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Darkest Hour

Darkest Hour

Drama · History · 2017

In May 1940, the fate of World War II hangs on Winston Churchill, who must decide whether to negotiate with Adolf Hitler or fight on knowing that it could mean the end of the British Empire.

Movie details

Darkest Hour

“Never give up. Never give in.”

2017 Drama · History 2h 5m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.4 / 10

Community rating

In May 1940, the fate of World War II hangs on Winston Churchill, who must decide whether to negotiate with Adolf Hitler or fight on knowing that it could mean the end of the British Empire.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Darkest Hour?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Lion of the Desert

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Joe Wright

Written by

Anthony McCarten

Gary Oldman

Gary Oldman

Winston Churchill

Stephen Dillane

Stephen Dillane

Viscount Halifax

Lily James

Lily James

Elizabeth Layton

Ronald Pickup

Ronald Pickup

Neville Chamberlain

Ben Mendelsohn

Ben Mendelsohn

King George VI

Kristin Scott Thomas

Kristin Scott Thomas

Clemmie

Nicholas Jones

Nicholas Jones

Sir John Simon

Court is in session

Put Darkest Hour on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.