# The Death of Stalin

> 2017 film directed by Armando Iannucci

**Wikidata**: [Q24905490](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q24905490)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Death_of_Stalin)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/the-death-of-stalin

## Summary
The Death of Stalin is a 2017 political satire film directed by Armando Iannucci, based on the French graphic novel of the same name. The film depicts the chaotic power struggle that ensued in the Soviet Union following the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953.

## Key Facts
- Directed by Armando Iannucci, known for political satires like Veep and In the Loop
- Based on the French graphic novel "La mort de Staline" by Fabien Nury and Thierry Robin
- Genre: Political satire, black comedy, drama
- Production companies: Quad Productions, Main Journey, Republique Television, Death of Stalin Productions, Gaumont
- Distributed by: Entertainment One (UK), IFC Films (US), Transmission Films (Australia)
- Runtime: 106 minutes
- Languages: English, Russian
- Country of origin: United Kingdom, France
- Release dates: September 8, 2017 (TIFF), January 25, 2018 (UK), March 9, 2018 (US)
- Budget: $13 million
- Box office: $24.6 million worldwide
- IMDb ID: tt4686844
- Rotten Tomatoes score: 96% (Certified Fresh)
- Metacritic score: 88/100
- British Independent Film Awards: Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (Jason Isaacs)
- European Film Award: Best Comedy (2018)

## FAQs
**What is the plot of The Death of Stalin?**
The film follows the power struggle among Soviet leaders after Joseph Stalin's death in 1953, focusing on Lavrentiy Beria, Nikita Khrushchev, Georgy Malenkov, and other members of the Central Committee as they compete for control of the Soviet Union.

**Who are the main actors in The Death of Stalin?**
The film features an ensemble cast including Steve Buscemi as Nikita Khrushchev, Simon Russell Beale as Lavrentiy Beria, Jeffrey Tambor as Georgy Malenkov, Michael Palin as Vyacheslav Molotov, and Jason Isaacs as Georgy Zhukov.

**What awards did The Death of Stalin win?**
The film won Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor (Jason Isaacs) at the 2018 British Independent Film Awards, and Best Comedy at the 2018 European Film Awards.

**What controversies surrounded The Death of Stalin?**
The film was banned in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan for its portrayal of Soviet leaders and historical events. Russian Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky called it a "planned provocation" and "insulting to the memory of our citizens who defeated Nazism."

**How historically accurate is The Death of Stalin?**
While based on real historical events, the film takes significant creative liberties for comedic effect. Many scenes and character interactions are fictionalized, though the basic historical framework of Stalin's death and the subsequent power struggle is accurate.

## Why It Matters
The Death of Stalin matters as a sharp political satire that uses historical events to comment on contemporary power dynamics and political incompetence. By depicting the chaotic aftermath of Stalin's death through dark comedy, the film highlights the absurdity and danger of authoritarian regimes while drawing parallels to modern political situations. Its international production and ban in Russia demonstrate the film's ability to provoke discussion about historical memory and political accountability. The film's success also showcases the continued relevance and power of political satire as a form of social commentary, proving that historical events can be effectively used to illuminate current political realities.

## Notable For
- Banned in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan for its controversial portrayal of Soviet history
- Adaptation of a French graphic novel into an English-language film
- Ensemble cast featuring both British and American actors
- Successfully blending historical drama with dark comedy
- Winning European Film Award for Best Comedy, rare for a political satire
- Achieving 96% on Rotten Tomatoes despite controversial subject matter
- Directed by Armando Iannucci, creator of Veep and The Thick of It
- Produced by French studio Gaumont, one of the oldest film studios in the world
- Budget of only $13 million with worldwide box office of $24.6 million
- Nominated for multiple awards including BAFTA and Critics' Choice Awards

## Body

### Production and Development
The Death of Stalin was produced by Quad Productions, Main Journey, Republique Television, Death of Stalin Productions, and Gaumont, with Gaumont being one of the oldest film studios in the world, founded in 1895. The film was directed by Armando Iannucci, who also co-wrote the screenplay with David Schneider, Ian Martin, and Peter Fellows. The screenplay was adapted from the French graphic novel "La mort de Staline" by Fabien Nury and Thierry Robin, published between 2012 and 2017.

### Cast and Characters
The film features an ensemble cast portraying historical Soviet figures:
- Steve Buscemi as Nikita Khrushchev
- Simon Russell Beale as Lavrentiy Beria
- Jeffrey Tambor as Georgy Malenkov
- Michael Palin as Vyacheslav Molotov
- Jason Isaacs as Georgy Zhukov
- Andrea Riseborough as Svetlana Stalin
- Rupert Friend as Vasily Stalin
- Paddy Considine as Comrade pianist
- Paul Whitehouse as Mikhail Kalinin
- Dermot Crowley as Anastas Mikoyan
- Paul Chahidi as Nikolai Bulganin

### Release and Distribution
The Death of Stalin premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2017. It was released in the United Kingdom on January 25, 2018, by Entertainment One, in the United States on March 9, 2018, by IFC Films, and in Australia on March 29, 2018, by Transmission Films. The film had staggered release dates across different countries throughout early 2018.

