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Lord of War

  • 2005
  • R
  • 2h 2m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
349K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,130
404
Nicolas Cage in Lord of War (2005)
Trailer for this action film starring Nicholas Cage as a gun runner
Play trailer2:08
2 Videos
99+ Photos
True CrimeCrimeDrama

An arms dealer confronts the morality of his work as he is being chased by an INTERPOL Agent.An arms dealer confronts the morality of his work as he is being chased by an INTERPOL Agent.An arms dealer confronts the morality of his work as he is being chased by an INTERPOL Agent.

  • Director
    • Andrew Niccol
  • Writer
    • Andrew Niccol
  • Stars
    • Nicolas Cage
    • Ethan Hawke
    • Jared Leto
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    349K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,130
    404
    • Director
      • Andrew Niccol
    • Writer
      • Andrew Niccol
    • Stars
      • Nicolas Cage
      • Ethan Hawke
      • Jared Leto
    • 540User reviews
    • 164Critic reviews
    • 62Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos2

    Lord of War: Blu-Ray
    Trailer 2:08
    Lord of War: Blu-Ray
    Lord of War
    Trailer 2:12
    Lord of War
    Lord of War
    Trailer 2:12
    Lord of War

    Photos194

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    + 188
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    Top cast76

    Edit
    Nicolas Cage
    Nicolas Cage
    • Yuri Orlov
    Ethan Hawke
    Ethan Hawke
    • Jack Valentine
    Jared Leto
    Jared Leto
    • Vitaly Orlov
    Bridget Moynahan
    Bridget Moynahan
    • Ava Fontaine
    Shake Tukhmanyan
    • Irina Orlov
    • (as Shake Toukhmanian)
    Jean-Pierre Nshanian
    • Anatoly Orlov
    Jared Burke
    Jared Burke
    • Ukrainian Mobster
    Eric Uys
    Eric Uys
    • Ukrainian Mobster
    David Shumbris
    David Shumbris
    • Ukrainian Mobster
    Stewart Morgan
    • Ukrainian Mobster
    Jasper Lenz
    • Gregor
    Stephen Gregor
    • Eli Kurtzman
    Kobus Marx
    • Boris
    Stephan De Abreu
    • Liev
    Jeremy Crutchley
    Jeremy Crutchley
    • Arms Fair Salesman
    Ian Holm
    Ian Holm
    • Simeon Weisz
    Tanya Finch
    • Ingrid
    Lize Jooste
    • Natasha
    • Director
      • Andrew Niccol
    • Writer
      • Andrew Niccol
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to writer and director Andrew Niccol, the filmmakers worked with actual gunrunners in the making of this movie. The tanks lined up for sale were real, and belonged to a Czech arms dealer, who had to have them back to sell to another country. They used a real stockpile of over three thousand vz. 58 from Czech production, which look very similar to the Russian AK-47, because it was cheaper than getting prop guns.
    • Goofs
      When narrating the story about early stages of his business in 1980s, Yuri Orlov mentions that he has carried several passports at that time, including the Ukrainian passport. Ukraine didn't get to issue its own passports until 1992.
    • Quotes

      Yuri Orlov: [Narrating] Of all the weapons in the vast Soviet arsenal, nothing was more profitable than Avtomat Kalashnikova model of 1947, more commonly known as the AK-47, or Kalashnikov. It's the world's most popular assault rifle. A weapon all fighters love. An elegantly simple 9 pound amalgamation of forged steel and plywood. It doesn't break, jam, or overheat. It will shoot whether it's covered in mud or filled with sand. It's so easy, even a child can use it; and they do. The Soviets put the gun on a coin. Mozambique put it on their flag. Since the end of the Cold War, the Kalashnikov has become the Russian people's greatest export. After that comes vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists. One thing is for sure, no one was lining up to buy their cars.

    • Crazy credits
      Before the end credits roll a message appears stating that the top 5 sellers of arms in the world are China, Russia, the UK, USA, and France - all of whom make up the permanent five members of the UN security council.
    • Alternate versions
      For the US DVD release the aspect ratio of the film was changed to 1,78:1. A few weeks after the initial release the DVD was reissued with the film in its original aspect ratio of 2,35:1.
    • Connections
      Featured in Making a Killing: Inside the International Arms Trade (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      For What It's Worth
      Written by Stephen Stills

      Performed by Buffalo Springfield

      Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group

      By arrangement with Warner Strategic Marketing

    User reviews540

    Featured review
    9/10

    The Truth About Guns & Wars

    Many people might walk away from this one not feeling "entertained" because it's not your typical Hollywood thriller. It's not a "Feel Good" movie you should take a date on in the hopes of coming away high on life and hand in hand. It's a movie that'll make you think and might disturb the uninformed viewer who knows little about the politics of war.

    This is a movie based on actual events (that means it's a movie that has some truth to it). From what I heard the director made quite a bit of research of the gun running world when creating this movie.

    This movie takes a look at the gun running business through the story of one particular trafficker played by Cage. It goes through two decades of wars & conflicts and how the business and politics of gun running works. Cage is the middle man in that world, who navigates through it very professionally and coolly. Cage's character is made to be likable, but not a hero by any means.

    Many people may think that this movie depicts certain cultures and races in a bad light, but if you know anything about history and keep up to date with world events you'll understand the truth behind these portrayals.

    The movie is interesting because it is as close as to a realistic look to arms trafficking as Hollywood could produce without making a documentary. It's refreshing because of this.

    I hope people see this movie because it very much shows the truth behind how wars are supplied and how the richest nations in the world have done this for the ultimate prize… that thing that makes the world go round – Money.

    The movie as a whole is produced very well and the acting and cinematography is up to par with the type of film it is (as mentioned before, don't expect a big production Hollywood action flick).

    Don't expect your typical Hollywood ending here either.

    (I'd compare this movie with Buffalo Soldiers (2001) with Joaquin Phoenix)
    • sirjonxo
    • Sep 15, 2005
    • Permalink

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    FAQ21

    • How long is Lord of War?Powered by Alexa
    • What is meant by the characters when they refer to an 'end user certificate'?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 16, 2005 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Germany
      • United States
      • France
    • Languages
      • English
      • Ukrainian
      • German
      • Spanish
      • Russian
      • French
      • Arabic
      • Turkish
    • Also known as
      • Hombre peligroso
    • Filming locations
      • Bozi Dar aerodrome, Bozi Dar, Czech Republic(Ukrainian ammunition depot)
    • Production companies
      • Entertainment Manufacturing Company
      • VIP 3 Medienfonds
      • Ascendant Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $50,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $24,149,632
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $9,390,144
      • Sep 18, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $72,617,068
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 2 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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