User Reviews

Excellent cast and very funny. Human beings can be such villainous and taudry worms at times.

A hilarious comedy that is largely based on real events surrounding the death of one of the world's most notorious dictators and mass murderers, Joseph Stalin. This comedy highlights the absurdity of the system and the people close to the man who sold the idea of a political utopia and, as a result, created unfathomable suffering for tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions of people through ideological/political persecution and repression, deportation and forced settlements, famine/starvation, forced labour camps or outright purges and genocide. The movie is absolutely worth a watch for anyone who is interested in this as a political topic, or just wants to watch a funny comedy with lots of dark humour about a dark and humourless time in human history.

Just found this gem. Brilliant. Great improvisation, character casting, script. Pay attention so you don’t miss the great jabs. Then at the end saw it was, of course, Armando Iannucci. For those of you that don’t get it, I’m sorry. This was a brilliantly done film.

Very funny—especially considering how much truth lies in the events. The actors are all great. My problem with "The Death of Stalin": It strings one crazy event after another with rapid-fire dialogue. There's no real break. This makes you sit through the full 100 minutes, which inevitably leads to fatigue. Still, it's well worth watching!

It has a brilliant cast and is set during a chaotic time in the USSR when Stalin dies and his position is up for grabs amongst his top advisors.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Turning a vile historical period into a farcical comedy of sorts really didn't work for little old me. This might of worked if it was set to a fictional place. I found this film in very poor taste for sure being to close to home.

The Death of Stalin is a fantastic glimpse at the chaos that ensued when Stalin died. I enjoyed the twists and turns, but I found some parts too dark (especially the recurring allusions to sexual violence). There were humorous moments, but lots of the jokes fell flat. The acting, costumes, sets, and editing are all done well. If you want an insight into the Russian leadership of the 1950s with humour and exaggeration sprinkled on top, this film is for you.

This is an amusing watch - not entirely laugh out loud style but there's certainly an element of farce present. The many government worker type characters are somewhat comical but in a toned down sort of a way. The plot is pretty ludicrous but I found it really quite watchable and it was certainly entertaining regardless. Its fair to say that this is very much a political satire, one that features a lot of petty squabbling and I imagine it didn't go down well (plot wise) in certain parts of the world but thats easily guessed. I found the jerky/wobbly camerawork a bit frustrating and it relies on old stereotypes of the Russians, with scenes in a Siberian jail and so on. I like that its such an obvious send up of power and authority in such a powerful and feared part of the world. Its somehow amusing to see the 'powers that be' or those who worked for them, to be faced with having to create their new hierarchy, to see them struggle to build their future from whats left. I should perhaps mention that there are some sex references and strong language present, plus mild to moderate violent scenes, hence the films 15 rating in the UK.

This movie is an expert example of a historical events in which were a dark age in history

Probably the funniest movie I've seen in a while. I've seen a few people say it's propagandistic, but I really didn't get that from watching the movie.

Блестящая сатира на возможно, самого кровавого диктатора в истории! Да, есть лёгкие допущения, за что я и снизил оценку, но авторам однозначно респект за столь непопулярный в эту слишком политкорректную эру выпустить политическую сатиру.

The death of Joseph Stalin, the monstrous tyrant of the former USSR, and what his government minions had to do to cover his absence, narrated with all historical fidelity. Despite its serious tone, it is impossible to overlook a certain sardonic humor that does not get in the way, but on the contrary. In addition to that, a strong point in its favor is the incredible cast.

Movie made by ultra-right propagandists to laugh on left ideals. 0 artistic value, 100% right wing advert

Great script and some excellent performances, with some of them (e.g. Steve Buscemi's) even exceptionally great. I guess, it works even more for western audiences, because they naturally take it to be exaggerated for the purposes of dark humor. Whilst we, people from behind the Iron Curtain, know that it's not necessarily so (but still can appreciate a good laugh - after all, as Russians say, if you have to either weep or laugh, you laugh).

Iannucci has moved to the other side of the poitical spectrum for this barbed and witty movie. Who knew an execution could be so hilarious.

A truly hilarious movie. Often had me howling with laughter. Not sure how they made it work but it does. Madness!

There's a lot of things bothering me about this film: it feels in part like a messed-up play, in part like a hastily made documentary; it's all over the place story-wise and the main idea doesn't really stay interesting all the way to the end. That being said, it does feature an amazing cast in very fitting roles - I have to give particular nods to Steve Buscemi, comedy legend Michael Palin and Jason Isaacs. The comedy in this movie comes form the way how it essentially criticizes the Soviet Union by exaggerating things. It never goes too far though; there is a sense of realism present all the time. Some moments become very hilarious though, and all of the actors have great comedic timing. The story is paper thin but still manages to complicate things and, unfortunately, the steam runs out halfway through. After that you just sit there, waiting for it all to end.

