The Last King of Scotland

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The Last King of Scotland

R

2007

2h 1m

Biography

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

183 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

While in Uganda on a medical mission, Scottish doctor Nicholas Garrigan becomes the personal physician and close confidant of dictator Idi Amin. Although at first Dr. Garrigan feels flattered by his new position of power, he soon comes to realize that Amin's rule is soaked in blood, and that he is complicit in the atrocities. Garrigan faces the fight of his life as he tries to escape Amin's grasp.

Critics Consensus

Forest Whitaker's performance as real-life megalomaniac dictator Idi Amin powers this fictionalized political thriller, a blunt and brutal tale about power and corruption.

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Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out

02/03/2007

3/6

Having cut his teeth on documentaries, Kevin Macdonald acts as if a shaky-cam aesthetic alone is enough to fuel dramatic tension.

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Sandra Hall

Sydney Morning Herald

02/02/2007

The horror, when it finally moves to the centre of the screen, gives us Amin's barbarity in close-up -- and he's still smiling.

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Matthew Leyland

BBC.com

01/12/2007

4/5

Hard to believe that an actor previously renowned for his gentleness could play such a monster, but the transformation is seamless.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

03/08/2024

3.5/4

Neither overly political nor overly intellectual, The Last King of Scotland is a powerful, accessible biopic of one of history’s recent madmen.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

09/24/2023

Bigger than life, volatile, unstable, whipping from childlike generosity to ferocious vengeance to crippling paranoia in seconds, it’s the kind of role that invites accolades and [Forest] Whitaker deserves them all...

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David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

05/12/2020

An electric chemistry between McAvoy and Whitaker allows us to suspend our disbelief at the doctor's feckless gullibility...

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Christopher C.

@PapaTangooo May 20

Whitaker is a marvel. Fantastic performance.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Mar 1

Based on a true story in 2 hours and 1 minute. Winner of 2007 Academy Award for Best Actor (Forest Whittaker).

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Anna L

@AnnaL Dec 26

Sad but very interesting. The title is weird, does not really match the movie. I just watched it to see how a new actor could take an Oscar instead of DiCaprio, but he really did a great job.

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Johannes S

@RT64416087 Oct 8

Idi Amin, another cruel and vicious dictator in the history of modern Africa. Excellent portrayal through this movie and rightful oscar win for Whittaker!

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Faiz D

@RT95588871 05/13/2025

A superbly directed and acted movie.

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Breno G

@RT17565543 04/24/2025

Special Effects: 1,0/Sound Effects: 0,5/Acting: 0,5/Story: 0,5

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Kevin Macdonald

Director

Forest Whitaker

Idi Amin

James McAvoy

Nicholas Garrigan

Kerry Washington

Kay Amin

Gillian Anderson

Sara Merrit

Simon McBurney

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Synopsis

While in Uganda on a medical mission, Scottish doctor Nicholas Garrigan becomes the personal physician and close confidant of dictator Idi Amin. Although at first Dr. Garrigan feels flattered by his new position of power, he soon comes to realize that Amin's rule is soaked in blood, and that he is complicit in the atrocities. Garrigan faces the fight of his life as he tries to escape Amin's grasp.

Director: Kevin Macdonald
Producer: Lisa Bryer, Andrea Calderwood, Charles Steel
Screenwriter: Peter Morgan, Jeremy Brock
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: DNA Films, Fox Searchlight, FilmFour
Rating: R (Language|Gruesome Images|Sexual Content|Some Strong Violence)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 19, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 12, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $17.6M
Runtime: 2h 1m