Add your email and we'll match picks to the services you stream at home.

The Assassination of Trotsky

Name: The Assassination of Trotsky
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller
Released: 1972-03-30
Cast: Richard Burton, Alain Delon, Romy Schneider, Valentina Cortese, Duilio Del Prete

1972 | 103 min | Drama, History, Thriller

Monday Morning Maybeearly rating

Why it’s a Monday Morning Maybe

With rough reviews, soft box office and little lasting buzz, this one could be a tough watch. Keep your phone handy.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: If you count yourself among fans of cool, efficient anti-heroes and people who'll be looking things up afterwards, this one's for you. Lean and efficient, like its main character. Shelve it next to The Bourne Supremacy or Z. Based on real events, so expect to go down a research rabbit hole afterwards.
The mood: Tense.
The pace: Character-first and patient, at 1 hr 43 min.
What might put you off: Made in 1972: an older pace and style.
Skip it if you need something light and fast tonight.

A Stalinist assassin tracks exiled revolutionary Leon Trotsky to Mexico in 1940.

How it earned its rating

CriticsWeak
Mostly negative reviews
AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 17K people sought it out in the past year

More like this

Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks

Cast & crew

Directed by Joseph Losey

Richard BurtonLeon Trotsky
Alain DelonFrank Jackson
Romy SchneiderGita Samuels
Valentina CorteseNatalia Trotsky
Duilio Del PreteFelipe
Enrico Maria SalernoSalazar
Luigi VannucchiRuiz
Jean DesaillyAlfred Rosmer
Simone ValèreMarguerite Rosmer
Peter ChatelOtto