Trailer+1 trailer

The Last King of Scotland

2006Movie2 h 3 minR

79
GreatGoodWatch score

A nerve-racking, deeply moving drama movie about politics and history, with standout performances and characters.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · graphic violence bothers you

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

Charming. Magnetic. Murderous.

Young Scottish doctor, Nicholas Garrigan decides it's time for an adventure after he finishes his formal education, so he decides to try his luck in Uganda, and arrives during the downfall of President Obote. General Idi Amin comes to power and asks Garrigan to become his personal doctor.

Feels like

  • Intense Biographical Drama
  • Political Thriller
  • Historical Power Play
  • Psychological Character Study
  • Authoritarian Regime
  • Moral Compromise
  • Gripping Performances
  • African History
  • Corrupting Power

Cast

Crew

Directed by
Kevin Macdonald
Music by
Alex Heffes

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

September 27, 2006 · 2 h 3 min · R

Released
September 27, 2006
Runtime
2 h 3 min
Age rating
R
Content
Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Also spoken
French, German, Swahili
Made in
United States, United Kingdom
Budget
$6 million
Box office
$49 million
Available in
81 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

No Kill like Overkill, Smug Snake, The Un-Favorite +9

  • No Kill like Overkill
  • Smug Snake
  • The Un-Favorite
  • Double Standard
  • Gassy Scare
  • Chocolate Baby
  • Sidelong Glance Biopic
  • Shoot the Dog
  • Decoy Leader
  • An Offer You Can't Refuse
  • Very Loosely Based on a True Story
  • Fallen Hero

12 of 108 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Last King of Scotland?"

Questions about The Last King of Scotland

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Last King of Scotland?

In the United States, you can rent or buy The Last King of Scotland from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It streams in 54 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is The Last King of Scotland worth watching?

79
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 79 (IMDb 7.6, Letterboxd 3.7 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 87%, and Metacritic 74).

Will I feel good after watching The Last King of Scotland?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 6 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Is The Last King of Scotland plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (10 of 10) and pathos (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

Was The Last King of Scotland a box office hit?

Budget$6 million
Box office$49 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $6 million to make and earned $49 million worldwide, 8.1 times its budget.

What tropes does The Last King of Scotland use?

No Kill like OverkillSmug SnakeThe Un-FavoriteDouble StandardGassy ScareChocolate BabySidelong Glance BiopicShoot the DogDecoy LeaderAn Offer You Can't RefuseVery Loosely Based on a True StoryFallen Heroand 96 more

TV Tropes lists 108 tropes for it, including No Kill like Overkill, Smug Snake, and The Un-Favorite.