Napoleon
"He came from nothing. He conquered everything."
Napoleon charts the ascent and downfall of the famed French emperor through a personal lens: his ambitions collide with politics, war, and a volatile marriage to Josephine. The film follows Napoleon Bonaparte from his early campaigns to the heights of his power, offering a portrait that blends... Read more
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Streaming availability last verified: February 03, 2026
About Napoleon
Napoleon charts the ascent and downfall of the famed French emperor through a personal lens: his ambitions collide with politics, war, and a volatile marriage to Josephine. The film follows Napoleon Bonaparte from his early campaigns to the heights of his power, offering a portrait that blends military strategy with intimate, roiling romance. Joaquin Phoenix embodies the ruler's intensity and strategic mind, while Vanessa Kirby plays Josephine as a force who shapes, and is shaped by, the man she loves. The narrative emphasizes the relentless drive that pushes Napoleon onto the world stage, even as his personal life complicates every move. The film balances battles with intimate moments, inviting viewers into a world where power and love collide for audiences.
Directed by Ridley Scott, Napoleon brings together an original Scarpa screenplay with Anderson providing input. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby as a monarch and the force behind his rise, framed by battlefield tableaux and meticulous period detail.
Box office numbers are not provided in the available information, so a reliable worldwide tally cannot be cited here, leaving the film's commercial performance undetermined in this description for now. Nevertheless, the cast and scale suggest a high profile release.
Awards: At this time the available information does not list any major nominations or wins for Napoleon. The film is still early in its release window, so critics and award bodies have not settled on a definitive profile yet. Many critics weigh the balance of spectacle against intimate storytelling carefully.
Critics generally respond to the film with praise for its ambition and performances, while noting a heavy focus on strategy and romance. The central themes circle around ambition, loyalty, the costs of power, and the way personal bonds shape public decisions. Its ambition invites debate about the ethics of leadership.
What Viewers Are Saying
Viewers acknowledge "Napoleon" for its impressive and visually striking battle sequences, which are often highlighted as the film's strongest aspect. However, many find the storytelling uneven and overly ambitious, with a disjointed tone and pacing that hinder emotional engagement. Joaquin Phoenix's performance as Napoleon receives mixed reactions, described as solid but sometimes inconsistent in capturing the character's complexity. Audiences also note historical inaccuracies and a focus on Napoleon's personal life that may disappoint those seeking a more comprehensive or accurate biopic.
Details
- Release Date
- November 22, 2023
- Runtime
- 2h 38m
- Rating
- R
- User Ratings
- 2,980 votes
- Type
- Movie
- Genres
- History, War, Romance
- Country
- United States
- Studio
- Apple Studios +1 more
- Budget
- $165,000,000
- Box Office
- $222,435,664
- External Links
- View on IMDB
Official Trailer
Cast
Joaquin Phoenix
Napoleon Bonaparte
Vanessa Kirby
Josephine Bonaparte
Tahar Rahim
Paul Barras
Rupert Everett
Duke of Wellington
Mark Bonnar
Junot
Paul Rhys
Talleyrand
Ben Miles
Caulaincourt
Riana Duce
Lucille
Edouard Philipponnat
Tsar Alexander
Miles Jupp
Emperor Francis I
Director: Ridley Scott
Written by: David Scarpa, Paul Thomas Anderson