Darkest Hour
2017 · Movie · PG-13 · 125 min · ★ 7.4 · 80% critics
In May 1940, a beleaguered leader at the start of WWII must weigh whether to negotiate or to keep fighting, knowing the choice could reshape the fate of the British Empire. Set during a critical stretch of government decision-making, the story focuses on the pressure of holding a nation together.
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Details
- Years
- 2017
- Release date
- 2017-11-22
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 125 min
- Critic score
- 80/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.4/10 (5,526 votes)
- Box office
- $150,847,274
- Budget
- $30,000,000
About
You’ll likely enjoy Darkest Hour if you want an intense, talk-driven historical biopic centered on high-stakes leadership and memorable speeches; Not for you if you prefer action-heavy WWII films like Dunkirk or broader-spanning histories.
Pros: compelling historical drama; outstanding lead performance; strong period atmosphere | Cons: dialogue-heavy scenes; limited character focus; some questioned historical liberties
Themes
- world war ii
- biography
- based on true story
- london underground
- british politics
- british prime minister
- british history
- autobiographical
- dunkirk
- 1940s
- winston churchill
- based on real person
- +1 more
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 2018
- Academy Award — Best Makeup and Hairstyling · 2018
- AACTA International Award — Best Actor
- Academy Award — Best Production Design · 2018 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Costume Design · 2018 · nominated
Show all 10 awards →
- Academy Award — Best Makeup and Hairstyling · 2018 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography · 2018 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Picture · 2018 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 2018 · nominated
- European Film Award – People's Choice Award — Best European Film · 2018 · nominated
Cast & crew
Gary Oldman
as Winston Churchill
Stephen Dillane
as Viscount Halifax
Lily James
as Elizabeth Layton
Ronald Pickup
as Neville Chamberlain
Ben Mendelsohn
as King George VI
Kristin Scott Thomas
as Clemmie
Nicholas Jones
as Sir John Simon
Samuel West
as Sir Anthony Eden
David Schofield
as Clement Atlee
Richard Lumsden
as General Ismay
Directed by Joe Wright