Citizen Kane
Following the death of publishing tycoon Charles Foster Kane, reporters scramble to uncover the meaning of his final utterance: 'Rosebud.'
Directed by Orson Welles · Drama · Mystery · 119 min · 1941
Trailer
Director
Orson Welles
Studio
RKO Radio Pictures / Mercury Productions
Release
05 Sep 1941
Runtime
119 min
Genres
Drama, Mystery
Full Plot
A group of reporters are trying to decipher the last word ever spoken by Charles Foster Kane, the millionaire newspaper tycoon: "Rosebud". The film begins with a news reel detailing Kane's life for the masses, and then from there, we are shown flashbacks from Kane's life. As the reporters investigate further, the viewers see a display of a fascinating man's rise to fame, and how he eventually fell off the top of the world.
Cast & Characters
Charles Foster Kane, a wealthy newspaper publisher.
Orson Welles
Jedediah Leland, Kane's best friend and drama critic for The Inquirer. Cotten also appears (hidden in darkness) in the News on the March screening room.
Joseph Cotten
Susan Alexander Kane, Kane's mistress and second wife.
Dorothy Comingore
Mary Kane, Kane's mother.
Agnes Moorehead
Emily Monroe Norton Kane, Kane's first wife.
Ruth Warrick
Jim W. Gettys, Kane's political rival for the post of Governor of New York.
Ray Collins
Herbert Carter, editor of The Inquirer. Sanford also appears (hidden in darkness) in the News on the March screening room.
Erskine Sanford
Mr. Bernstein, Kane's friend and business manager at The Inquirer.
Everett Sloane
Jerry Thompson, a reporter for News on the March. Alland also voices the narrator of the News on the March newsreel.
William Alland
Raymond, Kane's butler.
Paul Stewart
Walter Parks Thatcher, a banker who becomes Kane's legal guardian.
George Coulouris
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $839,727, Citizen Kane has grossed $23.2M worldwide — about 27.6x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Hollywood had shown interest in Welles as early as 1936.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Production advisor Miriam Geiger quickly compiled a handmade film textbook for Welles, a practical reference book of film techniques that he studied carefully.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
Citizen Kane holds 8.2/10 on IMDb (491,492 votes), 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, 100/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of July 30, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.2/10 on IMDb (491,492 votes), 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, 100/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Citizen Kane's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
Citizen Kane holds a 99% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is Citizen Kane's IMDb rating?+
Citizen Kane has a 8.2/10 rating on IMDb from 491,492 votes.
What is Citizen Kane's Metacritic score?+
Citizen Kane has a Metascore of 100/100 on Metacritic.
Is Citizen Kane good? What are critics saying?+
Citizen Kane holds 8.2/10 on IMDb (491,492 votes), 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, 100/100 on Metacritic.
How long is Citizen Kane?+
Citizen Kane has a runtime of 119 min.
Who directed Citizen Kane?+
Citizen Kane was directed by Orson Welles.
Where can I watch Citizen Kane?+
Citizen Kane is available to stream, rent, or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, BFI Player, BFI Player Amazon Channel, BFI Player Apple TV Channel, Rakuten TV, Sky Store.
Fan & Critic Buzz
Citizen Kane has been widely praised for its unique storytelling and filmmaking techniques. The film's simplicity is also noted, with some reviewers describing it as straightforward but effective. Its impact on popular culture is evident in various trailer comments that attribute the movie to being one of the greatest films of all time.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
"The Greatest Movie of All Time!" That's the general opinion of this movie, and I agree that it is a great movie, but I have seen better movies. The story of Citizen Kane is simple, a newspaper tycoon named Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles) dies, and his last word is "Rosebud".…
Gurre · 9/10I fondly recollect, growing up in Canada in the 70's and 80's, my mom taking my older sister and I to the cinema (my dad was more interested in watching bowling, hockey, or either crime shows, British sitcoms or hockey on TV). Despite all of his TV appearances over the years, and…
talisencrw · 10/10If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com The "greatest film of all-time", everyone declares. I've been revisiting David Fincher's career this last week since he's in charge of directing the upcoming Mank, which premise appro…
Manuel São Bento · 10/10Outstanding film, no question. <em>'Citizen Kane'</em>, at least to me, feels like such a unique film in terms of how it is brought to life - I don't recall seeing anything that exactly matches it in that regard. It's thoroughly entertaining, I do love how it is crafted together.…
r96sk · 9/10_**Not the greatest film of all time, but has its points of interest**_ After the death of an American newspaper tycoon with political aspirations (Orson Welles), his relatives and associates are interviewed with one reporter trying to figure out the meaning of his last word, “Ro…
Wuchak · 6/10If ever there was a film epitomising the best and worst of the "American Dream" then this has to be the one.... Orson Welles has mastered the role of the playboy millionaire who decides to have a go at running a small provincial newspaper - ostensibly to empower the common people…
CinemaSerf · 7/10ctually every bit as good as it supposed to be. To anyone who likes to think they're being edgy by calling it overrated or whatever, I know you're just saying it because you think it makes you cool and counter-cultural or whatever, so I probably can't change your mind whatever I…
testr · 10/10I watched it because it keeps getting mentioned as one of the best films ever made. I was disappointed. For me it is just average, the hype is unjustified in my opinion. There are much better films from that time and later on.
JJJ222cool · 5/10Now I know why I'm stingy with 10/10 ratings. This .. Is the film.by which all others should be judged. It has it all. From the captivating storyline to the exceptional performances, this film truly sets the bar high for cinematic excellence. Its seamless blend of creative framin…
badelf · 10/10This is great but if it is actually the greatest of all time then I’ll eat my socks.
James · 8/10
From the trailer's comments
who’s watching in 1951? cant believe this movie came out 10 years ago!
@abbeyh · 7976 likesMost trailers: actual trailers Citizen Kane: guy on microphone going *citizen kane is coming to theaters*
@worlds1ep3enthusiast92 · 709 likesWhat an unexpectedly unusual trailer.
@indefort · 2239 likesThe Citizen Kane of films.
@artman40 · 1642 likesThis trailer is one of the biggest flexs of all-time
@Bardiya7 · 599 likesPeople need to realize that Orson Welles was 25 when he made this movie. 25! And its still hailed as the greatest movie ever made, now thats a legacy to be proud of.
@Guccicurry · 1264 likesToday's, trailers show you the entire movie and leave you with no anticipation. Seriously, Wells was even a creative genius over his trailers.
@6996meow · 772 likes"He isn't necessarily a comedian" Savage.
@ePai9e · 569 likes
