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Biographical drama

Darkest Hour (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Darkest Hour (2017) movie poster

Darkest Hour is a 2017 biographical drama directed by Joe Wright, starring Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill, Ronald Pickup and Lily James. It runs 2 hours 5 minutes and earned $150.8 million worldwide on a $30 million budget. It won 2 Oscars, including Actor in a Leading Role and Makeup and Hairstyling, and 8 awards in all. Critics gave it 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10.

IMDb rating
7.4/10
worldwide gross
$150.8M
Oscars won
2
Echo Score
78
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Watch the trailer Read the plot summary
Darkest Hour (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 5m (125 min)
Director
Joe Wright
Genres
Biography , Drama , History , War
Original language
English
Studio
Focus Features
Budget
$30M
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Darkest Hour About?

The premise of Darkest Hour without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

During World War II, with Nazi forces advancing across Europe, Britain faces its darkest hour. Newly appointed Prime Minister Winston Churchill must confront the agonizing decision of whether to negotiate a peace treaty or rally the nation for a desperate fight. As the Allied forces are trapped at Dunkirk, Churchill grapples with the immense pressure and uncertainty, knowing the future of his country rests on his shoulders. His resolve and leadership are challenged as he navigates a moment of unprecedented crisis.

Darkest Hour Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • speech
  • prime minister
  • politics
  • year 1940
  • world war two
  • british prime minister
  • british politics
  • winston churchill character
  • subway
  • king george vi character
  • london england
  • neville chamberlain character
+38 more
  • decision
  • cigar smoking
  • typewriter
  • drinking
  • secretary
  • reference to adolf hitler
  • dunkirk
  • king of england
  • house of parliament
  • crying woman
  • 10 downing street london
  • archive footage
  • corgi
  • london underground
  • british foreign secretary
  • british history
  • based on real person
  • choice
  • leader
  • leadership
  • bunker
  • hard times
  • radio speech
  • radio broadcast
  • british politician
  • old man
  • glorification
  • embroidery
  • british propaganda
  • reference to benito mussolini
  • husband wife relationship
  • cane
  • street life
  • typist
  • slow motion scene
  • reference to belgium
  • breakfast in bed
  • day date on screen
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Cast & crew

Darkest Hour Cast & Characters

Gary Oldman leads the cast as Winston Churchill, with Ronald Pickup as Neville Chamberlain and Lily James as Elizabeth Layton. Directed by Joe Wright; 19 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Darkest Hour

· 15 more
From the director

More from Joe Wright

More films directed by Joe Wright, best-rated first: Atonement, Pride & Prejudice, Hanna and Cyrano.

Full filmography
Ratings

Darkest Hour Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Darkest Hour 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 78/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in rewatch factor (60).

78 /100

Darkest Hour Echo Score Breakdown

Darkest Hour stands out primarily for its commanding lead performance and polished production values, though it is uneven in narrative execution. The film’s central portrayal of Churchill consistently draws acclaim for its nuance and emotional depth, and its period settings and design evoke the era with meticulous detail. However, pacing lags at points and some narrative threads feel underdeveloped. The collective critical and audience response underscores its strengths in performance and aesthetics, while noting that its plot construction can feel formulaic.

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, Darkest Hour exhibits meticulous production design and period detail that consistently ground the narrative in its historical setting. Lighting and set decoration deliver an understated color palette that enhances the era’s atmosphere, and makeup work is transforming without feeling intrusive. While the visual style remains cohesive throughout, moments of uneven editing occasionally disrupt the overall flow. The art direction ultimately supports the film’s immersive quality.

  • Character & Emotion 90

    When it comes to character and emotion, the film is anchored by a deeply immersive central performance that captures Churchill’s conviction and vulnerability. The lead portrayal evolves through nuanced mannerisms and speech patterns, providing a strong emotional core. Supporting roles contribute atmosphere but sometimes lack depth. Overall, the emotional resonance is driven by the central figure, reinforcing the film’s focus on individual leadership.

  • Story & Flow 60

    In terms of story and flow, Darkest Hour delivers a clear narrative of Churchill’s rise but suffers from uneven pacing that hampers engagement at times. The plot highlights key strategic moments with dramatic speeches, yet certain subplots feel underdeveloped and clichéd. Historical condensation produces a streamlined trajectory but also limits exploration of broader political dynamics. Overall, the storytelling is coherent but occasionally formulaic.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    With regard to sensory experience, the film offers stirring musical cues and sound design that heighten dramatic tension without overwhelming the scenes. Visual cohesion is maintained through a dusty, muted palette that reinforces the period atmosphere. Soundtrack choices support emotional beats and underscore key speeches effectively. Although the auditory elements are mostly balanced, occasional shifts in tone can feel abrupt. The sensory design ultimately strengthens the film’s immersive impact.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    Considering rewatch factor, Darkest Hour provides ample reward for viewers drawn to its central performance and period aesthetics. The strength of the lead portrayal and measured pacing in pivotal speeches encourage a return to witness the character’s development. However, the film’s reliance on familiar biopic conventions and limited supporting character arcs reduce its replay value for some audiences. On balance, the rewatch appeal is moderate, anchored by its performance-driven focus.

