Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)

91% of critics liked it
(210 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(1,123,290 ratings)

Master of disguise Sacha Baron Cohen hits the road to explore America as the crude Kazakstani reporter Borat in a feature mockumentary that brings one of the Da Ali G Show star's most popular characters to life on the big screen. Sent by the Kazakh Ministry of Information to gain a better… More Master of disguise Sacha Baron Cohen hits the road to explore America as the crude Kazakstani reporter Borat in a feature mockumentary that brings one of the Da Ali G Show star's most popular characters to life on the big screen. Sent by the Kazakh Ministry of Information to gain a better understanding of American culture and bring his findings back home, Borat and faithful producer Azamat (Ken Davitian) set their sights in New York City. When the citizens and interview subjects of the Big Apple seem less than receptive to Borat's distinctively unrestrained approach and the curious Kazakh television personality stumbles across an episode of Baywatch while channel-surfing in his hotel room, he becomes instantly smitten with screen siren Pamela Anderson. Now confident that the only way to discover the true essence of America is to travel to California and make the bikini-clad beauty his bride, Borat purchases a ramshackle ice-cream truck in which he and Azamat will make their way across the Great Plains and on to the sunny West Coast -- all the while coming into contact with a wide variety of "typical" Americans. Within this loose, scripted framework, Borat engages in his usual misbehavior with unsuspecting strangers, from accidentally releasing a chicken from his suitcase on a New York subway ride to a formal interview with Alan Keyes. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 22 min.
Directed By: Larry Charles
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 4, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Mar 6, 2007
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Critic Reviews

David Ansen, Newsweek
The backlash just proves how deep a nerve the faux Kazakh journalist has hit.
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
The theory of comedy here is that you can get away with almost anything if you manage to make your target audience feel superior to the human beings being mocked on the screen.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
I did find this to be one of the more inventive, aggressively offensive and insanely tasteless comedies in many a year. And yeah, that's a thumbs-up.
Tom Charity, CNN.com
Borat is so gut-bustingly funny it should carry a health warning.
Claudia Puig, USA Today
In an era of stale, formulaic comedies, this uproarious and ribald faux documentary is like a hit of pure oxygen.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
Somewhere in standup comedy heaven Andy Kaufman is smiling. Possibly even busting a gut.
Matthew Pejkovic, Matt's Movie Reviews
Borat... is a not only a very good comedy but is also an interesting sociological experiment as to how numerous individuals in the USA would respond to a man such as Borat, and often the reactions are interesting and vastly entertaining.
Gabe Leibowitz, Film and Felt
Frequently uproarious and occasionally side-splitting -- but it's very hit-or-miss, prone to stretches of unnecessary crudeness and flat one-liners.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Often functions hilariously as an exposé of squirming American tolerance shading into condescension toward the rest of the world
Mark Pfeiffer, Reel Times: Reflections on Cinema
Borat is the rare comedy that operates without a safety net. Cohen and director Larry Charles' film provides constant laughter and surprises while daring the viewer to be rightfully offended.
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix
Although I knew it was dishonest, cynical, and the ultimate in cheap-shot humor, I laughed more at Borat than at any other film this year. So I guess the joke is on me.
Ed Gonzalez, House Next Door
Borat's cultural learning is revealing, even if it doesn't adequately convey how it benefits glorious nation of Kazakhstan.
Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
Brace yourself -- Borat is here. Not for kids.
Matthew De Abaitua, Film4
Borat is the funniest film imaginable right now.
Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper
The most impressive ingredient is Cohen, whose inflection and timing are dead-on as he negotiates a vague accent, a native language composed of gibberish and a sprinkling of Polish, and a way of making tired American jokes funny again.
Brandon Fibbs, BrandonFibbs.com
America, you got punk'd and the result is horrifying. Borat paints a picture of the American landscape that would induce nightmares were you not laughing so hard.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
A rude punk-rock snapshot of an America that quails at two men kissing but cheers the notion of George W. Bush drinking the blood of 'every man, woman and child in Iraq.'
Joe Lozito, Big Picture Big Sound
By the end, you're eager to wrap things up. Along the way, though, Borat is a helluva ride.
Felix Gonzalez Jr., DVD Review
I must offer high kudos to Fox for creating such a humorous DVD package to go along with this film.
Felix Gonzalez Jr., DVD Review
Like great theatre, Borat holds up a mirror to its obliviously intolerant audience ... that serves as a shocking, but entertaining wake-up call.

