The Great Dictator (1940)
Kernel Score: 91% · 3,636 ratings · Rated NR
Genres: Comedy, War
Released: 1940-10-15
Runtime: 125 minutes
Is The Great Dictator worth watching?
Must-watch. Chaplin plays both a ruthless dictator and a Jewish barber in his first full sound comedy. It still has laugh-out-loud slapstick, and the final speech is moving, even if it feels stagey.
Watch it if you
- want a landmark comedy that dared mock Hitler
- love Chaplin's physical comedy
- like satire with a serious heart
Skip it if you
- won't watch black-and-white films
- want a modern comedy pace
Best for: Classic film night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Great Dictator
- Stream: Prime Video, Fubo, The Criterion Channel, TCM, HBO Max
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Shout! Factory TV, YouTube Free, Prime Video (free with ads), Mometu
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Dictator Adenoid Hynkel tries to expand his empire while a poor Jewish barber tries to avoid persecution from Hynkel's regime.
The Great Dictator parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that The Great Dictator is a 1940 satire of Hitler and fascism with wartime and persecution themes but no graphic content.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Depicts Nazi persecution of Jewish characters and wartime settings, largely through satire rather than graphic violence.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Great Dictator
If you liked The Great Dictator, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Modern Times (1936) — 90%: Chaplin's earlier satire of modern life, with superb slapstick.
- City Lights (1931) — 91%: Chaplin's tender, funny tale with a touching ending.
- To Be or Not to Be (1942) — 88%: A sharp wartime comedy mocking the Nazis.
- Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) — 89%: Another satire that turns world-ending madness into laughs.
- Jojo Rabbit (2019) — 88%: A modern satire that mocks the Nazis with heart.
- Life Is Beautiful (1997) — 93%: Comedy and tragedy side by side in war.
Director
Cast
- Charlie Chaplin as Adenoid Hynkel, Dictator of Tomania / A Jewish Barber
- Paulette Goddard as Hannah
- Jack Oakie as Benzino Napaloni, Dictator of Bacteria
- Reginald Gardiner as Commander Schultz
- Henry Daniell as Garbitsch
- Billy Gilbert as Field Marshal Herring
- Grace Hayle as Madame Napaloni
- Carter DeHaven as Spook
- Maurice Moscovitch as Mr. Jaeckel
- Emma Dunn as Mrs. Jaeckel
The Great Dictator FAQ
Is The Great Dictator worth watching?
Must-watch. Chaplin plays both a ruthless dictator and a Jewish barber in his first full sound comedy. It still has laugh-out-loud slapstick, and the final speech is moving, even if it feels stagey.
Where can I watch The Great Dictator?
In the US you can stream The Great Dictator on Prime Video, Fubo, The Criterion Channel, TCM and HBO Max, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Shout! Factory TV, YouTube Free, Prime Video (free with ads) and Mometu and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango At Home.
Is The Great Dictator OK for kids?
The Great Dictator is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that The Great Dictator is a 1940 satire of Hitler and fascism with wartime and persecution themes but no graphic content.
What movies are like The Great Dictator?
If you liked The Great Dictator, try Modern Times, City Lights, To Be or Not to Be and Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.