Overview
A poignant satire that blends humor with a powerful message against tyranny.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- irreverent
- sardonic
- classic movie night
- political cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard Chaplin's politically daring parody as a landmark comedy whose comic invention and humanist anti-fascist message remain powerful.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Chaplin portrays Adenoid Hynkel, his regime, and rival dictators through exaggerated political parody.
Charlie Chaplin plays both dictator Adenoid Hynkel and the Jewish barber whose resemblance enables the climactic reversal.
Hynkel's speeches, gestures, and interactions with Napaloni transform fascist spectacle into grotesque slapstick.
Tomainia, Bacteria, and Osterlich evoke Nazi Germany and neighboring European powers without reproducing their names directly.
Films like The Great Dictator, and why
Dr. Strangelove
shared political satire, slapstick comedy, and anti-authoritarian themes
To Be or Not to Be
shared use of comedy to confront fascism, dictatorship, and wartime politics
Jojo Rabbit
shared black comedy, historical authoritarianism, and stylized political critique
Modern Times
shared Chaplinesque physical comedy, social compassion, and bittersweet humanism
Movie Details
- Director
- Charlie Chaplin
- Release Date
- 1940-10-15
- Runtime
- 125 min
- Rating
- 8.3 / 10 (3818)
Cast
- Charlie Chaplin
- Paulette Goddard
- Jack Oakie
- Reginald Gardiner
- Henry Daniell
- Billy Gilbert
- Grace Hayle
- Carter DeHaven
- Maurice Moscovitch
- Emma Dunn
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, TCM, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Great Dictator about?
- Charlie Chaplin turns a dual-role slapstick farce into a compassionate, fiercely anti-fascist denunciation of dictatorship and antisemitism.
- What is The Great Dictator like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Great Dictator as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Great Dictator violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Great Dictator as mild.
- What did critics think of The Great Dictator?
- Critics broadly regard Chaplin's politically daring parody as a landmark comedy whose comic invention and humanist anti-fascist message remain powerful.
- Which films are like The Great Dictator?
- Films with a similar feel include Dr. Strangelove, To Be or Not to Be, Jojo Rabbit, and Modern Times.
- How long is The Great Dictator?
- The Great Dictator runs 125 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Great Dictator?
- In United States, The Great Dictator streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, TCM, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel.
