The Dictator (2012) | Rotten Tomatoes

The Dictator

R

Released May 16, 2012

1h 23m

Comedy

List

56%

Tomatometer

224 Reviews

44%

Audience Score

100,000+ Ratings

Gen. Aladeen (Sacha Baron Cohen) has ruled the oil-rich North African country of Wadiya since the age of six, when 97 stray bullets and a hand grenade killed his father in a hunting accident. After an assassination attempt takes the life of yet another body-double, Tamir (Ben Kingsley), Aladeen's uncle and most trusted adviser, convinces Aladeen to go to New York. Unfortunately, Aladeen has a less-than-friendly reception from exiled Wadiyans, who want their country freed from his despotic rule.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Paramount+

Watch The Dictator with a subscription on Paramount+, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Critics Consensus

Wildly uneven but consistently provocative, The Dictator is a decent entry in the poli-slapstick comedy genre.

Read Critics Reviews

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

I think I can feel it disappearing from my mind even as I am trying to remember it... It's Baron Cohen going at 50mph rather than 100mph.

Sep 1, 2018

Full Review

J. Hoberman

Tablet

The problem is that, unlike Ali G, Borat, and Brno, Aladeen is less a force of nature than a scripted performance.

May 3, 2016

Full Review

Jenny McCartney

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Both the laughter and the satire had crawled off and quietly died.

Rated: 1/5

Jun 1, 2012

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Laughs are few and far between, which comes as a surprise given how Borat and Brüno managed to be two of the most riotously funny movies you’ll ever see.

Rated: 1.5/4

Oct 19, 2022

Full Review

James Croot

Stuff.co.nz

Overall The Dictator lacks the wit, invention and spontaneity of Baron Cohen's earlier work...

Feb 7, 2022

Full Review

Owen Nicholls

NME (New Musical Express)

The over saturation of marketing stunts certainly didn't help the appeal but politically and comedically you'll find more to think about and laugh at during a single half hour on The Daily Show or The Colbert Report.

May 13, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

A pretty decent comedy film, although it’s not serious at times, it doesn’t take itself that seriously. The Dictator is like a comedy where you just have to turn off your brain to enjoy the film, and don’t expect an amazing plot and character from this movie because it’s a movie where you just have to not think seriously and laugh.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/10/24

Full Review

joaquim A

the funiest film in the century

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/09/24

Full Review

Pedro N

It made me laugh more than I ever did. Its well humoured and its very good. Recommend it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/09/24

Full Review

Pure L

Funny movie but not all the jokes land. I recommend people watch this movie if you want to laugh sometimes!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/29/23

Full Review

Winter B

funny satire man, but this movie would not fly today

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/24/23

Full Review

E M

lol well worth watching

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/09/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Larry Charles

Director

Sacha Baron Cohen

Gen. Aladeen

Anna Faris

Zoey

Ben Kingsley

Tamir

Jason Mantzoukas

Nadal

Kevin Corrigan

Slade

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

The Dictator: Official Clip - The Vegan Jihad

1:42

The Dictator: Official Clip - The Aladeen Law

1:22

The Dictator: Official Clip - Nuclear Nadal

2:12

The Dictator: Official Clip - Death to Aladeen

2:12

The Dictator: Official Clip - Delivering Love

2:13

The Dictator: Official Clip - Seducing Megan Fox

1:44

The Dictator: Official Clip - You're Making a Fool out of Me!

2:13

The Dictator: Official Clip - You Need to Touch Yourself

2:13

The Dictator: Official Clip - A Snag on the Zipline

2:02

The Dictator: Official Clip - The Helicopter

2:10

View more videos

85%

64%

Top Five

TRAILER

for Top Five

64%

75%

I Heart Huckabees

8%

29%

Marci X

TRAILER

for Marci X

57%

82%

The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou

25%

28%

Army of One

TRAILER

for Army of One

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: The Dictator, A Separation, and Some Disney Classics

Box Office Guru Wrapup: The Avengers‘ Reign Continues

Critics Consensus: Battleship Is All Wet

View more photos

Synopsis

Gen. Aladeen (Sacha Baron Cohen) has ruled the oil-rich North African country of Wadiya since the age of six, when 97 stray bullets and a hand grenade killed his father in a hunting accident. After an assassination attempt takes the life of yet another body-double, Tamir (Ben Kingsley), Aladeen's uncle and most trusted adviser, convinces Aladeen to go to New York. Unfortunately, Aladeen has a less-than-friendly reception from exiled Wadiyans, who want their country freed from his despotic rule.

Director: Larry Charles
Producer: Sacha Baron Cohen, Alec Berg, David Mandel, Jeff Schaffer, Anthony Hines, Scott Rudin, Todd Schulman
Screenwriter: Sacha Baron Cohen, Alec Berg, David Mandel, Jeff Schaffer
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Four by Two Films, Scott Rudin Productions, Berg Mandel Schaffer
Rating: R (Language|Brief Male Nudity|Some Violent Images|Strong Crude & Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 16, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 14, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $59.6M
Runtime: 1h 23m

Most Popular at Home Now