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The Childhood of a Leader

2016·Movie
1h 56min·NR
70
GoodGoodWatch score

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Strong craft, striking style, light on feelings.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension8
  • Scare5
  • Spectacle5

Heart

Melancholic and moving

Much of it is about growing up.

  • Coming of Age9
  • Melancholy8
  • Pathos7

Humor

Some dark humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor5
  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Satire & Parody3

World

History, growing up, and the mind

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Ambiguity7

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Direction8
  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8

Style

Standout cinematography and score

  • Cinematography8
  • Music Composition8
  • Music Centrality8

Who it's for

AdultsSolo WatchTeensThought-Provoking

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Witness the birth of a terrifying ego.

The chilling story of a young American boy living in France in 1918 whose father is working for the US government on the creation of the Treaty of Versailles. What he witnesses helps to mold his beliefs – and we witness the birth of a terrifying ego.
Psychological DramaHistorical Period PieceDark Coming-of-AgeEuropean SettingBrooding AtmosphereIntense PerformancesPolitical IntrigueEerie & Unsettling

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Childhood of a Leader

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Childhood of a Leader legally?

The Childhood of a Leader is included with a subscription to Philo, AMC+, Sundance Now, and MUBI in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Childhood of a Leader worth watching?

70
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 70/100 (IMDb 6.2, Rotten Tomatoes 90%, and Metacritic 68). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Childhood of a Leader rated?

NRViolenceDisturbing imagery

It's rated NR in the United States. Content advisories: violence and disturbing imagery.

How long is The Childhood of a Leader?

1 h 56 min

The Childhood of a Leader runs 1 h 56 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Childhood of a Leader?

Critics79
Audiences61

Not quite. Critics rate The Childhood of a Leader higher (79) than audiences (61). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is The Childhood of a Leader in?

EnglishFrenchGerman

It was made in English, with some French, German. Produced in Belgium, Canada, France, Hungary, United Kingdom, United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Childhood of a Leader?

36AEARBMBOBRBSCACLCOCRDOECEGES+22

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Childhood of a Leader in 36 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.