In the Loop

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In the Loop

2009

1h 46m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

178 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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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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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Apr 10, 2022

3.5/4

A vicious satire with ice in its veins and poison in its fangs.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 3, 2025

Funny in 1 hour and 46 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $2,400,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Armando Iannucci

Director

Peter Capaldi

Malcolm Tucker

Tom Hollander

Simon Foster

Gina McKee

Judy

James Gandolfini

General Miller

Chris Addison

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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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