

The Act of Killing
A story of killers who win and the society they build.
After befriending documentarian Joshua Oppenheimer, former Indonesian death squad leaders reenact their real-life mass killings in the style of various American film genres. As they recreate their past atrocities, the line between reality and performance blurs, exposing the lingering impact of Indonesia's 1965-66 anti-communist purge and the unsettling psychology of its perpetrators.
TMDB
7.7/10
796 votes
IMDb
Not rated yet
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $1M
- Box office
- $722.7K
- Language
- Indonesian
- corruption
- indonesia
- genocide
- indonesian genocide
- political documentary
- social & cultural documentary
Top billed cast
Behind the camera
Director
Produced in
Denmark, Norway, United Kingdom
Where to watch
Availability for United States. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
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Videos
Release dates
United StatesUS
- PremiereTelluride Film Festival31 Aug 2012
- PremiereTrue/False Film Festival2 Mar 2013
- PremiereNew Directors/New Films Festival22 Mar 2013
- PremiereSan Francisco International Film Festival27 Apr 2013
- PremiereMontclair Film Festival5 May 2013
- PremiereSeattle International Film Festival18 May 2013
- PremiereLos Angeles Film Festival14 Jun 2013
- PremiereHuman Rights Watch Film Festival18 Jun 2013
- TheatricalNR19 Jul 2013
- PremiereTraverse City Film Festival2 Aug 2013
- PremiereDOC NYC15 Nov 2013
- Digital / OTT7 Jan 2014
United KingdomGB
- PremiereSheffield Documentary Film Festival16 Jun 2013
- Theatrical1528 Jun 2013
- PremiereEDINDOCS Film Festival12 Sept 2013
- Digital / OTT25 Nov 2013
AustraliaAU
- PremiereSydney Film Festival6 Jun 2013
- PremiereMA 15+Melbourne International Film Festival28 Jul 2013
- Theatrical5 Sept 2013
- PremiereAdelaide Film Festival12 Oct 2013
CanadaCA
- PremiereToronto International Film Festival8 Sept 2012
AustriaAT
- PremiereVIENNALE Film Festival3 Nov 2013
CzechiaCZ
- PremiereOne World Film Festival6 Mar 2013
- PremierePrague Film Festival4 Nov 2013
DenmarkDK
- PremiereCopenhagen International Documentary Film Festival30 Oct 2012
- Theatrical157 Nov 2012
FinlandFI
- PremiereHelsinki International Film Festival21 Sept 2013
FranceFR
- Theatrical124 Oct 2013
GermanyDE
- PremiereOldenburg Film Festival14 Sept 2013
- PremiereCologne Conference - International Film and TV Festival2 Oct 2013
- Theatrical1620 Feb 2014
GreeceGR
- PremiereThessaloniki Documentary Festival19 Mar 2013
- Theatrical12 May 2017
Hong KongHK
- Theatrical (limited)IIB23 Oct 2014
Frequently asked questions
The Act of Killing was released on 1 November 2012.
Audience reviews
2- A10/10
Arrrrrrrach
2/18/2017
The synopsis is available elsewhere and I have no idea how to review a film like this so here are a few simple lines: I have never seen anything remotely like this and would go as far as to say that it is one of the most honest portrayals of several aspects of the human psyche I have ever experienced in any medium. It's not a pleasant film but I can't give it any less than full marks for its bravery, arrogance and …
- C7/10
CinemaSerf
8/22/2026
I didn't really know where to start with this uniquely constructed documentary. The director has assembled a collection of brutes like the enigmatic Anwar Congo and an whole slew of other paramilitary leaders from Indonesia's recent past, and asked them to recreate some of their more murderous scenarios as if they were filming an edition of "Glee"! There are serious conversations with some of the warlords responsible…
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