The Baader Meinhof Complex
The Baader Meinhof Complex Image
See the trailer
Metascore
76 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 16 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • Starring: Johanna Wokalek, Martina Gedeck, Moritz Bleibtreu, Nadja Uhl
  • Summary: Germany in the 1970s: Murderous bomb attacks, the threat of terrorism and the fear of the enemy inside are rocking the very foundations of the still fragile German democracy. The radicalised children of the Nazi generation led by Andreas Baader, Ulrike Meinhof and Gudrun Ensslin are fighting a violent war against what they perceive as the new face of
    fascism: American imperialism supported by the German establishment, many of whom have a Nazi past. Their aim is to create a more human society but by employing inhuman means they not only spread terror and bloodshed, they also lose their own humanity. The man who understands them is also their hunter: the head of the German police force Horst Herold. And while he succeeds in his
    relentless pursuit of the young terrorists, he knows he’s only dealing with the tip of the iceberg. (Vitagraph Films)    … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: J.R. Jones
    100
    An explosive but scrupulously journalistic drama about the radical group that terrorized Germany for nearly 30 years.
  2. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    80
    A fascinating hybrid of a film. Even though its purpose couldn't be more serious, its style could hardly be more pulp.
  3. Empire
    Reviewed by: Kim Newman
    80
    Fascinating history, very good movie -- but demanding, and its lack of easy answers will frustrate some. Lessons about 21st century terrorism are implicit, but not overly stressed.
  4. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    58
    For two and a half hours, Edel lays out the bombings, kidnappings, and murders committed by the Baader-Meinhof group, which mutated into the RAF. He catches the violently delusional self-righteousness of their antifascist fervor, but as individuals these cultish guerrillas remain opaque.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. RainFall
    10
    Great film. I went into it expending some propaganda piece one way or the other but i left with thoughts similar to Hitchens about the beautiful display of blurring lines between criminality and rebellion/revolution. It's well casted, well acted. Baader seemed to be a bit over the top psychopath/sociopath, but i don't know the history well enough to know if he was really like that. The movie was very immersive and it hardly felt subtitled at all. Went in skeptical, left a fan.… Expand
  2. PekkaP.
    8
    Good flick, at times very violent, but considering the topic, what do you expect, and the violence isn't gratuitous. Excellent actors as well.
  3. Nesbitt10
    7
    A fascinating period piece about the creation and unraveling of the Red Army Faction (Baader-Meinhof Group). A riveting look into the mindset of the R.A.F.--essentially a terrorist group rebelling against western imperialism in Germany. An engaging and intelligent screenplay, richly-detailed, and tremendous acting across the board. That being said--the seer length and constant brutality and bloodshed mounts, making the viewing of last third of the film laborious.

    Germany in the 1970s: Murderous bomb attacks, the threat of terrorism and the fear of the enemy inside are rocking the very foundations of the yet fragile German democracy. The radicalized children of the Nazi generation lead by Andreas Baader, Ulrike Meinhof, and Gudrun Ensslin are fighting a violent war against what they perceive as the new face of fascism: American imperialism supported by the German establishment--many of whom have a Nazi past. Their aim is to create a more human society, but by employing terrorism and more blood shed, they also lose their own humanity. Uli Edel manages to get almost everything right about the Red Army Faction, but more importantly-"The Baader Meinhof Complex" is visually riveting and emotionally overwhelming. Edel propels the complex narrative and its myriad ricochets, and, shockingly, it all holds together for the most part. My overall impression is very well-done period piece, but "The Baader-Meinhof Complex" is diluted by too many events, with too many characters, distributed over too much time.    … Expand
  4. Marc
    4
    Well shot , and an interesting period of time, I watched this in the same weekend as Max Manus Man of war and Das Untergang all of which I found fascinating. However I never connected with any of the characters in this movie and as a result found myself willing it conclusion. Indeed a well made piece of cinema just not a very interesting experience. Its been out on DVD for months in the Uk.… Expand

See all 5 User Reviews

Trailers

Current Movie Releases

Full List »
  1. Star Trek Into Darkness
    Metascore: 73
  2. Iron Man 3
    Metascore: 62
  3. 42
    Metascore: 62
  4. Evil Dead (2013)
    Metascore: 57
  5. The Croods
    Metascore: 55
  6. The Great Gatsby
    Metascore: 55
  7. Oblivion
    Metascore: 54
  8. Pain & Gain
    Metascore: 43
  9. G.I. Joe: Retaliation
    Metascore: 41
  10. Olympus Has Fallen
    Metascore: 41
  11. The Host
    Metascore: 35
  12. Tyler Perry's Temptation
    Metascore: 27
  13. Scary Movie 5
    Metascore: 11
All Current Movies »