Doctor Zhivago

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Doctor Zhivago

PG-13

1965

3h 17m

Romance

History

Drama

War

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Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

49 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

During the Russian Revolution, Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif) is a young doctor who has been raised by his aunt and uncle following his father's suicide. Yuri falls in love with beautiful Lara Guishar (Julie Christie), who has been having an affair with her mother's lover, Victor Komarovsky (Rod Steiger), an unscrupulous businessman. Yuri, however, ends up marrying his cousin, Tonya (Geraldine Chaplin). But when he and Lara meet again years later, the spark of love reignites.

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Critics Consensus

It may not be the best of David Lean's epics, but Dr. Zhivago is still brilliantly photographed and sweepingly romantic.

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James Powers

The Hollywood Reporter

Dec 22, 2016

Despite the grim and brooding background, Zhivago has a surging buoyant spirit that is unquenchable. Doctor Zhivago is more than a masterful motion picture; it is a life experience.

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Richard Roud

Guardian

Apr 29, 2016

One of those rare film adaptations which, unless you have already read the book, makes you wonder why anyone ever bothered to make the film at all.

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Geoffrey Macnab

Independent (UK)

Dec 1, 2015

4/5

Maurice Jarre's music is as beguiling as ever and Lean squeezes all the pathos that he can out of the romance between Sharif's Yuri Zhivago and Julie Christie's febrile and gorgeous Lara Antipova.

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Pauline Kael

McCall's

Sep 19, 2023

It isn't shoddy (except for the music), it isn't soap opera; it's stately, respectable and dead: the photography static, the comings and goings without rhythm. It's like watching a gigantic task of stone masonry, executed by unmoved movers.

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Bob Halliday

Salt Lake Tribune

May 12, 2021

Doctor Zhivago, in the film version, is a work of art to match the novel and even excel it in some respects.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Aug 24, 2020

10/10

A masterpiece of emotional resonance and melodramatic romanticism.

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Steve S

Aug 10, 2025

A classic, epic movie. Very good, but a little hard to follow.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 3, 2026

Doctor Zhivago is definately a *4* star movie!

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Keith B

@Okbullard Aug 7, 2026

I was 13 when this came out so obviously I didn't watch it. I checked it out today and couldn't get past an hour and thirty minutes. It was so slow, boring and dated I couldn't believe it. I really can't recommend it. BTW I played Somewhere My Love in band in the late 60s and liked that song.

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Thomas D

@Thom1967 Mar 21, 2026

A brilliant classic, adapted from Boris Pasternak’s novel. The characters are so strong, the landscapes of Russia are magnificent. It’s a story of the Russian revolution. Passionate and superb !

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thiago S

@Thiagostone Mar 2, 2026

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Jim P

@RT08384096 Dec 31, 2025

I really wanted to watch this again, but I had to make notes(!) All the characters have TWO names and it's hard to remember who's who. Then you need some knowledge of the Russian Revolution... It's basically an epic historical love triangle. Give it a go if you feel brave!

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David Lean

Director

Omar Sharif

Dr. Yuri Zhivago

Julie Christie

Nurse Lara Antipova

Geraldine Chaplin

Tonya

Tom Courtenay

Pasha Antipova

Alec Guinness

Gen. Yevgraf Zhivago

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Synopsis

During the Russian Revolution, Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif) is a young doctor who has been raised by his aunt and uncle following his father's suicide. Yuri falls in love with beautiful Lara Guishar (Julie Christie), who has been having an affair with her mother's lover, Victor Komarovsky (Rod Steiger), an unscrupulous businessman. Yuri, however, ends up marrying his cousin, Tonya (Geraldine Chaplin). But when he and Lara meet again years later, the spark of love reignites.

Director: David Lean
Producer: Carlo Ponti
Screenwriter: Boris Pasternak, Robert Bolt
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Warner Home Vídeo, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp., MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Warner Bros., Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, History, Drama, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 22, 1965, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $87.1K
Runtime: 3h 17m

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