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The Idiots

Play trailer Poster for The Idiots R 1998 1h 55m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
72% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Karen (Bodil Jørgensen) is dining alone at a crowded restaurant when a group of people who seem to be mentally disabled enter and disrupt everyone's meal. Discerning that they are not what they seem, Karen returns with the group to the large communal house they inhabit with charismatic Stoffer (Jens Albinus). This group of intellectuals is attempting to challenge bourgeois ideology by behaving like "idiots" in public. Karen, however, may take the act further than any of them had planned.
The Idiots

What to Know

Critics Consensus

The Idiots feels more like an experiment than a coherent narrative, but director Lars von Trier's provocative style and rumination on civilization will leave most audience members feeling like satisfied test subjects.

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Critics Reviews

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Peter Bradshaw Guardian 08/16/2023
3/5
The Idiots works as a situationist provocation about a situationist provocation, though claiming the sentimental high ground at the end. Go to Full Review
Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times 02/14/2001
3.5/5
The Idiots suggests that if Danish iconoclast Lars von Trier's filmsare getting tougher, they're also continuing to reward the patient. Go to Full Review
Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly 01/01/2000
B
A raw, funny, maddening ramble. Go to Full Review
Gilbert Adair Independent on Sunday 11/27/2017
Not everyone's cup of tea and, indeed, not a cup of tea at all, but one of those extremely rare films that aren't content to leave the cinema as they found it. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 07/16/2009
B
The first Dogme film of enfant terrible Lars von Trier challenges viewers to reexamine their social mores and cinema habits of voyeurism and pleasure. Go to Full Review
Film Threat 12/06/2005
5/5
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Audience Reviews

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Dennui S Nov 21 Dogme 95 #2. A provocative group in Copenhagen do everything within their power to release their inhibitions, including pretending to have developmental disabilities. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Feb 21 Filme bacaninha, o roteiro é mais ou menos, o filme tem cenas não tão relevantes, o filme começa a ser tornar interessante quando um grupo fica alguns dias em uma casa e fazem a festa lá com orgia entre mulheres e homens, bebidas e mais diversão, só que depois dessa diversão toda o filme não teve mais nada disso e acabou, a brincadeira e a orgia salvaram o filme. See more Mason M Jan 14 An interesting addition to 90s alternative cinema, which is also von Trier's only addition to his infamous Dogme 95 movement, is a fun yet heartbreaking film with a great concept and amazing execution. Von Trier is definitely my favorite director, and while this may be one of his worse films, it's still an amazing film. All of the hyjinks are fun and provocative, but this is also one of von Trier's most heartfelt films that at its core, is a deeply moving and emotional story. The Idiots is definitely not for everyone, but it's a great and emotional addition to alternative cinema. See more Leaburn O 07/02/2024 A good ending and some very good scenes but it just makes no actual sense except the one character. So…nah not for me. Watched on DVD. See more Dani G 09/16/2023 Is this a mock from Lars Von Trier? We know you're a transgressor and provocateur, but c'mon! Do something good at least See more David H 07/22/2023 "The Idiots" sounds like a film about movie critics! See more Read all reviews
The Idiots

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Movie Info

Synopsis Karen (Bodil Jørgensen) is dining alone at a crowded restaurant when a group of people who seem to be mentally disabled enter and disrupt everyone's meal. Discerning that they are not what they seem, Karen returns with the group to the large communal house they inhabit with charismatic Stoffer (Jens Albinus). This group of intellectuals is attempting to challenge bourgeois ideology by behaving like "idiots" in public. Karen, however, may take the act further than any of them had planned.
Director
Lars von Trier
Producer
Vibeke Windeløv
Screenwriter
Lars von Trier
Distributor
USA Films, Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co
Zentropa Entertainment
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
Danish
Release Date (Theaters)
May 30, 1998, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Jul 27, 2004
Box Office (Gross USA)
$7.2K
Runtime
1h 55m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, Surround