The Act of Killing
“A story of killers who win and the society they build.”
Synopsis
After befriending documentarian Joshua Oppenheimer, former Indonesian death squad leaders reenact their real-life mass killings in the style of various American 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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official US TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2013-05-24
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Anwar Congo
Self - Executioner in 1965
Herman Koto
Self - Gangster & Paramilitary Leader
Syamsul Arifin
Self - Governor of North Sumatra
Ibrahim Sinik
Self - Newspaper Publisher
Yapto Soerjosoemarno
Self - Leader of Pancasila Youth
Safit Pardede
Self - Local Paramilitary Leader
Jusuf Kalla
Self - Vice President of Indonesia
Adi Zulkadry
Self - Fellow Executioner in 1965
Suryono
Self - Anwar's Neighbor
Haji Marzuki
Self - Member of North Sumatra Parliament
Haji Anif
Self - Paramilitary Leader & Businessman
Rahmat Shah
Self - Member of Parliament
Sakhyan Asmara
Self - Deputy Minister of Youth & Sport
Soaduon Siregar
Self
Release History & Theatrical Window
Streaming Window: 172 DaysVIENNALE Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
July 19, 2013
Wide Cinema Exhibition
January 7, 2014
VOD & Digital Platforms
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$1M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$723K
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.72x
-$277K deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Joshua Oppenheimer
- Original Title
- The Act of Killing
- Country of Origin
- Denmark, Norway, United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- Indonesian
- Runtime
- 2h 39m
- Production Budget
- $1M
- Worldwide Gross
- $723K
- Production Studios
- Final Cut for Real, Piraya Film, Novaya Zemlya, Spring Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Joshua Oppenheimer
Lars Skree, Carlos Arango De Montis, Anonymous
Erik Andersson, Ariadna Fatjó-Vilas, Janus Billeskov Jansen
Errol Morris, Torstein Grude, Christine Cynn, Anne Köhncke, André Singer
Department Leadership Roster
Joshua Oppenheimer
Director
Christine Cynn
Producer
Anne Köhncke
Producer
Erik Andersson
Editor
Michael Uwemedimo
Producer
Ariadna Fatjó-Vilas
Editor
Signe Byrge Sørensen
Producer
Janus Billeskov Jansen
Editor
Nils Pagh Andersen
Editor
Mariko Montpetit
Editor
Charlotte Munch Bengtsen
Editor
Lars Skree
Director of Photography
Carlos Arango De Montis
Director of Photography
Joram ten Brink
Producer
Joshua Oppenheimer
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Act of Killing.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Act of Killing.
TheList
Automate
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (All editions 2003-2024). A cumulative list including films subsequently removed in later editions. Totaling 1,260 films as of Nov 2024. 《1001部死前必看的电影》（2003-2024 全版本累积版）： 包含自2003年首版至2024年11月德语版修订的所有影片。即使在后期版本中被剔除的电影也予以保留。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#019] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#418] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-20 07:41:36 UTC+8)*
Letterboxd's Top 250 Documentary Films
Letterboxd's official Top 250 documentary feature films, ranked by average member rating. Letterboxd 官方 Top 250 最佳纪录长片榜单： 根据平台用户的平均评分进行排序的纪录长片精选榜单。 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-20 07:38:00 UTC+8)*
TSPDT - 1000 Greatest Films
They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? (TSPDT) - The 1,000 Greatest Films. A definitive meta-list aggregating thousands of critics' polls, historical rankings, and director top 10s to represent the ultimate critical consensus in cinema history. TSPDT 影史最伟大的1000部电影： 全球最权威的电影元榜单，由该网站汇总世界各大电影刊物历史评选结果及数千名影评人、学者的个人十佳榜单，通过算法加权计算得出的终极共识。 *片单说明：* 本片单只收录纯电影，以下剧集或迷你剧不予收录： • [#335] Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) • [#514] Twin Peaks: The Return (2017) • [#614] Edvard Munch (1974) • [#703] The Sorrow and the Pity (1969) • [#890] Elephant (1989) • [#925] Heimat (1984) • [#968] Doomed Love (1978) 以下作品在 TMDB 被拆分为多个独立电影条目；本片单按作品/章节顺序连续收录，且每个分拆条目均沿用同一 TSPDT 名次： • [#171] Dekalog (1989) — 展开为 10 部电影 • [#988] Olympia (1938) — 展开为 2 部电影 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-20 07:30:02 UTC+8)*
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Act of Killing
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Act of Killing about?
After befriending documentarian Joshua Oppenheimer, former Indonesian death squad leaders reenact their real-life mass killings in the style of various American 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.
Who directed The Act of Killing?
The Act of Killing was directed by Joshua Oppenheimer.
Who stars in The Act of Killing?
The principal cast of The Act of Killing includes Anwar Congo, Herman Koto, Syamsul Arifin, Ibrahim Sinik, Yapto Soerjosoemarno.
When was The Act of Killing released and how long is it?
The Act of Killing was released in 2012 with a total runtime of 2h 39m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Act of Killing?
The Act of Killing had a reported production budget of $1M and grossed $723K at the worldwide box office (0.72 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Act of Killing?
The Act of Killing holds official age classifications: AU: MA 15+; DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).