The Dictator

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The Dictator

R

Released May 16, 2012

1h 23m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

57%

Tomatometer

221 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

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.

Sep 1, 2018

Full Review

J. Hoberman

Tablet

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

May 3, 2016

Full Review

Jenny McCartney

Daily Telegraph (UK)

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

Rated: 1/5

Jun 1, 2012

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

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.

Rated: 1.5/4

Oct 19, 2022

Full Review

James Croot

Stuff.co.nz

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

Feb 7, 2022

Full Review

Owen Nicholls

NME (New Musical Express)

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.

May 13, 2021

Full Review

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Tomaz B

Honestly, it's a funny movie and it makes a few valid points about the state of the "democratic" world. But I'm not here to be political, I'm here to give my opinion about the movie. It starts off great, I like the unfiltered jokes that were, to my surprise, pretty spot on. Some parts could've been better executed, which would make this movie a 9/11 for me. If you liked Borat, you'll likely have a great time watching this one too. The movie was Aladeen! Oppressed at last! Thank Aladeen, I'm oppressed at last!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/19/25

Full Review

Priyan B

Worth watching political satire. Rating: 6.8/10

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/25

Full Review

Professional D

I absolutely love this movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/25

Full Review

Amir S

Insanely funny movie, I enjoyed every moment, the jokes and plot are really good.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/18/24

Full Review

Alex V

Absolutely hilarious! The rotten score does not represent how good this movie is lol. The low scores are from sensitive people who can't take a joke. If you're into comedy then this movie is for you.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/13/24

Full Review

Max K

Absolutely hilarious. Crude humor that would wouldn’t fly in 2024. More movies need to have comedy like this.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/03/24

Full Review

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Larry Charles

Director

Sacha Baron Cohen

Gen. Aladeen

Anna Faris

Zoey

Ben Kingsley

Tamir

Jason Mantzoukas

Nadal

Kevin Corrigan

Slade

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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: Four by Two Films, Scott Rudin Productions, Berg Mandel Schaffer
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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