The Death of Stalin

20172017
RR
1h 47min

The Death of Stalin (2017)

In the days following Stalin's collapse, his core team of ministers tussle for control; some want positive change in the Soviet Union, others have more sinister motives. Their one common trait? They're all just desperately trying to remain alive.

Comedy Drama History

Moscow, 1953. After being in power for nearly thirty years, Soviet dictator Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (Adrian McLoughlin) takes ill and quickly dies. Now the members of the Council of Ministers scramble for power.Moscow, 1953. After being in power for nearly thirty years, Soviet dictator Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (Adrian McLoughlin) takes ill and quickly dies. Now the members of the Council of Ministers scramble for power.Moscow, 1953. After being in power for nearly thirty years, Soviet dictator Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (Adrian McLoughlin) takes ill and quickly dies. Now the members of the Council of Ministers scramble for power.Moscow, 1953. After being in power for nearly thirty years, Soviet dictator Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (Adrian McLoughlin) takes ill and quickly dies. Now the members of the Council of Ministers scramble for power.Moscow, 1953. After being in power for nearly thirty years, Soviet dictator Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (Adrian McLoughlin) takes ill and quickly dies. Now the members of the Council of Ministers scramble for power.

See production, box office & company info

See production, box office & company info

Awards
- 18 wins & 40 nominations total

Videos4

Official Trailer

Official Trailer

Official Trailer #2

Official Trailer #2

Official Trailer

Official Trailer

The Death of Stalin

The Death of Stalin

Jason Isaacs at an event for The Death of Stalin (2017)

Armando Iannucci and Andrea Riseborough at an event for The Death of Stalin (2017)

Andrea Riseborough at an event for The Death of Stalin (2017)

Jason Isaacs, Armando Iannucci, Hussain Currimbhoy, Andrea Riseborough, and Christopher Willis at an event for The Death of Stalin (2017)

Jason Isaacs, Armando Iannucci, and Andrea Riseborough at an event for The Death of Stalin (2017)

Steve Buscemi, Jason Isaacs, and Andrea Riseborough at an event for The Death of Stalin (2017)

Steve Buscemi at an event for The Death of Stalin (2017)

Jason Isaacs at an event for The Death of Stalin (2017)

Andrea Riseborough at an event for The Death of Stalin (2017)

Steve Buscemi at an event for The Death of Stalin (2017)

Steve Buscemi, Michael Palin, Jeffrey Tambor, Jason Isaacs, Simon Russell Beale, Rupert Friend, and Andrea Riseborough in The Death of Stalin (2017)

Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Tambor, Jason Isaacs, Simon Russell Beale, Adrian McLoughlin, and Andrea Riseborough in The Death of Stalin (2017)

Nikita Khrushchevas Nikita Khrushchev

Simon Russell Beale

Lavrenti Beriaas Lavrenti Beria

Georgy Malenkovas Georgy Malenkov

Andrea Riseborough

Svetlanaas Svetlana

Maria Veniaminovna Yudinaas Maria Veniaminovna Yudina

Sergeias Sergei

Paddy Considine

Andreyevas Andreyev

Spartak Sokolov - Conductor 1as Spartak Sokolov - Conductor 1

Adrian McLoughlin

Josef Stalinas Josef Stalin

Vyacheslav Molotovas Vyacheslav Molotov

NKVD Officer Delovas NKVD Officer Delov

Yulya Muhrygina

Woman in Layers of Clothesas Woman in Layers of Clothes

Andrei Korzhenevsky

Man in Layers of Clothesas Man in Layers of Clothes
(as Andrey Korzhenevskiy)

Roger Ashton-Griffiths

Musician 1as Musician 1
(as Roger Ashton Griffiths)

Musician 2as Musician 2

Andy Gathergood

Citizen Bundled into Caras Citizen Bundled into Car

Alexandr Piskunov

Young Man Snitchas Young Man Snitch

Ruslav Neupokoev

Middle Aged Manas Middle Aged Man

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In early-1953 Moscow, under the Great Terror's heavy cloak of state paranoia, the ever-watchful Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin, collapses, unexpectedly, of a brain haemorrhage. As a result, when someone discovers his body the following morning, a frenetic surge of raw panic starts spreading like a virus amongst the senior members of the Council of Ministers, as they scramble to maintain order, weed out the competition, and, ultimately, take power. But, in the middle of a gut-wrenching roller-coaster of incessant plotting, tireless machinations, and frail allegiances, absolutely no one is safe; not even the feared chief of the secret police, Lavrenti Beria. In the end, who will prevail after the death of Stalin? —Nick Riganas

satire soviet union black comedy based on comic book dictator 387 more

Taglines
- Everybody wants a piece
Genres
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- rated R for language throughout, violence and some sexual references
Parents guide

Trivia
The movie was banned in Russia on January 23, 2018, two days before it was due to be released. The Cultural Ministry stated, "The distribution certificate for the film The Death of Stalin has been withdrawn." One member of the Culture Ministry's advisory board was quoted as saying, "The film desecrates our historical symbols - the Soviet hymn, orders and medals, and Marshal Zhukov is portrayed as an idiot", and added that this movie's release in advance of the 75th Anniversary of the end of the Battle of Stalingrad (February 2nd), would be "an affront to Russia's World War II veterans."

Goofs
Malenkov did not become General Secretary of the Communist Party when Stalin died. He did, however, become Premier of the Soviet Union. The Soviet leadership was clearly in flux, and Malenkov never had the status of obvious successor to Stalin that the movie implies. He did not chair the Politburo meeting after Stalin died; Khrushchev did.

Quotes
Nikita Khrushchev: I really need your help.
Georgy Zhukov: To do what? There's bodies fucking piling up in the street, it's a bit late, isn't it?
Nikita Khrushchev: What if we blame this on someone...
Georgy Zhukov: Wait...
Nikita Khrushchev: Who's out of control?
Georgy Zhukov: Nicky, be very careful what you say next. Who?
Nikita Khrushchev: Beria.
Georgy Zhukov: I'm going to have to report this conversation. Threatening to do harm or obstruct any member of the Presidium in the process of...
[grins]
Georgy Zhukov: Look at your fucking face!
[bursts out laughing]

Crazy credits
Black-and-white photographs of the main characters appear over the end credits, but various figures are airbrushed out, have their faces defaced, or have other people superimposed over them, as per Soviet photos of Trotsky and purge victims.

Connections
Featured in The Last Leg: Episode #13.3 (2017)

Soundtracks
Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major, K488
Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Galaxy Symphonic Orchestra

Top review

9/10

Funny, scary, dark, take from it what you will!

The Death of Stalin is one of those films you will either love or just not get at all. Being someone with a big interest in Politics, and an interest in the events of the Soviet Union this was always going to be must watch.

The material itself is almost frightening, some pretty horrific real life events happening, but performed in a way that you can't help but laugh at, albeit sometimes with a little dread.

Superbly written as you'd expect by Armando Iannucci, if anyone knows political satire it's him! Steve Buscemi and Simon Russell Beale shine particularly.

It's one of those films I want to see again. 9/10

helpful•127

53

Sleepin_Dragon
Oct 26, 2017

Budget
- $13,000,000 (estimated)
Gross US & Canada
- $8,047,856
Opening weekend US & Canada
- $184,805
- Mar 11, 2018
Gross worldwide
- $24,646,055

See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

Runtime
- 1h 47min
Color
- Color
Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1

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