The Great Dictator (Criterion Collection) Blu-ray

The Great Dictator from the Criterion Collection is Charlie Chaplin’s comedy satire on fascism, presented on Blu-ray. The one-disc edition lists special features including expert commentary, visual essays, a documentary, and color production footage.

At a glance

Chaplin plays both the clownish dictator and the Jewish barber mistaken for him.
The satire combines political material with slapstick and culminates in Chaplin’s impassioned speech.
Special features include commentary, visual essays, a documentary, and color production footage.

Price

$19.98Save 50%

Reference price: ~~$39.95~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

Includes multiple supplements for viewers interested in the film’s context and production.
A single Blu-ray disc contains the feature and listed special features.

Technical specifications

15 specifications

Film and edition
Genre	Comedy
Director	Charlie Chaplin
Contributors	Billy Gilbert, Charles Chaplin, Charlie Chaplin, Henry Daniell, Jack Oakie, Reginald Gardiner
Runtime	2 hours and 5 minutes
Release date	May 24, 2011
Studio	Criterion Collection
Disc count	1
Rating	G (General Audience)

Disc and language
Media format	Black & White, Blu-ray, Full Screen, NTSC, Widescreen
Language	English

Edition features
Audio commentary	Audio commentary by Chaplin experts Dan Kamin and Hooman Mehran
Visual essays	Visual essays by archivist Cecilia Cenciarelli and biographer Jeffrey Vance
Documentary	Documentary featuring interviews with author Ray Bradbury and director Sidney Lumet
Additional footage	Color production footage

Dimensions and installation
Dimensions listed	0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 3.84 ounces

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Viewers seeking Chaplin’s political satire and physical comedy.
Collectors interested in Criterion-edition commentary and supplementary essays.

Less suited to

Buyers who need a color feature film or a release format other than Blu-ray.

The Great Dictator (Criterion Collection) Blu-ray · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.8 / 5 · 1,499 ratings

5 stars86%86%
4 stars9%9%
3 stars2%2%
2 stars1%1%
1 star2%2%

Customer feedback highlights the film’s humor, Chaplin’s imitation of Hitler’s speeches, its continuing relevance, picture clarity, and emotional depth. This feedback may help viewers weighing the film as a repeat-watch classic, while the listing separately describes a black-and-white Blu-ray and does not establish picture quality independently.

Positive themes

Customers praise the humor, Chaplin’s performance, and the film’s emotional moments.
Customers report appreciating the picture clarity and returning to the film.

Frequently asked questions

What special features are listed?

The listing names audio commentary by Chaplin experts Dan Kamin and Hooman Mehran, visual essays, a documentary featuring Ray Bradbury and Sidney Lumet, and color production footage.

Is the movie presented in color?

The listed media format describes the feature as black and white. Color production footage is listed separately as a special feature.

How long is the film?

The listed runtime is 2 hours and 5 minutes.