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Documentary

Citizen K (2019): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

Citizen K (2019) movie poster

Citizen K is a 2019 documentary directed by Alex Gibney, starring Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Vladimir Putin and Alexei Navalny. It runs 2 hours 6 minutes and earned $145,941 worldwide. Critics gave it 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.2/10.

IMDb rating
7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes
95%
worldwide gross
$145.9K
Echo Score
77
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Citizen K (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 6m (126 min)
Director
Alex Gibney
Genre
Documentary
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Citizen K About?

The premise of Citizen K without spoilers.

This gripping documentary chronicles the life of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a Russian businessman who rose to prominence in the years following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The film follows his journey from accumulating significant wealth to his eventual imprisonment for challenging those in power. Through Khodorkovsky's experiences, the documentary reveals the complex and often corrupt relationship between government and business, and its impact on democracy in Russia.

Citizen K Themes & Keywords

· 18 tags
  • russian expatriate
  • russian oligarch
  • russian politics
  • reference to vladimir putin
  • oligarch
  • businessman
  • trial
  • political dissident
  • exile
  • oil baron
  • propaganda
  • billionaire
+6 more
  • jew
  • bloodsucker
  • parasite
  • 1990s
  • man
  • politics
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Cast & crew

Citizen K Cast

Mikhail Khodorkovsky leads the cast, with Vladimir Putin and Alexei Navalny. Directed by Alex Gibney; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Citizen K

· 6 more
From the director

More from Alex Gibney

More films directed by Alex Gibney, best-rated first: Totally Under Control, Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie, Crazy, Not Insane and Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief.

Full filmography
Ratings

Citizen K Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Citizen K 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 77/100, strongest in art & craft (85) and weakest in character & emotion (55).

77 /100

Citizen K Echo Score Breakdown

Citizen K offers a well-researched and methodically constructed exploration of post-Soviet power structures, though it falls short in emotional immersion. The film’s measured pacing and structured narrative integrate archival footage and interviews to create an informative chronicle of political transformations. Its visual and auditory style remains consistent and supportive, yet rarely ventures into expressive territory. While repeat viewings may uncover additional context, the limited psychological depth of the central figure moderates lasting engagement. Overall, Citizen K stands as an enlightening but restrained documentary portrait.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 85

    In terms of art and craft, Citizen K exhibits measured direction and efficient editing that reinforce its investigative structure. The pacing of scene transitions and interview setups reflects a deliberate avoidance of didactic framing, granting visual segments consistent flow. Lighting and shot compositions remain straightforward without venturing into stylistic excess. Overall, the documentary’s craft enables clarity but seldom departs from functional coherence.

  • Character & Emotion 55

    When it comes to character depth and emotional resonance, the film delivers uneven insight into its central figure. It summarizes pivotal events but offers limited psychological context, skimming over controversial episodes without substantial interrogation. As a result, moments of personal transformation lack strong connective threads. In sum, the portrayal reads more as a symbolic construct than a deeply human study.

  • Story & Flow 82

    In terms of story and flow, Citizen K presents a largely coherent narrative that chronicles Russia’s political evolution through the lens of its protagonist. It weaves archival footage with contemporary interviews to sustain engagement and poses thought-provoking inquiries into power dynamics. Occasional tangents and unresolved narrative threads create minor unevenness in pacing. Overall, the film’s storytelling remains compelling with modest lapses in cohesion.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    In terms of sensory experience, the documentary maintains a consistent audio-visual style that supports its investigative tone. The soundtrack and ambient sound design are unobtrusive, framing interviews without dramatic flourish. Visual compositions favor straightforward framing and neutral color schemes, reinforcing factual emphasis. Overall, the sensory elements function effectively yet remain utilitarian rather than artistically distinctive.

  • Rewatch Factor 70

    In terms of rewatch factor, Citizen K offers substantive informative content that may reward subsequent viewings. Dense historical context and layered political analysis can reveal new insights on each revisit. However, the absence of emotional depth and limited stylistic variation reduce the incentive for repeated engagement. Overall, the documentary presents informational value but modest entertainment appeal on repeated screenings.

Box office

Citizen K Box Office

Citizen K grossed $145,941 worldwide. $120,411 came from the US and Canada and $25,530 (17%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$145.9K

US & Canada
$120.4K
International
$25.5K
US & Canada 83% Rest of the world 17%
Videos

Citizen K Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.

Citizen K | Official Trailer
  • Teaser
Details

Citizen K Also Known As

9 alternative titles, including “Obywatel K” and “Cidadão K”.

Also known as
  • Obywatel K
  • Cidadão K
  • ซิทิเซน เค
  • Громадянин Х
  • 시티즌 K
  • 公民K
  • Občan K
  • האזרח חודורקובסקי
  • Πολίτης Κ

Seen Citizen K?

FAQ

Citizen K FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Citizen K, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Citizen K?

Citizen K runs 2 hours 6 minutes (126 minutes).

When was Citizen K released?

Citizen K was released on November 22, 2019.

Who directed Citizen K?

Citizen K was directed by Alex Gibney.

More films by Alex Gibney

Who is in the cast of Citizen K?

Citizen K stars Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Vladimir Putin and Alexei Navalny, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Citizen K make at the box office?

Citizen K grossed $145,941 worldwide ($120,411 domestic, $25,530 international).

How is Citizen K rated?

Citizen K has 7.2/10 on IMDb, 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 76 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.

Does Citizen K have a post-credit scene?

No. Citizen K has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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