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Documentary

The Final Year (2018): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

The Final Year (2018) movie poster

The Final Year is a 2018 documentary directed by Greg Barker, starring Barack Obama, John Kerry and Samantha Power. It runs 1 hour 29 minutes and earned $262,286 worldwide. Critics gave it 83% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10.

IMDb rating
6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
83%
worldwide gross
$262.3K
Echo Score
64
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The Final Year (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 29m (89 min)
Director
Greg Barker
Genre
Documentary
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Final Year About?

The premise of The Final Year without spoilers.

During the final months of the Obama administration, a team of experienced diplomats and advisors worked tirelessly to address pressing international issues. The documentary offers an intimate look at the challenges and triumphs faced by these individuals as they grapple with complex negotiations and strive to shape global policy while navigating the transition of power.

The Final Year Themes & Keywords

· 6 tags
  • obama administration
  • american foreign policy
  • u.s. government
  • team
  • white house
  • 2010s
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Cast & crew

The Final Year Cast

Barack Obama leads the cast, with John Kerry and Samantha Power. Directed by Greg Barker; 4 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Greg Barker

More films directed by Greg Barker, best-rated first: Legion of Brothers, We Are the Giant, Sergio and The Longest War.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Final Year Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Final Year 83% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 64/100, strongest in art & craft (75) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).

64 /100

The Final Year Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, The Final Year offers a solid documentary with notable insight into the workings of the White House but is held back by uneven pacing and limited sensory engagement. The film’s craft and character focus are serviceable though lack dramatic peaks, and the narrative can feel dense. While informative, the net impression is a moderately engaging but somewhat constrained portrayal.

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

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of Art & Craft, The Final Year demonstrates competent editing and unobtrusive production design that support its journalistic aims. The film’s direction maintains clarity in scene transitions, although there is minimal visual innovation or stylistic flair. Overall, its craft is reliable yet restrained, lending solid structure without bold aesthetic distinction.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    When it comes to Character & Emotion, The Final Year provides substantive insights into the key Obama administration officials, capturing moments of conviction and interpersonal dynamics. However, it devotes limited attention to the president himself and occasionally veers into a celebratory tone. Overall, the film yields a thoughtful yet narrowly focused emotional portrait.

  • Story & Flow 70

    In terms of Story & Flow, the documentary offers rich insight into policy challenges and administration pressures, delivering factual depth and informative pacing. Nonetheless, the narrative can feel dense and uneven, with key moments condensed and a lack of dramatic peaks. The overall storyline is engaging in its subject matter but occasionally struggles to maintain momentum.

  • Sensory Experience 55

    When considering the Sensory Experience, The Final Year maintains a utilitarian sound design and a straightforward visual style that prioritize informational content over flair. The soundtrack unobtrusively underscores narrative transitions, while the cinematography is functional but rarely inventive. This results in a serviceable sensory presentation that supports the material without offering memorable audiovisual moments.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    When evaluating the Rewatch Factor, The Final Year offers enduring informational value for those interested in political history but lacks dramatic tension for repeated viewings. The emphasis on administrative routines and informational clarity provides context yet diminishes the incentive to revisit the film. Ultimately, its historical documentation garners interest primarily on an initial viewing.

Box office

The Final Year Box Office

The Final Year grossed $262,286 worldwide. $191,900 came from the US and Canada and $70,386 (27%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$262.3K

US & Canada
$191.9K
International
$70.4K
US & Canada 73% Rest of the world 27%
Videos

The Final Year Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Final Year.

The Final Year - Official Trailer

Seen The Final Year?

FAQ

The Final Year FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is The Final Year?

The Final Year runs 1 hour 29 minutes (89 minutes).

When was The Final Year released?

The Final Year was released on January 19, 2018.

Who directed The Final Year?

The Final Year was directed by Greg Barker.

More films by Greg Barker

Who is in the cast of The Final Year?

The Final Year stars Barack Obama, John Kerry and Samantha Power, among 4 credited actors.

How much did The Final Year make at the box office?

The Final Year grossed $262,286 worldwide ($191,900 domestic, $70,386 international).

How is The Final Year rated?

The Final Year has 6.6/10 on IMDb, 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, 67 on Metacritic and 71% on TMDB.

Does The Final Year have a post-credit scene?

No. The Final Year has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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