Downfall | Rotten Tomatoes

Downfall

R

Released Sep 8, 2004

2 hr. 34 min.

History

Drama

War

List

90%

141 Reviews

Tomatometer

94%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In 1942, young Traudl Junge (Alexandra Maria Lara) lands her dream job -- secretary to Adolf Hitler (Bruno Ganz) at the peak of his power. Three years later, Hitler's empire is now his underground bunker. The real-life Traudl narrates Hitler's final days as he rages against imagined betrayers and barks orders to phantom armies, while his mistress, Eva Braun (Juliane Köhler), clucks over his emotional distance, and other infamous Nazis prepare for the end.

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Critics Consensus

Downfall is an illuminating, thoughtful and detailed account of Hitler's last days.

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A M

Worth watching for Bruno Ganz' performance.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/10/24

Full Review

Nate C

Arguably one of the best ww2 movies ever made with its talented cast and suspenseful set up with the historicaly accurate plot and terrific acting. A definite must see for people reading this review

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/24

Full Review

Dave S

Unlike any other war film that comes to mind, Downfall is set in the waning days of WW2 and tells its story through the eyes of the German experience as officers and administrators follow Hitler into the bunkers below Berlin, desperate to avoid capture by the approaching Russian army. It's a brutal and harrowing journey into a world of cowardice where accountability and culpability are secondary to personal interests. While at times giving a human face to those who personify evil, it offers no excuses for their actions. It feels real throughout thanks to some excellent dialogue, interesting secondary characters, and an absolutely staggering performance from Bruno Ganz as a raving but ultimately defeated Adolf Hitler.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/24

Full Review

Tommy C

I have no words… as an amateur historian this is the best visual representation I've ever seen of Adolf Hitler. The choice of presenting him as a human rather than a monster was a good decision! (A monster is not real and can't hurt you, A human is as real as you and me)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/03/24

Full Review

Steven N

Must see. Brilliant portrait of one of the most hated persons in history.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/01/23

Full Review

Mohamed N

Best WWII movie of all time. Best depiction of Hitler, and all in all one of the greatest movies ever made!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/27/23

Full Review

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Oliver Hirschbiegel

Director

Bruno Ganz

Adolf Hitler

Alexandra Maria Lara

Traudl Junge

Corinna Harfouch

Magda Goebbels

Ulrich Matthes

Joseph Goebbels

Juliane Köhler

Eva Braun

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Does Downfall "humanize" Hitler and his henchmen, as its critics have complained? Yes, and it should: to pretend these villains were less than human is to let ourselves off the hook, to take the easy and dangerous exit of demonology.

Jan 22, 2013

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 4/5

Apr 1, 2006

Full Review

Roger Moore

Orlando Sentinel

May be the definitive account of Hitler's final days and the collapse of the Third Reich.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 8, 2005

Full Review

Jane Freebury

The Canberra Times (Australia)

A provocative, thoughtful perspective on an arch-criminal guilty of heinous crime.

Aug 18, 2022

Full Review

James Croot

Stuff.co.nz

It is a stunning performance of light and shade, tracing his descent from total denial to despair, disillusionment and defeat.

Rated: 4.5/5

Mar 26, 2021

Full Review

Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Most impressive of all is how, with the world closing in on the ranting, paranoid monster, Ganz ratchets down his performance from towering to cowering in minute increments.

Rated: 5/5

Apr 3, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

In 1942, young Traudl Junge (Alexandra Maria Lara) lands her dream job -- secretary to Adolf Hitler (Bruno Ganz) at the peak of his power. Three years later, Hitler's empire is now his underground bunker. The real-life Traudl narrates Hitler's final days as he rages against imagined betrayers and barks orders to phantom armies, while his mistress, Eva Braun (Juliane Köhler), clucks over his emotional distance, and other infamous Nazis prepare for the end.

Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Executive Producer: Christine Rothe
Screenwriter: Bernd Eichinger
Distributor: Newmarket Film Group
Production Co: RAI Cinema, Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) [at], Constantin Film Produktion, Degeto Film, EOS Entertainment
Rating: R (Some Nudity|Disturbing Images|Strong Violence)
Genre: History, Drama, War
Original Language: German
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 8, 2004, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Feb 18, 2005
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 4, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.5M
Sound Mix: Surround

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