Agreeable enough viewing, but I didn't know quite what to make of this movie. Very funny in parts, but also quite unsettling if you've read up on some of the characters previously (like the loathsome Beria and his hand in the Katyn massacre).

Intermittently funny but mostly very tedious, though the acting is quite good.

The Death of Stalin is unique. This movie is dark humor at its finest. What this does it shows the anxiety of living during and after Stalin's regime. It shows the evils of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. What this also does, it makes fun of the people who were running it. It robs them of power and credibility. Everyone is a villain (There are no heroes). It opens your mind and makes you think after. It a must see!

Dark, sophisticated, and with enough subtle humor to down an African elephant, ‘The Death of Stalin’ is one of the best films of 2018. While not for everyone, the writing and delivery by this amazing cast of actors and actresses is second to none. Given it’s historical source material, ‘The Death of Stalin’ challenges the viewer to put aside their emotional instincts for the sake of humor. The ending provides a dark connection back to the real history in which the movie was based. For a split second, the viewer is left questioning all the laughs they had along the way.

I tried several times to watch this movie from start to finish but could never bring myself to do so. It's a movie full of satire that I grew weary of watching because it never delivered anything funny or emotional or thought provoking.

This movies succeeds where it shouldn't - with someone like me who knows the actual history well. The liberties taken with the facts just don't matter, because this film is simply a truly brilliant and effective political satire. It does exactlywhat sich afilm should do. It amuses and shocks, and brings us face to face and up close with the horrible realities, and gives us pause, even discomfort with our amusement. There is comedic genius at work. I havenot watched a single episode of Veep to date. This film has caused me to add it to my list of things to watch. If Iannucci is only occasionally as brilliant in all those episodes as he was in this film, that will be enough to keep me watching.

Intricate production and historical precision with zesty, though not so abundant humour; the perfection of Zhukov's character and actor (Isaacs), but distractingly serious tones towards the end.

A hilarious and witty old-school comedy. It's quite a feat to make comedy out of a topic so grim but at the same time, I don't think it trivializes it either, which comedies like this have a danger of doing.

I give this film a 5 because I had no reaction to it. I didn't laugh, I didn't cry. I didn't find it droll. I wouldn't say it was a waste of time, but neither would I say it was time well spent. I think perhaps I was hypnotized by the impression that something might be about to happen, but nothing ever did. It just went on and on for a while and then it ended and what exactly it was, or meant to be, I really couldn't say. Was it comedy? Was it satire? I really just don't know. In the end, I think it was a nice idea that strove to be something, but failed to achieve.

The Death of Stalin is ridiculous and entirely satirical, yet somewhat believable. It is a movie that doesn't hold back from what it tries to be and is all the more better for it.

But MY GOD That first hour! MY GOD THAT FIRST HOUR! Its not funny in the least. Its DUMB. Like absurdism done badly. And I would love to see how high of a score a boring movie like this one, and as absurd, but in the context of 1776 USA, or the Civil War, or or or Im guessing not as high

THis movie is about the time when Stalin died and the other people who had the power were ''fighting'' to get the ''throne''. It is a decent movie, but I sort of expected something a bit funnier. I mean I have read about how it all actually went down and some things are added here for comedic effect of course and some just added to make the story much shorter. I had highher expectations from this I guess.

A unique picture with great comedic writing and acting. There is finally no waiting for scenes to set up. Each character that hits the screen adds a new, original voice and different humorous lines.

I tried to watch this movie all the way to the end, but I got sick of hearing the f-word while waiting in vain for something to be funny. I finally hit stop and eject and set it aside to be returned to Redbox the following morning. The fact that the critics seem to think this piece of garbage is worthy of anyone's time proves once again that they have little in common with normal people.

Darkly funny take on the crisis in Stalinist Russia after the death of the main man. Decades of political terror have made even the highest officials to frightened to voice dissenting thoughts, sometimes even in their own minds. Real events are very simplified - it should be read as symbolic rather than a literal. For example secret police chief Beria is used to symbolise all manner of evil things that he was not literally responsible for. But that is just artistic licence and works well.

