The Dictator

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, The Dictator is available in Australia on Stan, and in the US on fuboTV and Paramount Plus Premium right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 6,509 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Sacha Baron Cohen sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Available now on Stan — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Dictator is worth clearing space for. The Dictator does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. The heroic story of a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed. Sacha Baron Cohen and Ben Kingsley lead a cast that never overplays a joke. It hit screens in 2012. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and The Dictator holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, The Dictator respects your intelligence. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Sacha Baron Cohen sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.