The Battle of Algiers

Play trailer

The Battle of Algiers

1967

2h 5m

War

History

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

99%

Tomatometer

94 Reviews

95%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Paratrooper commander Colonel Mathieu (Jean Martin), a former French Resistance fighter during World War II, is sent to 1950s Algeria to reinforce efforts to squelch the uprisings of the Algerian War. There he faces Ali la Pointe (Brahim Haggiag), a former petty criminal who, as the leader of the Algerian Front de Liberation Nationale, directs terror strategies against the colonial French government occupation. As each side resorts to ever-increasing brutality, no violent act is too unthinkable.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

A documentary-like depiction of a nation's real-life efforts to expel a colonizing force, The Battle of Algiers puts viewers on the front lines with gripping realism.

Read Critics Reviews

Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

I think people's senses are so overwhelmed by the surging inevitability of the action that they are prepared to support what, in another context, they would reject.

Sep 18, 2023

Full Review

Eric Hynes

Village Voice

It uses realism as an effect, documentary as a style. You feel that you're really there, and you can't help but be moved.

Oct 5, 2016

Full Review

Mike D'Angelo

AV Club

It neither demonizes nor lionizes either side of the conflict, aiming for just-the-ugly facts objectivity. Nobody who sees it is likely to feel comforted, or even vindicated. The emotion it most frequently and fervently inspires is sorrow.

Rated: A-

Oct 5, 2016

Full Review

Sean Burns

Crooked Marquee

A raw, roaring, incendiary work of art.

Oct 15, 2025

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Directed with a newsreel immediacy and a documentary seriousness, it could be used by young revolutionary groups as a guide to creating the political structure of a resistance movement.

Aug 9, 2024

Full Review

Paul Kanieski

KSQD Community Radio

The lessons The Battle of Algiers has to offer are painfully obvious. Why we still haven't learned them over fifty years hence defies all logic.

Jul 22, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

revolver.0 8

masterpiece fore generations to come

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/06/25

Full Review

Elon S

What every movie should be.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/21/25

Full Review

Lluvia A

Long movie! However the documentary feel is cool!! Enjoyed it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/13/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Success in 2 hours and 5 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Jean Martin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Arabic and English versions with English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/07/25

Full Review

Luca D

Great practical effects and makeup give this movie a very gritty realistic look almost as if your watching a real documentary about the real battle. Decent character building though not the best. Definitely worth watching if your into war reenactments films (Lawrence of Arabia-esque) type movies.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/08/25

Full Review

Micah H

Complete emotional detachment and void of any character development. This film is so underwhelming that it made me strongly dislike the so called protagonists and root heavily for the French.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/25/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Gillo Pontecorvo

Director

Jean Martin

Col. Mathieu

Yacef Saadi

Djafar

Brahim Haggiag

Ali La Pointe

Tommaso Neri

Captain (uncredited)

Samia Kerbash

One of the girls

Army of Shadows

97%

94%

Army of Shadows

Watchlist

The Dirty Dozen

82%

90%

The Dirty Dozen

Watchlist

Zulu

97%

91%

Zulu

Watchlist

The Bridge at Remagen

20%

59%

The Bridge at Remagen

Watchlist

The Longest Day

83%

90%

The Longest Day

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Longest Day

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Paratrooper commander Colonel Mathieu (Jean Martin), a former French Resistance fighter during World War II, is sent to 1950s Algeria to reinforce efforts to squelch the uprisings of the Algerian War. There he faces Ali la Pointe (Brahim Haggiag), a former petty criminal who, as the leader of the Algerian Front de Liberation Nationale, directs terror strategies against the colonial French government occupation. As each side resorts to ever-increasing brutality, no violent act is too unthinkable.

Director: Gillo Pontecorvo
Producer: Antonio Musu, Yacef Saadi
Distributor: Rialto Pictures, Image Entertainment Inc., Criterion Collection, Rizzoli
Production Co: Cashbah, Igor Film
Genre: War, History, Drama
Original Language: Arabic
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 20, 1967, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Oct 7, 2016
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 14, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $55.9K
Runtime: 2h 5m
Sound Mix: Mono

Most Popular at Home Now