The Death of Stalin
Seen it?2017 | 107 min | Comedy, Drama, History
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
Critics loved it (95% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh and history buffs. If you loved Schindler's List or Code 3, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Provocative satire that goes after everyone.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 47 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
When dictator Joseph Stalin dies, his parasitic cronies square off in a frantic power struggle to become the next Soviet leader. As they bumble, brawl and back-stab their way to the top, the question remains — just who is running the government?
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 88 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.0 out of 10
- AwardsBelow par
2 wins and 1 nomination from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$25 million worldwide on a $13 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 595K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Armando Iannucci
- Steve BuscemiNikita Khrushchev
- Simon Russell BealeLavrenti Beria
- Jeffrey TamborGeorgy Malenkov
- Jason IsaacsField Marshal Zhukov
- Michael PalinVyacheslav Molotov
- Rupert FriendVasily Stalin
- Andrea RiseboroughSvetlana Stalin
- Dermot CrowleyLazar Kaganovich
- Paul WhitehouseAnastas Mikoyan
- Paul ChahidiNicolai Bulganin