Coup 53 (2020)
93%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 6 nominations
Coup 53 is a riveting and thought-provoking documentary that delves into the murky world of espionage and political machinations. With meticulous attention to detail, director Taghi Amirani uncovers the hidden truths behind the 1953 coup in Iran, revealing a web of deceit and betrayal that still resonates today. The film is a masterclass in investigative journalism, weaving together interviews, archive footage, and dramatic reconstructions to create a compelling narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It’s a must-see for anyone interested in history, politics, or the human cost of power. So, grab your popcorn and settle in for a thrilling ride through the shadows of the past.
If you’re looking for a documentary that’s more thrilling than a James Bond movie, then Coup 53 is the one for you. This historical masterpiece is a reminder that the past never goes away, and it’s stranger than fiction. With a fascinating story at its core, this film is a deep dive into American and British espionage that reveals how the two superpowers collaborated to take down and reform the government of Iran in 1953. It’s complex but rewarding, and it sheds light on a small footnote in Iran’s story that deserves the big, expansive, dramatic treatment it gets. So, grab some popcorn, sit back, and get ready for a wild ride!
Production Company(ies)
Paramount Pictures, The Steve Tisch Company, Wendy Finerman Productions,
Distributor
Amirani Media
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2020
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 58m
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Language(s):
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Country of origin:United Kingdom
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 21, 2020 Limited
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, CIA, MI6, Iran, Prime Minister Mossadegh, Operation Ajax, political intrigue, thriller, Taghi Amirani, Walter Murch, Paul Zaentz, reviewed by John Powers, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, Tim Robey, Ian Freer, Angie Han, Josh Parham, Guillem Martinez Oya, Roger Moore, A.S Hamrah, Charles Koplinski, Andrew Gaudion, produced by Taghi Amirani, Paul Zaentz, directed by Taghi Amirani, written by Taghi Amirani, box office performance, budget, MPAA rating, historical, espionage, American, British, international community, dirty politics, government reform, featured audience reviews, Fresh Kernels, movie reviews, TV shows, RT podcast, news, showtimes, horror movies, Netflix series, MCU movies, renewed and cancelled TV shows, accessibility
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Taghi Amirani – Director, Writer, Producer, Cinematographer
Paul Zaentz – Producer
Director(s)
Taghi Amirani
Writer(s)
Taghi Amirani
Producer(s)
Taghi Amirani, Paul Zaentz
Film Festivals
Telluride
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 6 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (45) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (45)
An exhilarating… historical documentary that unfolds with the pace and complexity of a thriller.
September 10, 2020
John Powers
NPR
TOP CRITIC
Coup 53 is stranger than fiction and a terrifying reminder that the past never goes away.
September 3, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
[Amirani] transforms sifting through dusty plastic bags and filing cabinets into a thrilling detective case…
September 3, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
With admirable tenacity and care, Amirani has dragged official secrets back into the light.
September 3, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Tim Robey
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Part political drama, part history lesson, part gripping spy thriller, Coup 53 gives what has been relegated to a small footnote in Iran’s story the big, expansive, dramatic treatment it deserves.
September 3, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Ian Freer
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
A documentary with the crackle of a spy thriller.
September 1, 2020
Angie Han
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
There’s an incredibly fascinating story at the heart of Coup 53 that anybody who has an interest in world history and the effects of dirty politics will take an instant liking toward.
June 5, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
Josh Parham
Next Best Picture
A necessary film research about the nowadays status of iran. [full review in Spanish]
August 8, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Guillem Martinez Oya
Cinematismo
After a brisk opening act, the film tends to bog down until we get to the third act’s bloody nitty gritty of the coup. “Coup 53” could stand to shed some minutes.
May 13, 2021 | Rating: 2.5/4
Roger Moore
Movie Nation
It’s an exhaustive, riveting exegesis…
January 9, 2021
A.S. Hamrah
The Baffler
Complex but rewarding, this is a deep dive into American and British espionage that reveals how the two superpowers collaborated to take down and reform the government of Iran in 1953, an operation pulled off under the nose of the international community.
November 27, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Charles Koplinski
Reel Talk with Chuck and Pam
The weight of the reality of the situation at the time, and its overarching influence over the destiny of Iran, truly comes to bear in the latter half of the film, making the experience educational, enlightening and enthralling.
September 15, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Andrew Gaudion
THN…
Plot
COUP 53 is a documentary about the CIA/MI6 staged coup in 1953 in Iran that overthrew Prime Minister Mossadegh.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about the film or its cast.
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