Slumdog Millionaire

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2:05

Slumdog Millionaire

R

Released Jan 23, 2009

1h 56m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

286 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

As 18-year-old Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) answers questions on the Indian version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," flashbacks show how he got there. Part of a stable of young thieves after their mother dies, Jamal and his brother, Salim, survive on the streets of Mumbai. Salim finds the life of crime agreeable, but Jamal scrapes by with small jobs until landing a spot on the game show.

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Critics Consensus

Visually dazzling and emotionally resonant, Slumdog Millionaire is a film that's both entertaining and powerful.

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Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

It's not about poverty pornography. It's not about a White guy showing us touchy Brown-skins squatting by the rail-tracks. In the end, it's just about a film, which sweeps you up and takes you for an exhilarating ride on the wild side.

Jan 27, 2018

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Geoffrey Macnab

Independent (UK)

Slumdog Millionaire is an exhilarating ride -- a feel-good yarn about a Mumbai street kid directed by Danny Boyle with a wild energy that makes even Trainspotting (Boyle's calling card) look leaden-footed.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 22, 2015

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Ryan Gilbey

New Statesman

There are so many frantic pursuits through heaving streets that it is easy to lose track of who is chasing whom, or why. Energy and urgency are substituted for realism.

Feb 22, 2015

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Danny Boyle has mastered the modern fairy tale. Eliminating fantasy from the equation and finding magic in the everyday, he’s grounded the dreamy storybook experience with realistic settings and circumstances that don’t diminish the fateful exhilaration

Rated: 4/4

Mar 7, 2024

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Danny Boyle’s underdog movie about a slum kid in India who defies all odds and follows his heart into the final rounds of “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire” was the most unabashedly, tragically, rapturously romantic film of 2008.

Oct 6, 2023

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Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

Admittedly, the narrative can be unapologetically sentimental, but Boyle and his team execute it with such finesse that it becomes impossible not to embrace this tender film.

Jun 14, 2023

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Paul S

This movie was absolutely incredible. It felt shockingly real, and there were so many moments that were absolutely gut-wrenching to watch, but it made the movie that much better. I definitely recommend it for drama fans!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/29/25

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Aedan R

Excellent movie. The editing of this movie is brilliant and the way the love story progresses is genius. Great creativity, acting, directing and emotion in this film. My mum was always requesting we watch it and since I did, I can’t stop looking back to it. I would definitely recommend this!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/26/25

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Bread C

This movie is another one of my favorites, and had an amazing story, and great aesthetics and filming. I don't know how they could make this movie so amazing, because it truly is a masterpiece. Again, the top 5 movies of all time easily. I have already watched this movie around half a dozen times, and am watching it again tonight. I remember my dad showing it to me and my older sister, and me loving it. I watched it for the first time about three years ago, and it's still a great movie. Great job, keep on making amazing movies like this. God bless.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/28/25

Full Review

Jennifer M

This movie is in my top 5 list. I've watched it no less than 8 times (so far). Decided to watch it again tonight and realized I should have written a review a long time ago. I love EVERYTHING about this movie - the actors selected, the excellent acting, the way it was filmed/produced, the imagery of Mumbai and the culture (absolutely loved the pan-out views), taking us through the different stages of life with the characters, how the storyline is unveiled bit by bit with his answers, then all comes together seamlessly at the end, closing out with the Bollywood dance - just Everything. The characters and their performance is so strong and convincing that it pulls you in and takes you through every emotion with them - you will be sad, happy, laugh, cry, become angry and enraged, and will be on the edge of your seat waiting to see what will happen next. An all around excellent production!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/01/25

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Micah H

Absolutely beautiful.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/25

Full Review

Braden W

Only one word: Peak

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/25/25

Full Review

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Slumdog Millionaire: Trailer 1

2:05

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Synopsis

As 18-year-old Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) answers questions on the Indian version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," flashbacks show how he got there. Part of a stable of young thieves after their mother dies, Jamal and his brother, Salim, survive on the streets of Mumbai. Salim finds the life of crime agreeable, but Jamal scrapes by with small jobs until landing a spot on the game show.

Director: Danny Boyle
Producer: Christian Colson
Screenwriter: Simon Beaufoy
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: Celador Productions, Film 4
Rating: R (Language|Disturbing Images|Some Violence)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 23, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 18, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $141.3M
Runtime: 1h 56m

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