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Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Metascore
96 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 11 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
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  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    100
    Seen after 30 years, Dr. Strangelove seems remarkably fresh and undated - a clear-eyed, irreverant, dangerous satire. And its willingness to follow the situation to its logical conclusion - nuclear annihilation - has a purity that today's lily-livered happy-ending technicians would probably find a way around.
  2. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Wilmington
    100
    This landmark movie's madcap humor and terrifying suspense remain undiminished by time.
  3. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    100
    Is ''Dr. Strangelove" Kubrick's best movie? Along with ''Paths of Glory," absolutely.
  4. ReelViews
    Reviewed by: James Berardinelli
    100
    A masterpiece... The genius of Dr. Strangelove is that it's possible to laugh -- and laugh hard -- while still recognizing the intelligence and insight behind the humor.
  5. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not Credited)
    100
    The film is a model of barely controlled hysteria in which the absurdity of hypermasculine Cold War posturing becomes devastatingly funny--and at the same time nightmarishly frightening in its accuracy.
  6. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marjorie Baumgarten
    100
    More lethal than a nuclear waste dump, Kubrick's komedy at least kills us with laughter... It's one of the greatest - and undoubtably the most hilarious - antiwar statements ever put to film.
  7. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Michael Atkinson
    100
    The hard-charging originality of the screenplay—the equivalent of turning "The Hot Zone" into a Farrelly comedy—suggests a deficient legacy of credit to Terry Southern's corner.
  8. Dallas Observer
    Reviewed by: Gregory Weinkauf
    100
    Kubrick's comic gem sparkles with enduring relevance.
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  9. Variety
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not Credited)
    90
    George C. Scott as the fiery Pentagon general who seizes on the crisis as a means to argue for total annihilation of Russia offers a top performance, one of the best in the film. Odd as it may seem in this backdrop, he displays a fine comedy touch.
  10. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Rosenbaum
    80
    Yet some of the laughs come too easy and linger too long; for the film's message to have maximum impact, the laughter has to stick in your throat.
  11. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Bosley Crowther
    70
    The ultimate touch of ghoulish humor is when we see the bomb actually going off, dropped on some point in Russia, and a jazzy sound track comes in with a cheerful melodic rendition of "We'll Meet Again Some Sunny Day." Somehow, to me, it isn't funny. It is malefic and sick.
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User Reviews

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User Score
9.0 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 206 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 71 out of 76
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 76
  3. Negative: 3 out of 76
  1. NF123
    10
    Feels like 2 movies in 1, the segments on the plane and in the air force base are largely solemn and serious, the War room however is comical and insane. But this works well as it conveys what the film is about, the lunacy of politicians and the effects of beaurocracy. Dr Strangelove himself only appears in the latter half of the film but god does Peter Sellers do a good job! In all 3 of his roles. It's a pity everyone knows the ending though because it's been done to death in popular culture (Along with the famous line "Mein Fuhrer! I can walk!" one of the funniest in history. However I will say the 5 minutes before the famous segment with major Kong is i think one of the best 5 minutes in cinematic history, especially with the countdown, of sorts. It is truly one of the most tense few minutes I've ever seen and the acting is brilliant! The look on their faces as they approach the target in almost too real. It deserves all of the praise it gets without doubt! Peter Sellers, you are one of the greats! Along of course with Kubrick… Full Review »
  2. ArnR
    5
    What an over rated movie! I give it a 5 only because I love most of Kubrick's work. If you want the real deal, without the comedy, catch Sydney Lumet's Fail Safe.… Full Review »
  3. cabrita
    10
    A film that is a true masterpiece. It has it all; comedy,suspense and a well told story. The film truly shows how silly people in goverment can be. Not trying to say this is what actually happened during the cold war although I do have a suspicion. Overall an unbelievable film which could never be created today because of people's longing of a happy ending.… Full Review »
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