Napoleon (Film)

Napoleon (original title Napoleon) is a 2023 biographical, historical, and epic film directed by Ridley Scott. The film explores the rise of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte from military commander to emperor, his political and military campaigns, and his relationship with his wife Joséphine de Beauharnais. Joaquin Phoenix portrays Napoleon, while Vanessa Kirby portrays Joséphine.

The film is a co-production of Apple Studios and Columbia Pictures, produced by Scott Free Productions. The screenplay was written by David Scarpa.

• Runtime: 2 hours 38 minutes
• Language: English (with dialogue in French, German, Russian and Italian)
• Budget: Approximately $200 million
• Box Office: Has earned over $221 million worldwide.
• Release Dates:
• • Theatrical: 22 November 2023 (United States), 24 November 2023 (Türkiye)
  • Digital: Released on Apple TV+ on 9 January 2024.

The film centers on Napoleon Bonaparte’s military genius and political ascent, as well as his turbulent relationship with Joséphine. Key historical events such as Bonaparte’s strategic battle tactics, his campaigns across Europe, and his coronation are depicted. The narrative aims to reveal both the emperor’s ambition and military intellect, as well as his personal vulnerabilities in relationships.

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• Joaquin Phoenix: Napoleon Bonaparte
• Vanessa Kirby: Joséphine Bonaparte
• Tahar Rahim: Paul Barras
• Rupert Everett: Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington
• Ben Miles: Caulaincourt
• Paul Rhys: Talleyrand
• Edouard Philipponnat: Tsar Alexander I
• Ludivine Sagnier: Thérésa Cabarrus

The film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences.

• Rotten Tomatoes: 58% critic score and 58% audience approval rating.
• IMDb: Average rating of 6.3/10 (over 178,000 user ratings).
• Metacritic: 64 out of 100 (mixed or positive reviews).

Key points raised in critiques include:

• Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby’s performances received widespread praise.
• The film’s visual design and battle sequences were widely noted for their impact.
• Some critics argued that the production overly focused on Napoleon’s personal life, contained historical inaccuracies, and suffered from pacing issues.

Ridley Scott’s film has brought to the forefront not only Napoleon’s military achievements but also debates about his authoritarian rule. Scott drew criticism for drawing comparisons between Napoleon and Hitler and Stalin. French historians and representatives of the Napoleon Foundation have condemned these comparisons, emphasizing that Napoleon’s reforms left lasting impacts across Europe.