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Citizen Kane

Play trailer 3:44 Poster for Citizen Kane PG In Theaters Jul 5 1h 59m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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99% Tomatometer 132 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
When a reporter is assigned to decipher newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane's (Orson Welles) dying words, his investigation gradually reveals the fascinating portrait of a complex man who rose from obscurity to staggering heights. Though Kane's friend and colleague Jedediah Leland (Joseph Cotten), and his mistress, Susan Alexander (Dorothy Comingore), shed fragments of light on Kane's life, the reporter fears he may never penetrate the mystery of the elusive man's final word, "Rosebud."
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Citizen Kane

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Orson Welles's epic tale of a publishing tycoon's rise and fall is entertaining, poignant, and inventive in its storytelling, earning its reputation as a landmark achievement in film.

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Critics Reviews

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Tom Huddleston Time Out 12/12/2024
5/5
It remains as witty, tragic, unlikely, unique and fascinating as ever. Go to Full Review Wendy Ide The Times (UK) 01/18/2024
Genuinely innovative film-making. Go to Full Review Ida Belle Hicks Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com 03/02/2021
We aren't going to quibble about the genius business. Time will take care of that and if Welles goes down in history as one well be happy to have been among those who enjoyed the results of his great talent. Go to Full Review David Parkinson Radio Times 07/01/2024
5/5
Utterly unmissable. Go to Full Review Noah Gittell Washington City Paper 09/14/2023
Kane innovated several filmmaking techniques. The film pioneered a genre. Go to Full Review Manuel São Bento MSB Reviews 07/24/2023
A+
Everything about this movie's production and origin, the precedent-setting technical aspects, and the innovative storytelling all prove that Orson Welles was a perfectionist filmmaker far ahead of its time. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kia B Sep 8 Proof that all good classic films should be seen on the big screen. Seeing the issues of my grandparents time shows the more things change, the more they stay the same. See more R Sep 8 A true classic. It's been so homaged and referenced that it may seem cliche but thats BECAUSE it's a classic. The Mise-en-scne and thoughtfulness of the production is breathtaking on the big screen. If you get the chance to see it in a theater, GO! See more Jackelyn L @RT33077729 2d The setting and location makes the film even better. Absolutely beautiful. See more Kat S @Xiomara011 Mar 2 Citizen Kane is more of an analytical film than one created purely for entertainment, which is one of its good qualities. Because of this, at certain points, it can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming, as the viewers have to pay close attention to the details. Still, it’s a film worth watching. Following a journalist investigating Charles Kane’s life and the significance behind his last word, "Rosebud," the story invites a discussion and interpretation of what it can mean. While the film does reveal what Charles Kan was literally referring to, it still leaves the deeper meaning open, allowing viewers to have their own open interpretation. See more Ellie S @Ellie196 Feb 3 I loved all the twists and turns, ended way better than I was anticipating! See more Geoff M @ReelGeoff Jan 31 Cinema’s north star: revolutionary in form and eternal in theme. Deep focus, fractured narrative and chiaroscuro genius made it a blueprint for modern storytelling. Few films aim this high. Fewer still touch the ceiling it cracked wide open. See more Read all reviews
Citizen Kane

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Citizen Kane

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Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane (1941) Citizen Kane (1941) View more photos

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Movie Info

Synopsis When a reporter is assigned to decipher newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane's (Orson Welles) dying words, his investigation gradually reveals the fascinating portrait of a complex man who rose from obscurity to staggering heights. Though Kane's friend and colleague Jedediah Leland (Joseph Cotten), and his mistress, Susan Alexander (Dorothy Comingore), shed fragments of light on Kane's life, the reporter fears he may never penetrate the mystery of the elusive man's final word, "Rosebud."
Director
Orson Welles
Producer
Orson Welles
Screenwriter
Herman J. Mankiewicz, Orson Welles, John Houseman
Distributor
RKO Radio Pictures
Production Co
Mercury Productions, RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 1, 1941, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jul 5, 2026
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 28, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$977.3K
Runtime
1h 59m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Academy (1.33:1)
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