The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!

Released May 25, 1966

2h 6m

Comedy

List

83%

24 Reviews

Tomatometer

75%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

When a Soviet submarine gets stuck on a sandbar off the coast of a New England island, its commander (Theodore Bikel) orders his second-in-command, Lieutenant Rozanov (Alan Arkin), to get them moving again before there is an international incident. Rozanov seeks assistance from the island locals, including the police chief (Brian Keith) and a vacationing television writer (Carl Reiner), while trying to allay their fears of a Communist invasion by claiming he and his crew are Norwegian sailors.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Jul 06

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Rent The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Larry K

A fun movie. Just what you would expect from this era

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/21/24

Full Review

Sparky B

This is an absolutely delightful film. The situation builds on itself as things slowly get out of hand on a small New England island when a Soviet submarine runs aground just off the coast. There are only a hand full of cold-war comedies worth watching....this is one of them. 😄

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/24

Full Review

S R

A sweet comedy that bridges the Cold War sides by boiling down commonalities and making fun of our fears. It's a well made movie that reminded me of better times when movies were quality and not vulgar. My only frustration was with Reiner's character and his helplessness. Regardless, Arkin won an Oscar for best actor. Saw on TCM.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/16/23

Full Review

Michael W

This comedy classic was pretty good. Carl Reiner, Alan Arkin, Eva Marie Saint, and the rest of the cast did a pretty good job in this movie. The plot of the movie was kind of entertaining, but very peculiar. It's about a town getting paranoid over fear of a Soviet invasion. If you haven't seen this movie yet, you might enjoy it. That's my opinion.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/24/23

Full Review

Bill T

A pretty cute movie that runs just a wee bit too long with it's one joke premise. A Russian sub runs aground, 7 or 8 soldiers go to the US shore to try to find a boat, and then in a one thing leads to another premise, the situation escalates when the whole area feels they're under Russian attack. Lots of star power in this one, with Alan Arkin TOTALLY stealing the show as the Russian captain / spokesperson. He's pretty amazing and hilarious. Other stand out is the dreamy John Phillip Law as the misunderstood Russian soldier. Just great. Anyways, it really does go on a wee bit too long, and the ending is sort of bad.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Tee C

A Carl Reiner - Alan Arkin classic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/09/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Norman Jewison

Director

Carl Reiner

Walt Whittaker

Eva Marie Saint

Elspeth Whittaker

Alan Arkin

Lt. Rozanov

Brian Keith

Police Chief Link Mattocks

Jonathan Winters

Officer Norman Jones

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!: Official Clip - Trust the Enemy

1:42

The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!: Official Clip - Finding the Keys

2:28

The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!: Official Clip - Down the Stairs

2:48

The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!: Official Clip - Arnold Benedict

2:25

The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!: Official Clip - The Militia Forms

2:19

The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!: Official Clip - Hanging Around

1:07

The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!: Official Clip - Under Arrest

2:32

The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!: Official Clip - The "Norwegians"

2:57

The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!: Official Clip - We've Got to Get Organized

1:00

The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!: Official Clip - Nothing Personal

2:36

View more videos

50%

69%

What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?

79%

76%

Avanti!

83%

70%

Walk, Don't Run

47%

76%

The Loved One

80%

65%

After the Fox

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Variety Staff

Variety

Arkin, in his film bow, is absolutely outstanding as the courtly Russian who kisses a lady's hand even as he draws a gun.

Aug 8, 2008

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Sweet and charmingly funny in many places, this is dated but entertaining.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Fabulously funny!

Rated: 4/5

Jun 19, 2003

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

From the same school of wacky, overblown, sixties comedies as It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and The Great Race comes this wacky, overblown, sixties comedy whose greatest asset is Alan Arkin in his memorable, Oscar-nominated film debut.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 10, 2024

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! addresses serious themes in a farcical manner and gets a breakout performance from Alan Arkin in the process.

Rated: 4.5/5

Jan 18, 2024

Full Review

Roger Moore

Movie Nation

Alan Arkin may have won his Oscar decades later, but he was never better than in this epic comedy, slow-burning in Russian and English with the funniest people in Hollywood surrounding him.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 21, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

When a Soviet submarine gets stuck on a sandbar off the coast of a New England island, its commander (Theodore Bikel) orders his second-in-command, Lieutenant Rozanov (Alan Arkin), to get them moving again before there is an international incident. Rozanov seeks assistance from the island locals, including the police chief (Brian Keith) and a vacationing television writer (Carl Reiner), while trying to allay their fears of a Communist invasion by claiming he and his crew are Norwegian sailors.

Director: Norman Jewison
Screenwriter: Nathaniel Benchley, William Rose
Distributor: United Artists, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: The Mirisch Corporation [us]
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 25, 1966, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Runtime: 2h 6m

Most Popular at Home Now