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Historical documentary

Death of a Nation (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Death of a Nation (2018) movie poster

Death of a Nation is a 2018 historical documentary directed by Dinesh D'Souza and Bruce Schooley, starring Pavel Kríz as Adolf Hitler, Richard Spencer and Debbie D'Souza. It runs 1 hour 48 minutes and earned $5.9 million worldwide on a $6 million budget. Critics gave it 1 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.1/10.

IMDb rating
4.1/10
worldwide gross
$5.9M
Echo Score
30
Metascore
1
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Death of a Nation (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 48m (108 min)
Genres
History , Documentary
Original language
English
Budget
$6M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Death of a Nation About?

The premise of Death of a Nation without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

This documentary explores the history of political division in America, drawing parallels between the attacks on Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and the criticism faced by President Trump. It examines the use of divisive tactics and rhetoric throughout history, investigating themes of racism, fascism, and white supremacy. The film aims to reveal the recurring patterns of political vitriol and their impact on the nation.

Death of a Nation Themes & Keywords

· 47 tags
  • right winger
  • nazi
  • right wing
  • american civil war
  • conservative politics
  • hitler impersonator
  • conservative
  • abraham lincoln character
  • censored profanity
  • reference to donald trump
  • conservatism
  • right wing politics
+35 more
  • fascism
  • reference to the ku klux klan
  • josef mengele character
  • neo nazi
  • slavery
  • adolf hitler character
  • politics
  • violence
  • actor reprises previous role
  • kakistocracy
  • written by director
  • suicide by gunshot
  • suicide by poison
  • far right politics
  • benito mussolini character
  • giovanni gentile character
  • hermann goering character
  • sophie scholl character
  • ernst roehm character
  • herbert marcuse character
  • rudolf hess character
  • martin van buren character
  • death in title
  • rise of evil
  • evil
  • lgbt
  • gay man
  • fascist youth
  • far right ideology
  • street riot
  • nazi flag
  • world war two
  • eva braun character
  • reference to eli whitney
  • president
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Cast & crew

Death of a Nation Cast & Characters

Pavel Kríz leads the cast as Adolf Hitler, with Richard Spencer and Debbie D'Souza. Directed by Dinesh D'Souza and Bruce Schooley; 8 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Death of a Nation

· 4 more
From the directors

More from Dinesh D'Souza and Bruce Schooley

More films directed by Dinesh D'Souza and Bruce Schooley, best-rated first: 2016: Obama's America, America: Imagine a World Without Her, Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party and 2000 Mules.

Ratings

Death of a Nation Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Death of a Nation 1 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 30/100, strongest in story & flow (40) and weakest in character & emotion (15).

30 /100

Death of a Nation Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Death of a Nation struggles to deliver a coherent and engaging viewing experience. Critics overwhelmingly highlight its repetitive structure, ideological bias, and lack of historical accuracy, while user reactions remain polarized between enthusiastic ideological support and outright rejection. Visual segments and some narrative clarity earn occasional praise, but these aspects are overshadowed by uneven pacing and insensitivity toward subject matter. In net terms, the film’s divisive approach and technical shortcomings result in a largely unsatisfying documentary.

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

  • Art & Craft 25

    In terms of art and craft, the film displays notable execution flaws. Critics describe it as shabbily constructed and artistically bankrupt, citing repetitive reenactments and uneven editing. A handful of user comments praise the visual transitions between historical periods, but these moments are sparse and inconsistent. Overall, the documentary’s direction and production design feel underdeveloped and distract from its intended message.

  • Character & Emotion 15

    When it comes to character and emotion, the documentary offers limited depth and engagement. Reviewers note a lack of empathetic perspective and criticize awkward reenactments that fail to resonate. The film’s polemical focus prevents meaningful emotional connection or nuanced portrayal of any subjects. As a result, viewers are unlikely to feel invested in its characters or to experience significant emotional impact.

  • Story & Flow 40

    The story and flow are uneven and largely hindered by overt ideological framing. Critics point to meandering segments, tedious repetition, and factual inaccuracies that undermine coherence and engagement. Some users find the arguments clear and compelling, praising the straightforward presentation of viewpoints. Nevertheless, the narrative remains disjointed and unbalanced, with persuasive intent overshadowing thoughtful structure and diminishing its overall impact.

  • Sensory Experience 40

    Sensory experience is mixed, with intermittent visual strengths countered by an overall sense of artistic flatness. A segment of user feedback commends the period transitions and visual clarity, but critics describe the film as aesthetically bankrupt and monotonous. Sound design and musical elements receive little attention, suggesting a lack of cohesion in the audiovisual presentation. Consequently, the sensory dimension rarely elevates the viewing experience.

  • Rewatch Factor 30

    The rewatch factor is limited due to the documentary’s polarizing tone and singular perspective. Critics are unlikely to return to its repetitive content, and while some viewers appreciate its ideological affirmations, replay value depends on personal alignment rather than intrinsic merits. In summary, the film offers minimal lasting appeal beyond an initial viewing for like-minded audiences.

Plot

Death of a Nation Plot Summary

What happens in Death of a Nation from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The film Death of a Nation presents an in-depth examination of fascism’s origins, tracing its pathways from figures like Adolf Hitler, Pavel Kríž, to Gentile and Mussolini, exploring how these leaders, who regarded themselves as progressives, drew inspiration from various policies in the United States. The narrative utilizes reenactments to illustrate which political factions in the U.S. supported these policies and how they influenced the dictators.

Full summary

The whole story of Death of a Nation, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Death of a Nation Box Office & Budget

Death of a Nation grossed $5.9 million worldwide on a $6 million budget, 98% of what it cost.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$5.9M

98% of its budget back

US & Canada
$5.9M
Budget
$6M
Videos

Death of a Nation Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Death of a Nation.

Theatrical Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Death of a Nation?

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 director of 'Death of a Nation'?

Details

Death of a Nation Also Known As

5 alternative titles, including “Smrt naroda” and “Смерть нации”.

Also known as
  • Smrt naroda
  • Смерть нации
  • 데스 오브 어 네이션
  • A Morte de uma Nação
  • 亡命国度

Seen Death of a Nation?

FAQ

Death of a Nation FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Death of a Nation?

Death of a Nation runs 1 hour 48 minutes (108 minutes).

When was Death of a Nation released?

Death of a Nation was released on August 3, 2018.

Who directed Death of a Nation?

Death of a Nation was directed by Dinesh D'Souza and Bruce Schooley.

More films by Dinesh D'Souza

Who is in the cast of Death of a Nation?

Death of a Nation stars Pavel Kríz as Adolf Hitler, Richard Spencer and Debbie D'Souza, among 8 credited actors.

How much did Death of a Nation make at the box office?

Death of a Nation grossed $5.9 million worldwide on a budget of $6 million.

How is Death of a Nation rated?

Death of a Nation has 4.1/10 on IMDb, 1 on Metacritic, 42% on TMDB and 4.4/5 on Movie Insider.

Does Death of a Nation have a post-credit scene?

No. Death of a Nation has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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