Lincoln

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Lincoln

PG-13

2012

2h 29m

History

Drama

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

288 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

With the nation embroiled in still another year with the high death count of Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln brings the full measure of his passion, humanity and political skill to what would become his defining legacy: to end the war and permanently abolish slavery through the 13th Amendment. Having great courage, acumen and moral fortitude, Lincoln pushes forward to compel the nation, and those in government who oppose him, to aim toward a greater good for all mankind.

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Critics Consensus

Daniel Day-Lewis characteristically delivers in this witty, dignified portrait that immerses the audience in its world and entertains even as it informs.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Lincoln is a triumph.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 8, 2022

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Its narrative swoop largely takes the legislative detail in its stride, plus the star is Daniel Day-Lewis, which is always a thing. He is not so much an actor, more a shape shifter.

Sep 4, 2018

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Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

metro.co.uk

It's an intricate, thought- provoking and (be warned) very talkie study of democracy that is almost entirely schmaltz-free.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 1, 2017

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

The beauty and brilliance of Spielberg's Lincoln and Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis's astonishing portrayal of the title character is in the honesty, humility, and earnestness being committed to portray a U.S. President on the silver screen.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 20, 2025

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...the picture, which runs a palpably overlong 150 minutes, has been saddled with a dry, procedural-like structure that becomes less and less interesting (or compelling) as time progresses...

Rated: 2/4

Jan 26, 2025

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Andrew Collins

Radio Times

Spielberg's epic plays like The West Wing in stovepipe hats, and although it may be a little stolid for some, the film brings to life a moment of 19th-century political brinkmanship in captivating style.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 12, 2024

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TI H

How can anyone give this movie less than five stars? I don't even have to review it. Everything was great, dare I say perfect? I was truly moved.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/03/25

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Charleigh Q

I want to preface this by saying that I have always had a favorite President and Abraham Lincoln is definitely it. So I may be bias on this one but I watched this movie with my husband in the theaters and as someone who watches very few movies, I know a good movie when I see it. The movie had me hooked throughout and I feel the actors did an incredible job with their parts and all of it was well written and well acted out.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/02/25

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Andrew B

A wonderful film. The cast is outstanding, from lead to lesser parts in support. Spielberg is in top form and the elements he weaves work together seamlessly, moving from drama to humor, from act to contemplation deftly. The whole strikes a wonderful balance in illustrating the greatness and the humanity of the subject, and of the time that shaped him and was altered forever by him. Do yourself a favor, watch this movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/23/25

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Ryland C

A great history movie. One of the more deeper Steven Spielberg films.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/29/25

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Justin D

This movie is an absolute masterpiece by Danial Day-Lewis. It’s the best possible portrayal that I believe we can get of Abraham Lincoln. The turmoil of the Civil War that has clearly taken a physical toll on Lincoln and then the continued infighting between what’s left of the Union Congress. This will definitely be a movie that stands the test of time and as of 2025 I’d say it has.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/25

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Matt F

I was very bored when watching this movie! Not cool!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/07/25

Full Review

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Steven Spielberg

Director

Daniel Day-Lewis

Abraham Lincoln

Sally Field

Mary Todd Lincoln

David Strathairn

Secretary of State William Seward

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Robert Todd Lincoln

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Synopsis

With the nation embroiled in still another year with the high death count of Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln brings the full measure of his passion, humanity and political skill to what would become his defining legacy: to end the war and permanently abolish slavery through the 13th Amendment. Having great courage, acumen and moral fortitude, Lincoln pushes forward to compel the nation, and those in government who oppose him, to aim toward a greater good for all mankind.

Director: Steven Spielberg
Producer: Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy
Screenwriter: Tony Kushner
Distributor: DreamWorks SKG
Production Co: Kennedy/Marshall, Amblin Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Intense Scene of War Violence|Brief Strong Language|Some Images of Carnage)
Genre: History, Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 16, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 3, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $182.2M
Runtime: 2h 29m
Sound Mix: Datasat, SDDS, Dolby Digital

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