The Dictator

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The Dictator

R

Released May 16, 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

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

The Post 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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Audience Member

Wii terrorist

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/22/25

Full Review

zagros T.

one of the best comedy films

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/27/25

Full Review

Vasqu3z V

One of the funniest movies ever made

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/03/25

Full Review

Jack L

Sacha Baron Cohen’s The Dictator is arguably his best work, delivering an incredible satire that skewers traditional dictatorships, Middle Eastern oil barons, and the U.S. oligarchy with equal precision. Its bold commentary on America's flirtation with dictatorship and the absurdity of nuclear posturing in the Middle East has aged remarkably well. While the film occasionally veers into overly crass territory, it remains unapologetically sharp and relentlessly funny. Beneath the outrageous gags lies a surprisingly biting political critique that still resonates today.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/01/25

Full Review

Justin W

Really reminds me of Adam Sandler, it will absolutely better with him and his nude comedy.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/25/25

Full Review

Joe B

It's not a bad film worth watching, is really funny in places but some bits are bit awkward to watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/10/25

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

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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