I love a dumb comedy from time to time. Sometimes it's nice to completely leave behind any sort of critical analysis of a film and just laugh at some crude jokes for an hour and a half. The magic wears off, however, when seemingly every new comedy is of this ilk. In times of "dumb comedy overload," I have to sit back and reminisce about the first time I experienced the magic of films like Dr. Strangelove and The Naked Gun. Of course, Strangelove and nearly all of Leslie Nielsen's comedy films have plenty of dumb jokes that clearly required little thought. What separates these classic comedy films from the countless forgotten lazy, dumb, crude efforts that have fallen into the abyss of forgettable comedies is the fact that Strangelove and Naked Gun make the effort to exercise all of its writers' comedic chops. Some dumb jokes make it into the final cut, sure, but such humor is thrown into a comedic gumbo with all sorts of visual gags, clever dialogue, memorable one-liners, and a slew of characters ranging from the zaniest **** scientists to dead-pan detectives. The mix of elements is what makes such films timeless; The Death of Stalin is one of those films. The subject matter is simple: Stalin has died, and his underlings now must compete in a political king of the hill in order to claim power. Anyone with an elementary background in European history will know who ultimately succeeds, but it sure is a trip watching these historic figures bumble their way through necessary proceedings to get what they want. There is no one stand out performance as each cast member brings his or her own brand of humor to the table. Everyone gets a turn, and everyone delivers. Not every joke is a gut-wrencher; in fact, I chuckled more than I roared laughing. I doubt I even caught all of the jokes, as I was often too busy chuckling at a previous gag. For once, I enjoyed a barrage of comedy that did not build up to one big payoff but rather made the effort to keep me smiling and thoroughly entertained. I do not want to spoil any jokes, as I myself was able to appreciate a spoiler-free experience and am grateful for such an experience, so I will make this review brief. Surprisingly accurate historical accounts and a mixed bag of gags, one-liners, and situational comedy make The Death of Stalin a refreshingly intelligent and hard-working 2018 comedy that gives its audience glimpses of influence from some of the greatest comedies in film.

Some may be disturbed by its dark humor but the brutal honesty that The Death of Stalin is able to get across while poking fun at the absurdities of the situation is a feat to behold. Never too cheeky and just cruel enough, this film balances its tone through its brilliant acting and clever writing. From the mind of Armando Iannucci and given to the experienced cast of Steve Buscemi, Jeffery Tambor and Simon Beale; this is a movie that oozes with craft. Mixing gags with horrific moments, The Death of Stalin‘s ambition is only matched by its wit as it takes its viewers through the wild ride of top political power movement and shows off the mixed motivations of its devious characters. As many comedies do, The Death of Stalin sometimes lacks mind-blowing effects or a surplus of artful camerawork but that is more than made up for with razor-sharp humor. This film’s way of pointing out the extremes people will go to for power, manipulation or fear (in a word: politics) is impossible to ignore. This movie achieves every goal that a charged, political comedy wants to achieve because it gets honorable laughs and also leaves viewers with poignant food for thought. Simply put, The Death of Stalin is political satire done right. Writing: 9/10 Direction: 8/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Acting: 9/10 Editing: 9/10 Sound: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack: 9/10 Production Design: 8/10 Casting: 9/10 Effects: 9/10 Overall Score: 8.2/10 Original Article: ****

Drags a bit at the end, but it's still a good laugh throughout. I especially loved the presentation of the movie, with the scene fading to black some times and lines from the Soviet constitution appearing, and the slow-mo to introduce characters. It lightened the mood, which was necessary to balance the more dark aspects of the movie.

Who would have thought a movie about the death of Stalin and the subsequent power grab turns out being one of the best and most funniest film of recent years. This is great political commentary drowned with black humor. This film should be taught at school because it contains great truth value of how most bureaucracy and organizations work. Forget about what your political leanings are, this is a great film about human nature at its core.

It starts out great, the energy and quick banter you’d expect from the creator of VEEP, but runs out steam once the third act hits. Still a pretty interesting and fun watch, with a solid cast.

The Death of Stalin is a witty, smartly-written political satire that takes a fascinating look at the inner workings of a past Russian government. The hilarious performances, strong historical themes and Iannucci’s direction help elevate this story past satire into being both an outrageous comedy and dissection of Russian politics. This film should not have worked given the topic and yet Iannucci found a way to make something hysterical and memorable.

A very-good first act + An OK second act + A great third act = A decent political satire movie

Very funny movie, if a little niche in its appeal. The energy level stays high but sometimes veers out of control leaving the viewer trying to decipher what is being said in scenes of chaotic shouting. Steve Buscemi is always compelling and scene-stealing on screen. Jeffrey Tambor and Michael Palin are both hilarious. Worth seeing if you’re interested in the subject matter but it does occasionally get down in the Soviet history weeds with some of the jokes and asides.