Plot

Darkest Hour Plot Summary

What happens in Darkest Hour from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In May 1940, as World War II escalates, Britain and France stand united against the ominous threat posed by Nazi Germany. With Adolf Hitler already on a rampage, having invaded Czechoslovakia, Poland, Denmark, and Norway, the danger looms ever larger as 3 million German troops gather on the Belgian border, intent on conquering the rest of Europe.

Full summary

The whole story of Darkest Hour, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Darkest Hour Box Office & Budget

Darkest Hour grossed $150.8 million worldwide on a $30 million budget, 5.0 times what it cost. $56.5 million came from the US and Canada and $94.4 million (63%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$150.8M

5.0× its budget

US & Canada
$56.5M
International
$94.4M
Budget
$30M
US & Canada 37% Rest of the world 63%
Awards

Darkest Hour Awards & Nominations

Darkest Hour won 2 Oscars, including Actor in a Leading Role and Makeup and Hairstyling, and 8 awards in all. Its biggest night was the BAFTA 2018, with 2 wins from 9 nominations.

8 wins21 nominations5 ceremonies

Show all 5 ceremonies
Videos

Darkest Hour Trailers & Videos

13 videos: 2 trailers, 6 clips, 3 featurettes and 2 behind-the-scenes videos.

All 13 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer 2
  • Clip Up Your Bum
  • Clip Churchill's Triumphant Speech: "We Shall Never Surrender!"
  • Clip Winston Churchill Takes the Tube
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Darkest Hour?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the British Prime Minister at the start of the film?
Cars

Cars in Darkest Hour

11 cars on screen, including the 1936 Humber Pullman MkI and the 1936 Triumph 2/5 Sports.

All 11 cars
  • 1936 Humber Pullman MkI in Darkest Hour 1936 Humber Pullman MkI Important role
  • 1936 Triumph 2/5 Sports in Darkest Hour 1936 Triumph 2/5 Sports Minor role
  • 1938 Wolseley 14/60 in Darkest Hour 1938 Wolseley 14/60 Minor role
  • 1933 Austin 12/4 Taxi in Darkest Hour 1933 Austin 12/4 Taxi Background role
Details

Darkest Hour Also Known As

39 alternative titles, including “Las Horas mas Oscuras” and “O Destino de Uma Nação”.

Also known as
  • Las Horas mas Oscuras
  • O Destino de Uma Nação
  • 다키스트 아워
  • El instante más oscuro
  • ウィンストン・チャーチル／ヒトラーから世界を救った男：2017
  • Churchill - Die dunkelste Stunde
  • تاریک‌ترین لحظات
  • Giờ Đen Tối
  • Les Heures sombres
  • Die dunkelste Stunde
  • A legsötétebb óra
  • Темні часи
+27 more
  • Темные времена
  • Η πιο Σκοτεινή Ώρα
  • ชั่วโมงพลิกโลก
  • L'ora più buia
  • En Karanlık Saat
  • Nejtemnější hodina
  • שעה אפלה
  • 至暗时刻
  • Най-мрачният час
  • 最黑暗的時刻
  • Synkin hetki
  • ウィンストン・チャーチル／ヒトラーから世界を救った男
  • Najtemnejšia hodina
  • Prijelomni čas
  • Czas Mroku
  • A Hora Mais Negra
  • L'heure la plus sombre
  • Las horas más oscuras
  • Darkest Hour. Ziua decisivă
  • Најмрачнији час
  • Tamsiausia valanda
  • Süngeim tund
  • Thời Khắc Đen Tối
  • Tumšākā stunda
  • 黑暗對峙
  • Najtemnejša ura
  • تاریک‌ترین ساعت, კნიაზ უინსტონის სიზმარი

Seen Darkest Hour?
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Movies Like Darkest Hour

Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Churchill, Into the Storm and The Finest Hours.

From the blog

Articles About Darkest Hour

2 articles about Darkest Hour. The latest: “The Art of Cinematic Makeup and Prosthetics”.

FAQ

Darkest Hour FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

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

How long is Darkest Hour?

Darkest Hour runs 2 hours 5 minutes (125 minutes).

When was Darkest Hour released?

Darkest Hour was released on November 22, 2017.

Who directed Darkest Hour?

Darkest Hour was directed by Joe Wright.

More films by Joe Wright

Who is in the cast of Darkest Hour?

Darkest Hour stars Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill, Ronald Pickup as Neville Chamberlain and Lily James as Elizabeth Layton, among 19 credited actors.

How much did Darkest Hour make at the box office?

Darkest Hour grossed $150.8 million worldwide ($56.5 million domestic, $94.4 million international) on a budget of $30 million.

How is Darkest Hour rated?

Darkest Hour has 7.4/10 on IMDb, 75 on Metacritic, 74% on TMDB and 3.5/5 on Letterboxd.

What awards did Darkest Hour win?

Darkest Hour won 8 awards from 21 nominations, including Best Actor in a Leading Role at the BAFTA 2018.

Does Darkest Hour have a post-credit scene?

Yes. Darkest Hour has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

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