The Act of Killing Movie Cast, Plot and Everything to Know

A story of killers who win, and the society they build.

Amy Renner

Last modified: Sep. 8, 2013

The Act of Killing

Release Date: Friday, July 19, 2013 Limited

Director: Joshua Oppenheimer

N/A Documentary 1 hr, 55 m

3.5 / 5

29% WILL SEE 71% WON'T SEE

Coming Soon On Amazon

Plot

What's the story about?

Plot: This chilling and inventive documentary examines a country where death squad leaders are celebrated as heroes, challenging them to reenact their real-life mass-killings in the style of the American movies they love.

When the Indonesian government was overthrown in 1965, small-time gangster Anwar Congo and his friends went from selling movie tickets on the black market to leading anti-communist death squads in the mass murder of over a million people. Anwar boasts of killing hundreds with his own hands, but he's lived in his country with impunity ever since. When approached to make a film about their role in the genocide, Anwar and his friends eagerly comply-but their idea of being in a movie is not to provide reflective testimony, but to dance their way through musical numbers, twist arms in film noir gangster scenes, and gallop across the prairies as yodeling cowboys.

Documentary

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Top Cast

The lead cast starring in The Act of Killing.

No cast details available.

Crew Behind the Film

The The Act of Killing behind-the-scenes crew and production team.

The film's director Joshua Oppenheimer last directed The End.

Director: Joshua Oppenheimer
Screenwriters: —

Studios: Drafthouse Films
Production Companies: —

Production Details

What we know about the The Act of Killing movie production.

Production Updates for The Act of Killing

May 2013

Completed

Changed The Act of Killing movie production status. The movie is ready for release.

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Additional Information

Parent Rating: N/A Not available
Runtime: 1 hr, 55 m
Tagline: A story of killers who win, and the society they build.
Also known as: Not available
Language: English

All Trailers

Watch official The Act of Killing movie trailers and clips.

Documentary

The Act of Killing

Theatrical Trailer

Release Dates

When was the film released?

The Act of Killing was released in limited movie theaters on Friday, July 19, 2013. There were 10 other movies released on the same date, including Red 2, The Conjuring and R.I.P.D.. As a limited release, The Act of Killing was shown in select movie theaters in major markets.