'The Death of Stalin' is the kind of film that makes you want to climb inside the head of the writer/director--in this case Armando Iannucci--and probe all the little dials and sprockets and gears to see what makes him tick. Iannucci somehow manages to create a wholly original and surreal work of power-mongering satire steeped in dark humor and absurdism while perfectly blending together the largely true events surrounding Stalin's death. Add to that a powerhouse cast of dry comedy and improvisation, including Jeffrey Tambor, Steve Buscemi, and Michael Palin, combined with magnificent settings, and 'The Death of Stalin' immediately becomes this year's hidden gem of the season.

I was disappointed in this film. Given the outstanding reviews, I expected something exceptional. The film could not decide whether it was satire, thriller, slapstick, or historical fiction. It swung back and forth from one to the other, none of them quite good enough to carry the film.

The titular event takes place early in the story, which leaves the remaining government officials in a frantic struggle for power. While there are moments of the evil that pervaded the USSR at that time, most of the narrative gets its thrust from the mean-spirited dark humor that writer/director Armando Iannucci does so well (he created VEEP). The cast has a great time conniving and conspiring against each other, while fighting to secure their place in the new regeime. The spirited satire provides intellectual laffs, even though the comic momentum slows before it's over. Still, it's witty and entertaining in an art house way.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

A very funny comedy, but it helps if you know the history and the personalities very well. I would only downgrade it slightly for its fast pace, which makes it really difficult to make all the right connections at lightning speed. Beautifully acted and, in its crazy world, totally believable.

A pretty straightforward yet amusing and often times humorous political satire. The ensemble cast, with the likes of Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Tambor, Jason Issacs, etc. all delivered great and humorous moments throughout. Overall, I wouldn't call it hilarious by any means, but it was funny enough throughout and had plenty of dry humorous moments to keep it interesting and entertaining enough.

The Death of Stalin is an incredibly timely, blackly comic farce about the dangers of political narrative. Every single acting performance was really top-notch and satirical. It was also nice to see Michael Palin doing work again! Every shot is meticulously crafted, as if you are watching a historical epic, but the profane humor gives this an excellent contrast. It's very easy to see the parallels between a post-Stalin Russia and the current Trump America. Fans of dark comedies, farces, history, and political thrillers are really going to enjoy this one. It's definitely a pleasant surprise of a film.

“The Laughs come in jolts and waves with savage one-liners.” Manohla Dargis New York Times “Often Hilarious” Michael Phillips Chicago Tribune “A unique and hilarious British comedy.” Mike LaSalle San Francisco Chronicle “Source of hilarity and it is hilarious.” Bill Goodykoontz Arizona Republic “A complete bore! Did the above critics see the same movie I saw?” GreatMartin “The Death of Stalin” is set in the 1950s and the fight for power in Russia after the dictator’s death. Are you laughing yet? It supposedly is satire which implies irony or sarcasm and the director/writer, Armando Iannucci, tries everything from the Marx Brothers and the Three Stooges slapstick to insult comedy, chaos, no attempt at Russian accents having various accents ranging from Brooklyn to London but getting very few reactions from the audience. Iannucci is the writer of the much awarded HBO series “Veep” known for its comedy, irony, and sarcasm which it delivers with belly laughs, smiles, smirks, and humor while here he enlists 2 additional writers and the only smile/laugh I can remember is a crack about Grace Kelly! The cast consisting of Steve Buscemi, Michael Palin, Simon Russell Beale, Adrian McLoughlin, Jeffrey Tambor, Olga Kurylenko, Rupert Friend, Jason Issacs, Paddy Considine among others deliver the expected performances with a little scenery chewing now and then. Enjoy seeing people shot in the head, brains taken out of a head after the scalp is cut back and ‘fun’ things like that? Can you go another day without knowing that most good doctors in Russia were killed and that Stalin had lists of people to be killed? Those answering ‘yes’ to any of the questions asked should probably go and see “The Death of Stalin”. The only questions I am asking myself is have I lost my sense of humor as I’ve grown older or is funny and/or satire not what it was defined years ago?

Pitch-black humor that's incredibly funny. If, let's say, the darker Rick and Morty episodes aren't too dark for you, and you have just a drop of knowledge and/or interest in Russian history (and I mean just the tiny drop that's probably - I hope! - common knowledge), you should really enjoy it. Fantastic cast with perfect performances in every case.