The Dictator

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The Dictator

R

2012

1h 23m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

56%

Tomatometer

219 Reviews

45%

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100,000+ Ratings

Gen. Aladeen (Sacha Baron Cohen) has ruled the oil-rich North African country of Wadiya since the age of six, when 97 stray bullets and a hand grenade killed his father in a hunting accident. After an assassination attempt takes the life of yet another body-double, Tamir (Ben Kingsley), Aladeen's uncle and most trusted adviser, convinces Aladeen to go to New York. Unfortunately, Aladeen has a less-than-friendly reception from exiled Wadiyans, who want their country freed from his despotic rule.

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Critics Consensus

Wildly uneven but consistently provocative, The Dictator is a decent entry in the poli-slapstick comedy genre.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

09/01/2018

I think I can feel it disappearing from my mind even as I am trying to remember it... It's Baron Cohen going at 50mph rather than 100mph.

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J. Hoberman

Tablet

05/03/2016

The problem is that, unlike Ali G, Borat, and Brno, Aladeen is less a force of nature than a scripted performance.

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Jenny McCartney

Daily Telegraph (UK)

06/01/2012

1/5

Both the laughter and the satire had crawled off and quietly died.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

10/19/2022

1.5/4

Laughs are few and far between, which comes as a surprise given how Borat and Brüno managed to be two of the most riotously funny movies you’ll ever see.

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James Croot

The Post NZ

02/07/2022

Overall The Dictator lacks the wit, invention and spontaneity of Baron Cohen's earlier work...

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Owen Nicholls

NME (New Musical Express)

05/13/2021

The over saturation of marketing stunts certainly didn't help the appeal but politically and comedically you'll find more to think about and laugh at during a single half hour on The Daily Show or The Colbert Report.

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Elliott L

@GreenBeans Dec 24

A total masterpiece. They don’t make movies like this anymore, because they can’t!! No one can take a joke. I mean from first scene to last total make fun of everything, anyone, and everywhere. No one/nothing is safe. General Aladeen, I’d vote for you, i want to meet you, and pass Megan fox my way when your done.

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Fade

Dec 20

It's not Sacha Baron Cohen's best work and would most likely insult you, but The Dictator is a political satire full of thought-provoking dark humor.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Nov 21

Funny in 01 hour, 38 minutes, and 45 seconds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Copyright 2012-2025 by Paramount Pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Shelton C

@filmtistic Nov 6

Absolutely loved the wii scene, I’d buy that game everyday of the week for the rest of my life if it was real.

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Maksim S

@MaksimusMovies Nov 2

The Dictator is easily one of Sacha Baron Cohen’s weaker outings, falling short of the wit and sharpness that made Borat and Bruno memorable. While Cohen’s trademark outrageousness is present, it feels forced and repetitive, and the humor rarely lands with the same cleverness or bite. The film’s plot is predictable and the supporting characters are largely forgettable. It is watchable enough for a single viewing, but ultimately, it fails to elevate itself above average comedy fare, and is unlikely to linger in the memory compared to Cohen’s stronger performances.

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Monic Kenya M

Sep 20

Some hilarious moments at the beginning, then it collapsed a bit.

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Larry Charles

Director

Sacha Baron Cohen

Gen. Aladeen

Anna Faris

Zoey

Ben Kingsley

Tamir

Jason Mantzoukas

Nadal

Kevin Corrigan

Slade

The Dictator: Official Clip - The Vegan Jihad

1:42

The Dictator: Official Clip - The Aladeen Law

1:22

The Dictator: Official Clip - Nuclear Nadal

2:12

The Dictator: Official Clip - Death to Aladeen

2:12

The Dictator: Official Clip - Delivering Love

2:13

The Dictator: Official Clip - Seducing Megan Fox

1:44

The Dictator: Official Clip - You're Making a Fool out of Me!

2:13

The Dictator: Official Clip - You Need to Touch Yourself

2:13

The Dictator: Official Clip - A Snag on the Zipline

2:02

The Dictator: Official Clip - The Helicopter

2:10

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Synopsis

Gen. Aladeen (Sacha Baron Cohen) has ruled the oil-rich North African country of Wadiya since the age of six, when 97 stray bullets and a hand grenade killed his father in a hunting accident. After an assassination attempt takes the life of yet another body-double, Tamir (Ben Kingsley), Aladeen's uncle and most trusted adviser, convinces Aladeen to go to New York. Unfortunately, Aladeen has a less-than-friendly reception from exiled Wadiyans, who want their country freed from his despotic rule.

Director: Larry Charles
Producer: Sacha Baron Cohen, Alec Berg, David Mandel, Jeff Schaffer, Anthony Hines, Scott Rudin, Todd Schulman
Screenwriter: Sacha Baron Cohen, Alec Berg, David Mandel, Jeff Schaffer
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Scott Rudin Productions, Berg Mandel Schaffer, Four by Two Films
Rating: R (Language|Brief Male Nudity|Some Violent Images|Strong Crude & Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 16, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 14, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $59.6M
Runtime: 1h 23m

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