### Critical Reception
The film received widespread critical acclaim, holding a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 282 reviews, with an average rating of 8.2/10. The critical consensus reads: "Timely and powerfully acted, The Death of Stalin finds director/co-writer Armando Iannucci in riotous form, bringing his scabrous political humor to bear on 1950s Soviet Russia." Metacritic assigned the film a score of 88 out of 100 based on 45 critics, indicating "universal acclaim."

### Historical Context and Accuracy
The film is set in the Soviet Union in March 1953, following the death of Joseph Stalin. While the basic historical framework is accurate—Stalin did die on March 5, 1953, and there was indeed a power struggle among Soviet leaders—the film takes significant creative liberties. The characters' personalities and interactions are often exaggerated for comedic effect, and many specific events are fictionalized. However, the film captures the paranoia, incompetence, and brutality of the Stalinist regime.

### Political Impact and Controversy
The Death of Stalin generated significant controversy upon release, particularly in Russia. The film was banned in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan by government authorities who deemed it disrespectful to Soviet history and potentially destabilizing. Russian Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky criticized the film as a "planned provocation" that insulted the memory of Soviet citizens who fought in World War II. The ban sparked debates about historical memory, freedom of expression, and the legacy of Stalinism in former Soviet states.

### Genre and Style
The film blends multiple genres, primarily political satire and black comedy, with elements of historical drama. Armando Iannucci's signature style—rapid-fire dialogue, bureaucratic absurdity, and dark humor—is evident throughout. The film uses contemporary British and American accents for all characters, creating a deliberate anachronism that emphasizes the universality of political incompetence and power struggles.

### Box Office Performance
With a production budget of $13 million, The Death of Stalin grossed $24.6 million worldwide. The film performed particularly well in the United Kingdom, where it earned £3.8 million ($5.1 million), and in the United States, where it grossed $8.1 million. The film's box office success was considered strong for an independent political satire with limited mainstream appeal.

### Awards and Recognition
The Death of Stalin received numerous award nominations and wins:
- British Independent Film Awards (2018): Won Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor (Jason Isaacs)
- European Film Awards (2018): Won Best Comedy
- BAFTA Awards (2019): Nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay
- Critics' Choice Movie Awards (2019): Nominated for Best Comedy
- Writers Guild of America Awards (2019): Nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay

### Cultural Significance
The film's cultural significance extends beyond its entertainment value. By using comedy to explore the dark history of Stalinism, The Death of Stalin makes difficult historical subject matter accessible to mainstream audiences. The film's international production (UK-France) and subsequent ban in Russia highlight the ongoing tensions between historical interpretation and national identity. Its success demonstrates the continued appetite for political satire that challenges authority and exposes the absurdity of power structures.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.europeanfilmacademy.org/2018.854.0.html)
2. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
3. IMDb
4. [Source](https://www.europeanfilmacademy.org/Winners-2018.832.0.html)
5. Letterboxd
6. The Movie Database
7. The Death of Stalin. Rotten Tomatoes
8. [Death of Stalin co-written by David Schneider premieres at TIFF. 2017](https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/news/death-of-stalin-co-written-by-david-schneider-premieres-at-tiff)
9. [Source](http://nmhh.hu/dokumentum/198182/terjesztett_filmalkotasok_art_filmek_nyilvantartasa.xlsx)
10. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4686844/releaseinfo)
11. Danish Film Database
12. [Source](https://www.europeanfilmacademy.org/Nominations-2018.833.0.html)
13. [Source](https://az.sputniknews.ru/russia/20180129/413814797/azerbajdzhan-rossija-eajes-armenija-film-smert-stalina.html)
14. BBC Things
15. [Source](https://www.spio-fsk.de/asp/fskkarte.asp?pvid=583197)
16. [Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt4686844/)
17. [Source](https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/death-stalin-2017)
18. Entertainment Identifier Registry
19. [Source](http://www.kijkwijzer.nl/index.php?id=26&i=282176)
20. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
21. [Source](http://www.cnc.fr/web/fr/rechercher-une-oeuvre/-/visa/146490)
22. Cineplex
23. [Source](http://justica.gov.br/news/collective-nitf-content-39)
24. Brazilian Advisory Rating System
25. [Source](https://sede.mcu.gob.es/webicaa/Ficheros/10018/34/10018/1/209.pdf)
26. [Source](http://cnc.abt.ro/registru/index.aspx?pageID=3&filmID=15734)
27. [Source](http://www.rtc.gob.mx/NuevoSitio/cine_clasif_35mm.php?cd=451)
28. Bechdel Test Movie List
29. [Source](https://luokittelu.kavi.fi/public.html#haku//a/5acaf23ab887450004695caa)
30. [Source](https://www.rcq.gouv.qc.ca/RCQ212AfficherFicheTech.asp?intNoFilm=410830)
31. TheTVDB
32. Trakt.tv
33. FilmVandaag.nl