The Act of Killing movie poster

The Act of Killing

2012 · 2h 39m · Released

NR Documentary, History

Ratings

Based on audience scores
7.7 The Movie Database
8.2 IMDb
85% Rotten Tomatoes
84 Metacritic

In this chilling and groundbreaking documentary, former Indonesian death squad leaders reenact their real-life mass killings in the style of various film genres. As they recreate their past atrocities, the line between reality and performance blurs, exposing the lingering impact of Indonesia's 1965-66 anti-communist purge and the unsettling psychology of its perpetrators.

Where to Stream

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KanopyFawesome

Top Cast & Crew

Joshua Oppenheimer Director
AC Anwar Congo Self - Executioner in 1965
HK Herman Koto Self - Gangster & Paramilitary Leader
SA Syamsul Arifin Self - Governor of North Sumatra
IS Ibrahim Sinik Self - Newspaper Publisher
YS Yapto Soerjosoemarno Self - Leader of Pancasila Youth
SP Safit Pardede Self - Local Paramilitary Leader
JK Jusuf Kalla Self - Vice President of Indonesia
AZ Adi Zulkadry Self - Fellow Executioner in 1965
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Frequently asked questions about The Act of Killing

Where can I watch The Act of Killing?

The Act of Killing is available to stream on Kanopy and Fawesome in the US. Streaming availability is provided by JustWatch and can change over time.

What is The Act of Killing about?

In this chilling and groundbreaking documentary, former Indonesian death squad leaders reenact their real-life mass killings in the style of various film genres. As they recreate their past atrocities, the line between reality and performance blurs, exposing the lingering impact of Indonesia's 1965-66 anti-communist purge and the unsettling psychology of its perpetrators.

What are the ratings for The Act of Killing?

The Act of Killing scores 7.7 on The Movie Database, 8.2 on IMDb, 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, and 84 on Metacritic.

Who stars in The Act of Killing?

The Act of Killing stars Anwar Congo, Herman Koto, Syamsul Arifin, Ibrahim Sinik, and Yapto Soerjosoemarno.

When did The Act of Killing come out?

The Act of Killing was released in 2012.

Ratings and streaming availability are aggregated from third-party sources; metadata from The Movie Database (TMDB), streaming data from JustWatch. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Last updated August 2026.