Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane

By Orson Welles

  • Genre: Drama
  • Release Date: 1941-05-01
  • Advisory Rating: PG
  • Runtime: 1h 59min
  • Director: Orson Welles
  • Production Company: Mercury Productions
  • Production Country: United States of America
  • iTunes Price: USD 12.99
  • iTunes Rent Price: USD 3.99
8.007/10
8.007
From 5,274 Ratings

Description

1940. Alone at his fantastic estate known as Xanadu, 70-year-old Charles Foster Kane dies, uttering only the single word Rosebud. So ends the odyssey of a life ... and begins a fabulous tale of the rise to wealth and power--and ultimate fall--of a complex man: A boy abandoned by his parents inherits a fortune, builds a global newspaper empire and aspires to become President of the United States, but he loses everything over an affair with an untalented nightclub singer. This fascinating story unfolds through the eyes of the people important to the tycoon—each showing a different aspect of Citizen Kane. Frequently regarded as the best American film ever made; winner of an Academy Award® for Best Writing, Original Screenplay; and nominated for an additional eight Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor.

Photos

Reviews

  • Movie Magic!

    5
    By Zkric1
    It's not too often that i leave a review, Thou today has got to be one of those day's, For the first time in my life, Viewing this film from some odd 70 year's ago, Stupendously Marvelous! I will be coming back for more, As long as they are this Great, ( Which modern technology cannot even touch such Superiority!) No Hi-Fi, No 3-D, Nor no Special effects can even touch this hidden Gem in the rough! A Must See T.V. Added note's- A Meryl Streep look a-Like in this film- Meaning What goes around- Truly does come back around! it is a small world after all! Worth the buy in my eye's!
  • Made me miss my childhood sled

    4
    By Kale314
    A classic. Good movie for a snowy day.
  • Citizen Kane

    5
    By Head Maroon
    An excellent film but in my opinion not the greatest ever produced. I did really enjoy it.
  • The best film of all time

    5
    By Maurice R.
    I first saw this film for a cinema college course. I didn’t quite grasp what a fantastic and outstanding film this was until several repeat viewings. It is a masterclass in writing, cinematography, editing, lighting and acting. A true classic that deserves all the accolades received throughout the years. A must have for any film collection.
  • Without a Doubt the Greatest American Film Ever (v 2)

    5
    By Zossima
    So much is made (and rightly so) of the stunning cinematography techniques behind Citizen Kane, the screenplay (which won the film’s only Academy Award), and Welles’ masterful work behind and in front of the camera, that the central achievement of the film is easily obscured. In Citizen Kane, Orson Welles presents an extremely rich, complex, and layered portrayal of a rags to riches magnate, a man whose wealth and lifestyle most of us in our meagre worldly lives could never relate to, a man who inspires love and loyalty, yet who abuses both in nearly every relationship he has, and yet Welles somehow succeeds in making this man, this Charles Foster Kane, into THE modern Everyman, pathos flooding out of every scene, so overwhelming the viewer that we are compelled to watch it again and again and again. Watch it anew, and consider the moment of your own death, and what possible wasteland of your own personal ‘Xanadu’ decays around you, and ponder carefully the real, lasting achievement of Citizen Kane.
  • Didn't like it

    1
    By Rambo8649
    Maybe back in 1940 this was groundbreaking, but it sure doesn't hold up today. I could barely get through it, and I will definitely never watch it again. Highly overrated movie.
  • Horrible and boring

    1
    By 18holliday92
    This is one of the most pathetic movies of all time. How this is a classic in a good way - I have no idea.
  • Absolute must have for collection!

    5
    By Kohoman
    To anyone that enjoys the meaning of a “back story”, this move and the back story of the Hearst family and Hearst Castle...this is a must have in your collection. It can be enjoyed and rewatched over and over!
  • Actually Quite Amazing

    4
    By MTM.MAN
    Changed (Updated my review after watching the Bogdanavich explanation in iTunes extra & seeing what amazing things that Wells accomplished in production of this film. Maybe the actual story could have been a bit more detailed and thorough, but it was still very good & an amazing produciton. Also, when these Directors/others do these 'talk alongs' I wish that they could pause the movie or not talk as much so you can also watch the movie as you listen to them. ****. I could see how many might rave about the visual effects & the scene techniques and other aspects of the film but it does not draw me in and make me love the picture like Rear Window or Third Man(was great to me), or other fine films of that era that I have purchased lately. I remember renting this years ago & I cut it off early on, because(spoiler) - the early big news of Charles Kane's death drags on & on so much that it is nearly ad nauseam. When they get to the story and flash backs that is when the story gets very interesting, but I wish it had just stuck to only one or 2 flashbacks. It almost felt like the Ghost of Christmas Past or something similar. The story is quite dramatic and interesting but much more sad than happy, in fact a tradegy that many can relate. Funny that I watched this yesterday, on a day where some mega rich person(must be) paid a whopping $450 million! for a DaVinci portrait of Jesus Christ; you think when that dude gets to Heaven, that even Jesus might laugh at him?....lol. Better off with the money or giving it to the poor!
  • TMZ

    1
    By MRPenn46
    Citizen Kane is a cinematic version of 1941 TMZ. The entire movie is a bunch of news hounds trying to figure out the meaning of the last words of Charles Foster Kane, a reclusive newspaper tycoon. From a story point of view it's TMZ trash. From a cinematogprahic point of view it's ground braking for it's time.

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