The Great Dictator poster

The Great Dictator

Once again - the whole world laughs!

8.3(3,850)19402h 5m22

Dictator Adenoid Hynkel tries to expand his empire while a poor Jewish barber tries to avoid persecution from Hynkel's regime.

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Status
Released
Budget
$2M
Box office
$11M
Language
English
  • amnesia
  • nazi
  • hairdresser
  • propaganda
  • world war i
  • dictator
  • jewish ghetto
  • fascism
  • world war ii
  • national socialism
  • national socialist party
  • satire

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Produced in

United States of America

Gallery

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Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • PremiereNRNew York City, New York (Capitol and Astor Theatres)15 Oct 1940
    • TheatricalNRPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania23 Oct 1940
    • PremierePittsburgh, Pennsylvania25 Oct 1940
    • TheatricalChicago, Illinois31 Oct 1940
    • TheatricalDenver, Colorado4 Nov 1940
    • TheatricalNR7 Mar 1941
  • United KingdomGB

    • TheatricalPGLondon11 Dec 1940
    • TheatricalPGRe-release22 Aug 2003
  • United Arab EmiratesAE

    • PhysicalBlu-ray24 Aug 2015
  • AustraliaAU

    • Theatrical21 Dec 1940
    • TheatricalGRe-release1 Nov 1976
  • CanadaCA

    • PremiereOttawa7 Nov 1940
    • TheatricalMontréal8 Nov 1940
    • TheatricalQuébec (Re-release)24 Jan 2003
    • Digital / OTT1 Jun 2020
  • ArgentinaAR

    • PremiereParaná, Entre Ríos30 Dec 1940
    • Theatrical31 May 1945
  • AustriaAT

    • Theatrical (limited)Re-release30 Dec 1940
  • BelgiumBE

    • Theatrical22 Jun 1945
    • TheatricalGent (Re-release)30 Mar 1973
    • TheatricalRe-release16 Oct 2002
  • BrazilBR

    • Theatrical12 Aug 1942
    • TheatricalSão Paulo (Re-release)23 Sept 2005
  • ChileCL

    • TheatricalSantiago1 Jan 1941
  • ChinaCN

    • PremiereBeijing International Film Festival (Restored Version)19 Sept 2021
  • CroatiaHR

    • PremiereVukovar Film Festival26 Aug 2018

Frequently asked questions

The Great Dictator was released on 15 October 1940.

Audience reviews

2
  • W

    wizzardss

    2/18/2021

    8/10

    In September 1939, six days after Britain declared war on Nazi Germany, Charlie Chaplin began filming his next feature. Drawing on the public perception of the similarities between himself and Adolf Hitler - not just his toothbrush moustache but also their upbringings - Chaplin sought to directly parody and attack the German führer and fascism. In _The Great Dictator_, Adenoid Hynkel (Chaplin) rules Tomania and se…

  • U

    userloser

    5/20/2026

    10/10

    Forever great, forever relevant as dictators and dictator-wannabes do their best to deprive the humans of their humanity.

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