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Parents' Guide to

The Dictator

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

More envelope-pushing humor from Borat comedian.

Movie R 2012 83 minutes
The Dictator Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 8 parent reviews

iselramos44
iselramos44 Parent
November 1, 2023
age 10+

This Film Being A Leader A Helpful Person Is Funny

He is the leader of a fictional quite good but also he always saves the country as the good general too This film has a funny humors with kids and adults for bonding this film
Howard-XBoxOne
Howard-XBoxOne Adult
May 1, 2021
age 18+

A vulgar comedy Not for kids

It is quite entertaining to watch but it is definitely not for minors. Original version contains explicit sex scenes female breasts and male genitals. There is a scene where a woman is being milked like a cow from her breasts by the dictator
See all 8 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Admiral General Aladeen (Sacha Baron Cohen) is reviled the world over for his universal disdain for peace and justice and anything that remotely allows countries to get along. He's a war monger who disrespects his own people and is more interested in bedding the latest Hollywood starlet than trying to bring democracy to his country. And he's rich, thanks to his country's bounty of oil (which he prefers to keep for the country's use). But then, while on a trip to the United Nations, Aladeen's uncle (Ben Kingsley) gets him out of the way so that he can put a doppelganger in Aladeen's place, one who will sign over his dictatorship to make way for "democracy" -- in other words, the ability to sell oil to the highest bidders. Aladeen is shocked and, somehow, must rely on a peace-loving organic grocer named Zoey (Anna Faris) to regain power.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (8 ):
Kids say (56 ):

The DICTATOR is a guilty pleasure, full of jokes that cue both laughter and a small helping of shame. Make no mistake about it, General Aladeen is a nasty piece of work: offensive, sexist, selfish, violent (though he apparently has never killed anyone, despite what he thinks), and arrogant. But he's also incompetent and silly and, in a not-so-surprising twist, capable of having a heart.

A brazen comedy, The Dictator works for the most part because it boldly goes where many filmmakers never go for fear of lousing it up and coming across as completely bonkers and insensitive. Just don't go looking for fully realized characters or a deeper analysis of the state of global affairs, because there aren't any here. It's just satire out to shock -- and plenty of laughs.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about deliberately offensive humor. Does Baron Cohen's brand of stereotype-driven, purposely offensive humor have a larger point, or is it just meant to shock viewers into laughter?

  • For all its jokes, does The Dictator have any underlying truths about politics and government?

  • How does The Dictator compare to Baron Cohen's other films? Which style do you prefer?

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