Napoleon
Directed by Ridley ScottAn epic that details the chequered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine.
- Kevin WardJuly 1, 2025Extended Director’s Cut Full disclosure: I never watched the theatrical release. I only ever saw a pre-release test screening and now this 3.5 hr director’s cut. I still really love this movie. So darkly funny. Phoenix’s portrayal of Napoleon as a petulant ruler, constantly overcome by his lasciviousness—specifically his lust for Josephine (Vanessa Kirby). (Though who can blame him). Gorgeous looking film all around, recreating some of the iconic imagery of history paintings (Napoleon Crossing the Alps, The Coronation of Napoleon, and more). I’m very curious about how people like this version as compared to the theatrical release. I don’t really have an interest in checking out the theatrical version now that I have this though.
- ርልዪረOctober 16, 2025We were thoroughly let down, to put it mildly. Joaquin Phoenix's performance was lacking depth, appearing rigid and unnatural. He failed to evoke any genuine emotions throughout the entire film. He floated in and out of scenes with a vacant expression on his face, as if his mere existence was meant to epitomize the might of the true Napoleon, a notion that, regrettably, fell flat. The actor's performance was far from perfect, as he seemed to channel Marlon Brando's mumbling style, making it incredibly challenging to comprehend his lines. His performance lacked any semblance of sincerity, emotion, passion, or belief, which was truly disappointing. The actor's portrayal in this film is a far cry from his exceptional role in the Joker. Vanessa Kirby's portrayal of Josephine was lacking in emotional depth and came across as cheap and tasteless. Despite the mistreatment she endured, she displayed a lack of assertiveness in her portrayal, failing to confront Napoleon with the intensity that was warranted. The film was incredibly disjointed, with a series of poorly executed scenes that left much to be desired. There was a complete lack of context provided for any of the events. There were some notable figures during the time of Napoleon who appeared as mere fleeting appearances, like Maximilien Robespierre. An individual who once held great influence in his era was tragically relegated to a mere two-minute appearance on screen, devoid of any context or background that would allow viewers to understand his significance. The scene concludes with a heartbreaking attempt at suicide, leaving audiences with a sense of profound despair. There were an excessive number of scenes that seemed to serve no purpose other than to fill screen time. Individuals aimlessly meandering about, seemingly devoid of any discernible objective, leaving the audience with nothing but a vacant gaze. The dining scenes, drinking scenes, and people standing around scenes are just so mundane and uninspired. This film is a complete failure in every aspect imaginable. The casting, acting, editing, production, arrangement, continuity, and historical accuracy (or lack thereof) are all utterly disappointing. The scenes depicting the Battle of Austerlitz were a disappointment, failing to capture the magnitude of the real battle which involved approximately 158,000 troops. In Ridley Scott's version, when they call for the command to release the infantry, a meager line of genuine actors and extras pour out of the trenches to advance on the enemy. There are only two lines of troops running forward, completely neglecting the massive gap they're leaving behind. In the next scene, a CGI spectacle unfolds as an overwhelming number of troops suddenly materialize to engage the enemy. Napoleon is unfortunately one of those films where a leading director and actor have become excessively self-absorbed, believing they are incapable of making any mistakes. Regrettably, in this instance they have made a grave error. Unfortunately, this is not a situation where style triumphs over substance. In fact, it seems to lack any significant qualities whatsoever. This film is an absolute disappointment, lacking any redeeming qualities. I cannot find a single positive aspect to it. This film is a complete waste of time and money
- PhineasJuly 12, 2025This is a complete miss by Ridley Scott. Joaquin Phoenix just does not fulfill this role to the level he should have. Ignoring the historical inaccuracies, Phoenix does not convey Napoleon effectively. This movie should have been multiple movies and should have been a different cast.
- HakihikoOctober 11, 2025Grand in Vision, Uneven in Execution “Napoleon” is Ridley Scott’s ambitious attempt to bring one of history’s most complex figures to life, and while it doesn’t fully conquer its monumental subject, it remains a striking and compelling cinematic experience. The film is visually stunning — the battle sequences are massive, brutal, and breathtakingly choreographed, showcasing Scott’s unmatched talent for large-scale filmmaking. The attention to detail in costume, production design, and atmosphere gives the movie an impressive authenticity and grandeur. Joaquin Phoenix delivers a fascinating take on Napoleon, mixing arrogance, vulnerability, and odd flashes of humor into a performance that keeps you guessing. It’s not the traditional portrayal of a military genius, but rather a deeply human and sometimes perplexing interpretation. Vanessa Kirby, as Josephine, adds elegance and emotional complexity, grounding the film whenever the chaos of war takes over. Where “Napoleon” stumbles is in its uneven pacing and narrative focus. The film struggles to balance the intimate relationship drama with the vast historical sweep, leaving some emotional threads underdeveloped. Still, despite its flaws, it’s an absorbing and often spectacular historical epic — not perfect, but powerful enough to leave an impression.
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Napoleon Trivia
Napoleon was released on November 22, 2023.
Napoleon was directed by Ridley Scott.
Napoleon has a runtime of 2h 38m.
Napoleon was produced by Mark Huffam, Joaquin Phoenix, Ridley Scott, Kevin J. Walsh.
An epic that details the chequered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine.
The key characters in Napoleon are Napoleon Bonaparte (Joaquin Phoenix), Josephine Bonaparte (Vanessa Kirby), Paul Barras (Tahar Rahim).
Napoleon is rated R.
Napoleon is an Action, Adventure, Biography film.
Napoleon has an audience rating of 5.8 out of 10.
Napoleon had a budget of $165M.
Napoleon has made $222.4M at the box office.