Lincoln

Play trailer

Lincoln

PG-13

Released Nov 16, 2012

2h 29m

History

Drama

Biography

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

289 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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Lincoln is a triumph.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 8, 2022

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Read all reviews

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Ryland C

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

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/29/25

Full Review

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

Full Review

Matt F

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

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/07/25

Full Review

Mark J

This movie was well acted and told the end of Lincoln’s life pretty well. I do wish it had more of his earlier life. This movie may have been better tittled 13 or Thirteenth Amendment. I did love it and I am a fan of Lincoln.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/09/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

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

James Spader

W.N. Bilbo

42

80%

85%

42

Watchlist

Unbroken: Path to Redemption

40%

73%

Unbroken: Path to Redemption

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Unbroken: Path to Redemption

The Current War: Director's Cut

61%

79%

The Current War: Director's Cut

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Current War: Director's Cut

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

61%

68%

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Watchlist

Victoria & Abdul

65%

68%

Victoria & Abdul

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Victoria & Abdul

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Rank Daniel Day-Lewis’ 10 Best Movies

Al Gore’s Five Favorite Films

Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s 10 Best Movies

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now