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The Death of Stalin

Play trailer 2:21 Poster for The Death of Stalin R 2018 1h 47m Comedy History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 254 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
When tyrannical dictator Joseph Stalin dies in 1953, his parasitic cronies square off in a frantic power struggle to become the next Soviet leader. Among the contenders are the dweebish Georgy Malenkov, the wily Nikita Khrushchev and Lavrenti Beria -- the sadistic secret police chief. As they bumble, brawl and back-stab their way to the top, the question remains -- just who is running the government?
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The Death of Stalin

The Death of Stalin

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Critics Consensus

The Death of Stalin finds director/co-writer Arnando Iannucci in riotous form, bringing his scabrous political humor to bear on a chapter in history with painfully timely parallels.

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Critics Reviews

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Robert Daniels 812filmreviews 08/27/2018
3/4
The Death of Stalin is not only unexpected, but sharp, witty, and effectively spurious. Go to Full Review Sandra Hall Sydney Morning Herald 03/30/2018
4.5/5
A devastatingly funny dissection of power politics, stripping the mystique from it and those who worship it. Iannucci has done it again. Go to Full Review Wenlei Ma News.com.au 03/30/2018
4/5
The Death of Stalin is signature Iannucci - absurd set-ups leading to even more outrageous ends via the spitefully delicious cadence of his dialogue. Go to Full Review Grant Watson Fiction Machine 06/12/2024
9/10
It all feels very bleak, and appalling, and horrifically absurd. The effect is absolutely superb. Go to Full Review Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson 04/07/2024
3/5
The Death of Stalin is its own firing squad armed with a specialized brand of heinous hilarity. Go to Full Review Benedict Seal Vague Visages 12/05/2023
In the end, the humor fades away in favor of political machinations, but the film's killer gags are still numerable. Watching them delivered by expert performers is The Death of Stalin's primary pleasure. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Nigel S Nov 23 A somewhat confusing romp with a few good laughs thrown in. See more Jim S Nov 21 I fully understand what the director was trying to do, but it just fell short for me. I love Steve Buschemi and dark satirical humour, but this just didn't meet the mark. Where is Mel Brooks when you need him was my main thought about this movie. If you get that statement, you get it. See more Thomas S Nov 8 Simply one of my favorite movies of all time. I watch it in the Russian dub, because Beria’s Georgian accent makes it feel even more authentic. Everything is top-notch — the costumes, the actors, the screenplay — and it perfectly captures the absurd truths of totalitarian systems. It reveals the true arcanes of power, which makes me think of The Favourite. Nothing predestined Khrushchev to become Stalin’s successor, yet he did — for one reason: he made decisions when no one else dared to. The scene where Zhukov arrives and throws his coat remains, to this day, one of the most striking demonstrations of raw virility ever put on screen. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Oct 27 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Marc Z @TKDLife Oct 14 What a usual and pleasant surprise. The Death of Stalin is somewhere between a comedy and historical drama. I am not sure how much of it is accurate but it is well worth watching. Any feelings I had about Russia In the post WWII era and into the Cold War were reinforced by this movie. The script and Direction are so sharp. The cast is abundant and play it well. The costume design and cinematography are good. Steve Buscemi is a surprise as Khrushchev. Watch this movie. See more Joshua C @VeinNoir Sep 15 This movie is a masterpiece. I loved it soo much i searched for any other movie remotely similar and watched those too. I would love a National socialist Germany version with my boy AH !! See more Read all reviews
The Death of Stalin

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Cast & Crew

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Armando Iannucci

Director

Steve Buscemi

Nikita Khrushchev

Simon Russell Beale

Lavrentiy Beria

Jeffrey Tambor

Georgy Malenkov

Paddy Considine

Comrade Andryev

Rupert Friend

Vasily Stalin

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The Death of Stalin

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The Death of Stalin

The Death of Stalin (2017) A scene from "The Death of Stalin." A scene from "The Death of Stalin." A scene from "The Death of Stalin." A scene from "The Death of Stalin." A scene from "The Death of Stalin." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When tyrannical dictator Joseph Stalin dies in 1953, his parasitic cronies square off in a frantic power struggle to become the next Soviet leader. Among the contenders are the dweebish Georgy Malenkov, the wily Nikita Khrushchev and Lavrenti Beria -- the sadistic secret police chief. As they bumble, brawl and back-stab their way to the top, the question remains -- just who is running the government?
Director
Armando Iannucci
Producer
Yann Zenou, Laurent Zeitoun, Nicolas Duval-Adassovsky, Kevin Loader
Screenwriter
Armando Iannucci, David Schneider, Ian Martin
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
Main Journey, Quad Productions, Gaumont, Panache Productions, AFPI, France 3 Cinéma, La Compagnie Cinématographique
Rating
R (Some Sexual References|Language Throughout|Violence)
Genre
Comedy, History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 9, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 11, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$8.0M
Runtime
1h 47m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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