The Dictator

Play trailer

The Dictator

R

2012

1h 23m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

56%

Tomatometer

219 Reviews

45%

Popcornmeter

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

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

Read all reviews

Stephen C

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/21/25

Full Review

Shelton C.

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

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/06/25

Full Review

Maksim S

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.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/02/25

Full Review

Monic Kenya M

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

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/21/25

Full Review

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

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

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

View more videos

Top Five

85%

64%

Top Five

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Top Five

I Heart Huckabees

63%

75%

I Heart Huckabees

Watchlist

Marci X

8%

29%

Marci X

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Marci X

The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou

57%

82%

The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: The Dictator, A Separation, and Some Disney Classics

Box Office Guru Wrapup: The Avengers‘ Reign Continues

Critics Consensus: Battleship Is All Wet

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now