The Death of Stalin (2017)

The Death of Stalin (2017) is a darkly comic, fast-paced political farce set in Moscow in 1953. When the long-reigning Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin suddenly collapses and dies, panic ripples through the highest ranks of the Council of Ministers. What follows is a frantic, often absurd scramble for power as senior officials — including the feared secret police chief Lavrentiy Beria (Simon Russell Beale) and party strongman Nikita Khrushchev (Steve Buscemi) — jockey, conspire and betray to survive and advance. Watching the film, you’ll experience a collision of bleak historical reality and razor-sharp satire: moments of brittle, nervous humor sit alongside genuine dread, brutality and human tragedy. The pacing is urgent and claustrophobic, with tightly wound scenes of plotting and public spectacle that highlight both the surreal absurdity of the regime’s rituals and the deadly stakes for those who misstep. Performances are an ensemble affair, with comic timing used to expose cruelty and paranoia rather than to soften it. The film balances political intrigue, grotesque farce and dark pathos, offering biting commentary on authoritarianism and the corrupting pursuit of power. If you like satirical historical dramas that combine sharp, uncomfortable humor with tense, character-driven plotting, The Death of Stalin delivers a disturbing yet entertaining look at what happens when a tyrant’s death sparks a ruthless, chaotic power struggle.

Actors: Steve Buscemi, Simon Russell Beale, Jeffrey Tambor

Director: Armando Iannucci

Runtime: 107 min

Genres: Comedy, Drama, History

6.2 /10 88 /100 7.3 /10 7.4 /10