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The Great Dictator

Play trailer 1:54 Poster for The Great Dictator G 1940 2h 8m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 53 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
After dedicated service in the Great War, a Jewish barber (Charles Chaplin) spends years in an army hospital recovering from his wounds, unaware of the simultaneous rise of fascist dictator Adenoid Hynkel (also Chaplin) and his anti-Semitic policies. When the barber, who bears a remarkable resemblance to Hynkel, returns to his quiet neighborhood, he is stunned by the brutal changes and recklessly joins a beautiful girl (Paulette Goddard) and her neighbors in rebelling.
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The Great Dictator

The Great Dictator

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Critics Consensus

Charlie Chaplin demonstrates that his comedic voice is undiminished by dialogue in this rousing satire of tyranny, which may be more distinguished by its uplifting humanism than its gags.

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Critics Reviews

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Kat Sachs Chicago Reader 02/07/2025
Chaplin’s iconic speech at the end of the film is only too relevant nowadays. Go to Full Review William Goss Film.com 06/01/2011
The first full-blown talkie from the biggest star of the silent era, complete with a message that Chaplin couldn't have sent more loudly or clearly. Go to Full Review TIME Magazine 09/03/2010
Through no fault of Chaplin's, during the two years he was at work on the picture dictators became too sinister for comedy. Go to Full Review Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm Apr 28
3/4
Charlie Chaplin was not messing around. Go to Full Review George Orwell Time and Tide 10/02/2023
What is Chaplin’s peculiar gift? It is his power to stand for a sort of concentrated essence of the common man, for the ineradicable belief in decency that exists in the hearts of ordinary people, at any rate in the West. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 08/19/2023
... confronts the hatred and anti-Semitism of Hitler’s Germany in the days before America’s entry into World War II while lampooning the despots responsible. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Márcio T @RT85696313 May 14 A work of art, fulfilled with purpose, critiques and gold comedy. This type of "movie" just makes me think: totally worth it. The speech scene is fantastic, more people should know about what Chaplin tried to teach us. See more Carol M. @carolmatune Apr 19 So poignant and important considering what is going on in the U. S. today, April 2026. See more Kaylee S. @Kay26 Mar 21 I can't remember the last time a movie left me feeling something like this. See more Joshua H @JoshuaHawes Dec 30 This was such a compelling watch. Considering this not a movie made years past from Hitlers Reign but was released during his reign makes every decision all the more compelling & bold. This is the frist Charlie Chaplin film I've seen & I get the hype theu way he's able to make this as a comedy while still being emotional & compelling was great. The comedy even added to the movie, especially when using it to make fun of Dictator Hynkel as it made him look really pathetic which all Dictators are. Yeah this just brilliant & messaging still works today. Yeah this was great. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Sep 29 Filme bacaninha, o roteiro é mais ou menos, as cenas são bacaninhas, a história é mais ou menos, o elenco é mais ou menos, e só o Charles chaplin ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são mais ou menos, o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, o filme mostra muito bem como émera a ditadura na época nos anos 40. See more Marce S @RT24248553 Sep 13 What you excpect from Chaplin's take on the Third Reich. A movie with booth hillarious slapstick as well as sorrowfull depictions of life in the ghetto. Some scenes are a bit to long and not too many sharp-tongued jokes. However you should not miss out on this piece of cinema. See more Read all reviews
The Great Dictator

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Cast & Crew

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Charlie Chaplin

Director

Charlie Chaplin

Adenoid Hynkel

Paulette Goddard

Hannah

Jack Oakie

Napaloni

Reginald Gardiner

Schultz

Henry Daniell

Garbitsch

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The Great Dictator

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The Great Dictator

The Great Dictator (1940) A scene from the film THE GREAT DICTATOR. A scene from the film THE GREAT DICTATOR. A scene from the film THE GREAT DICTATOR. The Great Dictator (1940) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After dedicated service in the Great War, a Jewish barber (Charles Chaplin) spends years in an army hospital recovering from his wounds, unaware of the simultaneous rise of fascist dictator Adenoid Hynkel (also Chaplin) and his anti-Semitic policies. When the barber, who bears a remarkable resemblance to Hynkel, returns to his quiet neighborhood, he is stunned by the brutal changes and recklessly joins a beautiful girl (Paulette Goddard) and her neighbors in rebelling.
Director
Charlie Chaplin
Producer
Charlie Chaplin
Screenwriter
Charlie Chaplin
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
Charles Chaplin Productions
Rating
G
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 15, 1940, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 22, 2017
Runtime
2h 8m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)