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In the Loop

Play trailer Poster for In the Loop 2009 1h 46m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 173 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
During an interview, British Cabinet Minister Simon Foster (Tom Hollander) delivers an off-the-cuff remark that war in the Middle East is unforeseeable. Profane political spin doctor Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi) tries to cover up Foster's faux pas, but the ill-conceived comment is picked up by a warmongering American official. Foster is invited to Washington, D.C., where a war of words brews as politicians maneuver, manipulate and deceive each other before a U.N. vote on military action.
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In the Loop

In the Loop

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Critics Consensus

In the Loop is an uncommonly funny political satire that blends Dr. Strangelove with Spinal Tap for the Iraq war era.

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Critics Reviews

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Alonso Duralde TheWrap Oct 24, 2018
You probably wouldn't want to spend three hours listening to Alan Partridge's drive-time radio broadcast, but this idiotic DJ delivers a solid 90 minutes of cinematic entertainment. Go to Full Review
Deborah Ross The Spectator Aug 29, 2018
The performances are outstanding, and there are many laugh-out-loud moments as confirmed by the fact that I laughed out loud. Go to Full Review
Ed Koch The Atlantic Jan 17, 2018
This alleged satire, which received four-star treatment from other critics, left me with a ho-hum and sorry feeling that I had wasted an evening seeing it. Go to Full Review
Noah Berlatsky Everything is Horrible (Substack) Aug 14, 2026
The real brilliance of the film is that its villainous conspirators have no particular motive—and really no particular rationality. Go to Full Review
Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Sep 4, 2023
4/4
A durable, smartly-written assemblage of highly quotable material that will continue to be funny no matter how many times you see it. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Apr 10, 2022
3.5/4
A vicious satire with ice in its veins and poison in its fangs. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Lynne A @Lynnnnnne May 4, 2026 Fantastic! We Loved In The Loop! It was like the show Brink Very clever writing, great acting …perfect See more
Scott M @RT75128960 Mar 10, 2026 One of my favorite comedies. Really vulgar. But smart writing at the same time. Very well acted. Exceptional really. Not for people who like Will Ferrell type movies like Step Brothers or Taladega Nights. See more
Garry A @heavyg Feb 14, 2026 This political satire can be quite funny when it doesn't take itself too seriously. Unfortunately, it got too serious and less funny towards the end. See more
Ed . @RT01276001 Aug 22, 2025 F*ing G*d d*mned m*ther f*ing satire of how craven those serving us in government really are. Peter Capaldi's Malcom Tucker character's outrageously off-the-rails performance is hysterically funny for the first 20 minutes but morphs into a one trick pony of a pathetic human being. This would work in a screwball comedy or with a minor character. However, while not a fatal flaw, it is a significant and material one which knocks down the quality of the film by several pegs. What a G* d*ammed f*ing shame! See more
Gareth v @geewah Jul 10, 2025 The master of political satire, Armando Iannucci, has delivered another gem in his take on the politics of the Middle East crisis. Anything that has Malcom Tucker in it is well worth watching. See more
Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 3, 2025 Funny in 1 hour and 46 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $2,400,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more
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In the Loop

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Cast & Crew

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Armando Iannucci

Director

Peter Capaldi

Malcolm Tucker

Tom Hollander

Simon Foster

Gina McKee

Judy

James Gandolfini

General Miller

Chris Addison

Toby

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In the Loop

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Movie Info

Synopsis During an interview, British Cabinet Minister Simon Foster (Tom Hollander) delivers an off-the-cuff remark that war in the Middle East is unforeseeable. Profane political spin doctor Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi) tries to cover up Foster's faux pas, but the ill-conceived comment is picked up by a warmongering American official. Foster is invited to Washington, D.C., where a war of words brews as politicians maneuver, manipulate and deceive each other before a U.N. vote on military action.
Director
Armando Iannucci
Producer
Kevin Loader, Adam Tandy
Screenwriter
Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
BBC
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 24, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 27, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.4M
Runtime
1h 46m
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