Traudl Junge (Alexandra Maria Lara) lands her dream job -- secretary to Adolf Hitler (Bruno Ganz) at the peak of his power. Three years later, Hitler's empire is now his underground bunker. The real-life Traudl narrates Hitler's final days as he rages against imagined betrayers and barks orders to phantom armies, while his mistress, Eva Braun (Juliane Köhler), clucks over his emotional distance, and other infamous Nazis prepare for the end.

Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Producer: Bernd Eichinger
Screenwriter: Bernd Eichinger
Distributor: Newmarket Film Group
Production Co: Constantin Film Produktion, Degeto Film, RAI Cinema, EOS Entertainment, Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) [at]
Rating: R (Some Nudity|Disturbing Images|Strong Violence)
Genre: History, Drama, War
Original Language: German
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 8, 2004, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Feb 18, 2005
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 4, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.5M
Runtime: 2h 34m
Sound Mix: Surround

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