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Comedy

How About Adolf? (2018): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

How About Adolf? (2018) movie poster

How About Adolf? is a 2018 comedy directed by Sönke Wortmann, starring Christoph Maria Herbst as Stephan, Caroline Peters and Florian David Fitz. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes and earned $8.9 million worldwide. Its Echo Score is 84/100.

worldwide gross
$8.9M
Echo Score
84
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How About Adolf? (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 31m (91 min)
Director
Sönke Wortmann
Genre
Comedy
Original language
German
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is How About Adolf? About?

The premise of How About Adolf? without spoilers.

A family dinner hosted by Stephan and Elisabeth takes an awkward turn when Thomas reveals he and his pregnant girlfriend, Anna, plan to name their son Adolf. This unexpected announcement throws the hosts and their friend René into an uncomfortable and tense situation, forcing them to confront the implications and sensitivities surrounding such a provocative choice.

How About Adolf? Themes & Keywords

· 23 tags
  • begins with voice over narration
  • pizza delivery
  • clarinet player
  • dinner party
  • mother daughter relationship
  • foreign language remake
  • reference to johann wolfgang von goethe
  • reference to a rorschach ink blot test
  • reference to mahatma gandhi
  • reference to benito mussolini
  • reference to jack the ripper
  • punched in the face
+11 more
  • professor
  • reference to celine dion
  • bloody nose
  • pregnant woman's water breaks
  • giving birth
  • reference to adolf hitler
  • reference to joseph stalin
  • smoking marijuana
  • ultrasound
  • reference to tom cruise
  • gay slur
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Cast & crew

How About Adolf? Cast & Characters

Christoph Maria Herbst leads the cast as Stephan, with Caroline Peters as Elisabeth and Florian David Fitz as Thomas. Directed by Sönke Wortmann; 7 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in How About Adolf?

· 3 more
From the director

More from Sönke Wortmann

More films directed by Sönke Wortmann: Weddings and Wokes: A Family Dilemma, Family Affairs, Locked in Society and Contra.

Full filmography
Ratings

How About Adolf? Reviews & Ratings

Our Echo Score gives it 84/100, strongest in character & emotion (88) and weakest in sensory experience (70).

84 /100

How About Adolf? Echo Score Breakdown

How About Adolf? delivers a tightly scripted comedy that balances social critique with brisk humor. The ensemble cast sustains the film’s energy through nuanced performances and lively dialogue, while the confined domestic setting is enlivened by varied camera work and efficient editing. Viewers appreciate the film’s clever handling of sensitive themes without didacticism. Minor drawbacks include a few superfluous after‑party scenes that slightly dilute narrative momentum. Overall, the film succeeds as an engaging, well‑crafted satire.

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

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of direction and visual execution, the film makes effective use of a single domestic location, employing varied camera angles to maintain visual interest. Production design faithfully recreates a middle‑class German household, supporting the story’s realism. Editing remains crisp, preserving the rapid exchange of dialogue. While the limited set constrains scope, the overall craftsmanship is competent and contributes positively to the viewing experience.

  • Character & Emotion 88

    Character work stands out as a primary strength, with the ensemble delivering nuanced, emotionally resonant performances. Lead actors convey the tension surrounding the controversial name choice while maintaining comedic timing. The chemistry among the family members feels authentic, allowing the script’s witty repartee to land effectively. Consequently, the film’s emotional core feels both relatable and compelling.

  • Story & Flow 75

    The narrative pivots on a provocative premise that quickly generates conflict and humor. The script sustains engagement through brisk pacing and clever dialogue, ensuring the confined setting remains lively. Nevertheless, a few later scenes—particularly the extended after‑party sequence—feel extraneous and disrupt narrative momentum. Overall, the story maintains coherence while balancing satire with familial drama.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    Sensory elements are modest but serviceable, with clear sound design that supports rapid dialogue exchanges. The film’s modest score underscores comedic beats without overwhelming scenes. Visual style remains cohesive, relying on natural lighting and restrained color palettes to reflect the domestic environment. While not overtly stylized, these choices reinforce the film’s grounded tone.

  • Rewatch Factor 85

    The film’s blend of witty dialogue, sharp social commentary, and relatable family dynamics grants it strong rewatch potential. Audiences are likely to discover new subtleties on subsequent viewings, particularly in the layered jokes about German history. Its light yet thought‑provoking tone makes it suitable for repeated enjoyment.

Box office

How About Adolf? Box Office

How About Adolf? grossed $8.9 million worldwide.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$8.9M

International
$8.9M
Videos

How About Adolf? Trailers & Videos

The trailer of How About Adolf?.

DER VORNAME Trailer German Deutsch (2018)
Details

How About Adolf? Also Known As

9 alternative titles, including “一次聚會” and “Выпьем за любовь”.

Also known as
  • 一次聚會
  • Выпьем за любовь
  • 一次聚会
  • A może Adolf ?
  • Името
  • 取個名字
  • Kaip dėl Adolfo?
  • Prenumele
  • Вип'ємо за кохання

Seen How About Adolf??

FAQ

How About Adolf? FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, post-credit scenes and language of How About Adolf?, each answered in a sentence.

How long is How About Adolf??

How About Adolf? runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).

When was How About Adolf? released?

How About Adolf? was released on October 6, 2018.

Who directed How About Adolf??

How About Adolf? was directed by Sönke Wortmann.

More films by Sönke Wortmann

Who is in the cast of How About Adolf??

How About Adolf? stars Christoph Maria Herbst as Stephan, Caroline Peters as Elisabeth and Florian David Fitz as Thomas, among 7 credited actors.

How much did How About Adolf? make at the box office?

How About Adolf? grossed $8.9 million worldwide.

Does How About Adolf? have a post-credit scene?

No. How About Adolf? has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is How About Adolf? in?

The original language of How About Adolf? is German.

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