Four Lions (2010)
85%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 BAFTA Award
9 wins & 24 nominations total
Its premise suggests brazenly tasteless humor, but Four Lions is actually a smart, pitch-black comedy that carries the unmistakable ring of truth
Four Lions is a hilarious satire that takes on the serious topic of terrorism with a comedic twist. The film follows a group of bumbling terrorists as they attempt to carry out their mission, but their incompetence and lack of direction make for some truly laugh-out-loud moments. While some may find the subject matter controversial, the film manages to strike a balance between humor and sensitivity, making it a must-watch for anyone looking for a fresh take on the genre. So grab some popcorn and get ready to root for the underdogs in Four Lions!
Production Company(ies)
Asghar Farhadi Productions, Dreamlab Films, MPAAPSA Academy Film Fund,
Distributor
Alamo Drafthouse Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Almería, Andalucía, Spain
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language throughout, including some sexual references
Year of Release
2010
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 42m
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Language(s):English, Urdu, Punjabi, Arabic
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Country of origin:United Kingdom
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 5, 2010 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 8, 2011
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Riz Ahmed, Arsher Ali, Nigel Lindsay, Kayvan Novak, Adeel Akhtar, Benedict Cumberbatch, directed by Christopher Morris, written by Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain, Christopher Morris, Comedy, Drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Deborah Ross, Stephen Cole, Peter Howell, Tom Long, Rene Rodriguez, Lisa Kennedy, Ali Khoei, Stuart McGurk, Dennis Harvey, David Lamble, MPAA rating R, Sheffield, Muslim, jihad, suicide bombers, Pakistan training camp, birds carrying bombs, London Marathon, terrorism, satire, slapstick, farce, working-class British slang, governmental incompetence, mass media manipulation, anti-consumerist imperialism
Worldwide gross: $6,149,356
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $8,359,352
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,025
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 911,598
US/Canada gross: $304,616
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $414,091
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,372
US/Canada opening weekend: $41,512
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $56,431
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,155
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
Arsher Ali – Hassan
Nigel Lindsay – Barry
Kayvan Novak – Waj
Adeel Akhtar – Faisal
Benedict Cumberbatch – Ed
Christopher Morris – Director
Jesse Armstrong – Writer
Sam Bain – Writer
Director(s)
Christopher Morris
Writer(s)
Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain, Christopher Morris
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 BAFTA Award
9 wins & 24 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (138) | Top Critics (48) | Fresh (114) | Rotten (24)
It feels like a missed opportunity all the same… As far as slapstick and farce and knockabout buffoonery go, this is as good as anything but my point, I think, is that this could be about any group.
August 30, 2018
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
[Morris’s] new comedy has a provocative, ticklish premise — five North England Muslims become suicide bombers, but can’t decide who or what to take with them.
February 25, 2011 | Rating: 2/4
Stephen Cole
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
It’s difficult to imagine a movie this boldly provocative about the underworld of violent jihad, much less one that actually inspires laughter.
February 24, 2011 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Howell
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
The first feature, written and directed by satirist Chris Morris, may seem profane to some, but if you’re doomed by watching it, at least you’ll go down laughing.
January 14, 2011 | Rating: B
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
The film wisely doesn’t try to explore the roots of religious fanaticism and how it can manifest as murder: Instead, it simply accepts the world as it is and focuses on the ridiculous.
December 29, 2010 | Rating: 3/4
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
Four Lions is more interesting than riotous. Consider it an example – a well-paced, clever and understated compassionate example – of a filmmaker wrestling with fear.
December 17, 2010 | Rating: 2.5/4
Lisa Kennedy
Denver Post
TOP CRITIC
It excels in that it centralises the humour around the feebleness of mind and inadequacies of the characters, rather than being insensitive to the actual shattering consequences of terrorism.
July 21, 2021
Ali Khoei
emel
Chris Morris’ terrorism comedy is a work of satirical brilliance.
May 19, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Stuart McGurk
NME
Four Lions actually did manage to make terrorism seem a viable topic for parody.
October 21, 2020
Dennis Harvey
48 Hills
For an American audience, one obstacle to this film is digesting working-class British slang to translate the verbal gags; another is distinguishing the players without a scorecard…clever if at times farfetched…
June 16, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
Don’t be like the Four Lions, but go check out their movie if you want a fresh perspective.
April 7, 2020
Ed Travis
Hollywood Jesus
A clever and original comedy that, above all, refuses to let the terrorists win.
August 5, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row…
Plot
Four Lions is a dark comedy about a group of young Muslim men in Sheffield who decide to become suicide bombers, but their ineptitude and bumbling attempts to disrupt the London Marathon in outlandish costumes make for a hilarious and thought-provoking film.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no specific tidbit about someone in the cast mentioned in the Fresh Kernels description for Four Lions.
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