The Trials of Henry Kissinger (2002)
88%RT Audience Score: 78%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 1 nomination
The Trials of Henry Kissinger is a thought-provoking and incendiary documentary that delves into the life and career of one of the most controversial political figures of the 20th century. Through a compelling body of evidence, Eugene Jarecki builds a case for Kissinger’s possible role in war crimes and the CIA-supported coup. The film is insightful about Kissinger’s background and history, and it keeps you glued to your seat, thinking long after you’ve left the theater. While some may find the case against Kissinger not fully convincing, the documentary is a fascinating portrait of political celebrity and ego. In short, this documentary is a must-watch for anyone interested in the accountability of public figures and international justice.
The Trials of Henry Kissinger” is a documentary that will make you question everything you thought you knew about the former Secretary of State. Critics have called it a “compelling body of evidence” and a “stunning and overwhelmingly cogent case” against Kissinger. But let’s be real, we all know the real reason to watch this film is to see if you can spot the moment when Kissinger realizes he’s being called out for his questionable decisions. It’s like a game of political “Where’s Waldo?” and it’s just as entertaining.
Production Company(ies)
Hell’s Kitchen Films, Universal Pictures,
Distributor
First Run
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2003
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Stereo
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 20m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 25, 2002 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 19, 2003
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Henry Kissinger, war criminal, Christopher Hitchens, diplomat, foreign actions, bombing raid, Cambodia, plot, Chilean leader, Salvador Allende, legal experts, former government officials, accountability, public figures, international justice, Eugene Jarecki, Alex Gibney, Brian Cox, narrator, Roy Ackerman, Jennie Amias, First Run, $515.7K, box office, gross USA, 1h 20m, stereo, genre, producer, writer, director, reviewed by Peter Rainer, Marrit Ingman, Marta Barber, Steven Rosen, Roger Ebert, Wesley Morris, Jay Antani, Kelly Vance, John A Nesbit, Josh Ralske, Christopher Smith, Jason Gorber, MPAA rating, budget
Worldwide gross: $521,266
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $844,905
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,637
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 92,138
US/Canada gross: $516,726
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $837,547
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,229
US/Canada opening weekend: $14,667
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $23,773
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,452
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
Eugene Jarecki – Director
Alex Gibney – Writer
Roy Ackerman – Executive Producer
Jennie Amias – Associate Producer
Alex Gibney – Producer
Director(s)
Eugene Jarecki
Writer(s)
Alex Gibney
Producer(s)
Alex Gibney, Eugene Jarecki
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (57) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (54) | Rotten (3)
In a larger sense, this powerfully muckraking film is about the accountability of public figures and about how, in regard to international justice, there can be no exceptions.
August 7, 2004
Peter Rainer
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
Eugene Jarecki amasses a compelling body of evidence suggesting that Kissinger should be formally investigated for a possible role in the CIA-supported coup.
March 10, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marrit Ingman
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Even if the case against Kissinger is not fully convincing, the documentary keeps you glued to your seat and thinking long after you’ve left the theater.
February 13, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/4
Marta Barber
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
The film is insightful about Kissinger’s background and history.
December 13, 2002 | Rating: 3.5/4
Steven Rosen
Denver Post
TOP CRITIC
Fascinating to watch as a portrait of political celebrity and ego.
December 6, 2002 | Rating: 3/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
A stunning and overwhelmingly cogent case for Kissinger as a calculating war criminal.
December 6, 2002 | Rating: 3.5/4
Wesley Morris
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
An Incendiary piece of a rather innocuous order
September 6, 2010 | Rating: 2.5/4
Jay Antani
Cinema Writer
Much of Kissinger’s career has been spent smoothing the way for rich industrialists, ambitious rightwing politicos, military men, and, of course, himself.
May 5, 2010
Kelly Vance
East Bay Express
provocative study
December 3, 2009 | Rating: B-
John A. Nesbit
Old School Reviews
A fast-paced documentary that entertains as it informs.
October 26, 2007 | Rating: 7/10
Josh Ralske
All Movie Guide
Directly charging him with mass murder, the film colors Kissinger as a secretive, paranoid, duplicitous megalomaniac who rose to political superstardom while literally–the movie claims–getting away with decisions that left hundreds of thousands dead.
September 13, 2007 | Rating: B
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)
The strange and engaging tale of this deepvoiced (deep-throated?) diplomat.
June 21, 2007 | Rating: B-
Jason Gorber
Film Scouts…
Plot
“The Trials of Henry Kissinger” is a documentary that sheds light on the controversial career of the high-ranking diplomat, including his unauthorized bombing raid in Cambodia and alleged plot to oust Chilean leader Salvador Allende.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features narration by actor Brian Cox.
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