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Lord of War

Play trailer Poster for Lord of War R 2005 2h 2m Drama Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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62% Tomatometer 148 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
The 20-year arms dealing career of Queens, N.Y., outcast Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage) serves as a window onto the end of the Cold War and the emergence of worldwide terrorism. He finds himself reassuring his more ethically challenged younger brother, Vitaly (Jared Leto), while adeptly sidestepping the pursuit of federal agent Jack Lawrence (Ethan Hawke). The globetrotting arms dealer also pursues the woman of his dreams, supermodel Ava Fontaine (Bridget Moynahan).
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Lord of War

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Critics Consensus

While Lord of War is an intelligent examination of the gun trade, it is too scattershot in its plotting to connect.

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Critics Reviews

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Dave Calhoun Time Out 08/16/2007
Niccol is no stranger to hot-button issues, but he outdoes his previous efforts by injecting this satire of war profiteering in the Halliburton age with a wicked arsenic wit. Go to Full Review Stephanie Zacharek Salon.com 10/07/2006
Even though Niccol sometimes puts unnecessary homilies in the mouths of his characters, he mostly pulls off the tricky feat of being direct and breezy at the same time. "Lord of War" skims along like a dance routine. Go to Full Review Kim Newman Empire Magazine 04/01/2006
3/5
Impressive performances, fascinating info-bytes and pertinent editorial, but in the end, it feels too much like an illustrated lecture. Go to Full Review Michael Clark Epoch Times 10/16/2023
4.5/5
Yuri is Mr. Niccol’s Michael Corleone from “The Godfather” trilogy (directed by Mr. Cage’s uncle Francis Ford Coppola). Both Yuri and Michael put “family” first with their words, but make them last with their deeds. Go to Full Review Allison Rose FlickDirect 06/06/2023
4/5
Cage has the bravado to pull off the role of the cocky dealer going toe to toe with rival dealers and dictators, not to mention Interpol. Go to Full Review Alberto Abuín Espinof 02/12/2020
A lazy movie that is interesting just at times. [Full Review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jack F @MovieFan111 Jan 17 It was actually really good. I understand the audience score. I think the tomato score should have been higher. The dialogue was sharp and acting was great. See more Chase P @Templin7 Jan 12 I greatly enjoyed the movie and loved its use of history. Cage’s acting feels real and believable. It’s also incredibly refreshing to have a movie with (arguably) a villain protagonist. See more Jalvzz .. @jalvzz Dec 21 I really enjoyed peak See more Anson L Nov 30 A carefully choreographed devil's dance in which Nicolas Cage finds fleet-footed rejuvenation as a man aware evil can't exist without good, but that evil often wins. This uniquely unsympathetic, world-weary film earns the right to fling that truth. See more J N. @SunsetSpam Nov 29 I went into this movie thinking it was going to be just another over the top thriller but it was a great story which reminded me somewhat of War Dogs. See more Daniel C Nov 10 Maybe my favorite Nickolas Cage movie. From the very start watching the ammo factory produce one round of ammo and its journey down the conveyor belt to it being fired, I was hooked. Soo original from start to finish. This movie makes the viewer think. Great writing and cast. Just read that the writer and director is making another movie titled “Lords of War”. I already know it will be good. If you don’t like this movie, you are probably more dead than alive. See more Read all reviews
Lord of War

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Cast & Crew

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Andrew Niccol

Director

Nicolas Cage

Yuri Orlov

Jared Leto

Vitaly Orlov

Bridget Moynahan

Ava Fontaine

Ian Holm

Simeon Weisz

Ethan Hawke

Jack Valentine

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Lord of War

Lord of War (2005) Lord of War (2005) Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage) and Baptiste Senior (Eamonn Walker) from LORD OF WAR. Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage) and Vitali Orlov (Jared Leto) in LORD OF WAR. Baptiste Senior (Eamonn Walker) and Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage, left) from LORD OF WAR. Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage) and Baptiste Senior (Eamonn Walker) from LORD OF WAR. Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage) and wife Ava Fontaine (Bridget Moynahan) in LORD OF WAR. Valentine (Ethan Hawke) and Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage) in LORD OF WAR. LORD OF WAR director Andrew Niccol (center) with Nicolas Cage (left) and Ethan Hawke (right) on the LOW set. Jared Leto as Vitali Orlov in LORD OF WAR. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis The 20-year arms dealing career of Queens, N.Y., outcast Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage) serves as a window onto the end of the Cold War and the emergence of worldwide terrorism. He finds himself reassuring his more ethically challenged younger brother, Vitaly (Jared Leto), while adeptly sidestepping the pursuit of federal agent Jack Lawrence (Ethan Hawke). The globetrotting arms dealer also pursues the woman of his dreams, supermodel Ava Fontaine (Bridget Moynahan).
Director
Andrew Niccol
Producer
Philippe Rousselet, Andrew Niccol, Nicolas Cage, Norman Golightly
Screenwriter
Andrew Niccol
Distributor
Lions Gate Entertainment
Production Co
Saturn Films, Entertainment Manufacturing Co.
Rating
R (Language|Drug Use|Sexuality|Strong Violence)
Genre
Drama, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 16, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 19, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$24.1M
Runtime
2h 2m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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