Read all 21 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Scott G

A brilliant, outrageously funny film, which at points makes it the most successful, most racist yet hilarious documentary of both it's year and of all time.
Eric A

Hilarious film. It pushes all types of boundaries and holds nothing back. Although it's branded as pure improv, there are moments where the film seems scripted; that's the only problem I have with this movie.
Michael M

The thing that Baron Cohen does better then most comedians is that he doesn't try to be racist for laughs. Its something that naturally comes out of his character. He somehow manages to create a lovable hilarious and honestly believable and truthful character who is pretty much… More
The thing that Baron Cohen does better then most comedians is that he doesn't try to be racist for laughs. Its something that naturally comes out of his character. He somehow manages to create a lovable hilarious and honestly believable and truthful character who is pretty much the exact image of most racist people and then still manages to make the racism look funny.
Jeff "

I enjoyed this film somewhat, but I felt that the hype killed it for me, slight. The film is very funny, but with each viewing, the humor actually becomes stale. The jokes got old pretty fast. However, despite this, there are some good comedic moments in this film. This film is a… More
I enjoyed this film somewhat, but I felt that the hype killed it for me, slight. The film is very funny, but with each viewing, the humor actually becomes stale. The jokes got old pretty fast. However, despite this, there are some good comedic moments in this film. This film is a pretty decent comedy, but it's not a masterpiece that so many people have claimed it to be. Borat is a very crude and vulgar comedy, and at times it does make you feel uneasy. I liked the film, but I can't say it is an excellent comedy. I really felt like this was an overrated film, and that the hype killed the film. There are some pretty funny moments on-screen, but this isn't the type of comedy that will stand the test of time. I don't think that Borat is that great, and it's the perfect example of a film that has been killed by the hype. Borat for me, at least was funny the first two times I saw it. Afterwards, the gags got old, and irritating. I'm not that big a fan of Baron Cohen, but I have to say of the three films of his characters, Borat is the best one, and that's not saying much. Borat is good for a laugh, but it doesn't demand repeated viewings like many other comedies that are still funny after numerous viewings. Borat is a decent comedy, but in the long run, it gets tiring. An entertaining film, but not the best comedy that I've seen.
Wahida K

This is SICK!
Matt G

Borat: I like you, I like sex... is nice. Must-see, unless you are easily offended. Otherwise, you will have a very nice time with this riotous, real, and side-splitting comedy, featuring an Oscar-worthy performance from Sacha Baron Cohen, who, for some odd reason, has the ability to… More
Borat: I like you, I like sex... is nice. Must-see, unless you are easily offended. Otherwise, you will have a very nice time with this riotous, real, and side-splitting comedy, featuring an Oscar-worthy performance from Sacha Baron Cohen, who, for some odd reason, has the ability to maintain a very silly character without breaking or laughing once. The movie is just plain fun, and that's what I love about 'Borat'. Highly recommended. Read more reviews at www.creedsdelight.com
Bethany M

Very, very funny! I love Sascha Baron Cohen! A must see!
Brad W

Funniest movie I have see in a long time.
Dean !

A very funny film showing the cultural divide between the two countries. Some of it is a bit gross, in poor taste but mainly just plain silly. It can be a bit hit and miss at times. Although the scenes and reactions of some of the people he meets on his journey are very funny, very… More
A very funny film showing the cultural divide between the two countries. Some of it is a bit gross, in poor taste but mainly just plain silly. It can be a bit hit and miss at times. Although the scenes and reactions of some of the people he meets on his journey are very funny, very hard to believe they generally took him seriously!
MisterYoda ?

4 and a half stars
Lewis C

"I had learned that if you chase a dream, especially one with plastic chests, you can miss the real beauty in front of your eyes." Reviewing Borat is a bit of a conundrum, because I had to decide on a score based one either how funny it was when it originally came out, or… More
"I had learned that if you chase a dream, especially one with plastic chests, you can miss the real beauty in front of your eyes." Reviewing Borat is a bit of a conundrum, because I had to decide on a score based one either how funny it was when it originally came out, or how funny I find it to be now, after I've seen it about six times. The latter won out, which is why my score is a little lower than it would have been four years ago. The first time I saw Borat still ranks among the top two funniest theater experiences that I've ever had (Team America: World Police holds the other spot). The whole theater was in stitches and gasping for breath, and my group was no exception. There may be a method to Sacha Baron Cohen's madness and a genuine message about intolerance and bigotry underneath this movie, but the humor is crass, low-brow, raunchy, and absolutely hilarious. I won't bother to explain the Borat phenomenon, because I'm sure anyone who's in any way remotely interested has known about it for several years. The movie still holds up pretty well, and while some of the shocks and audacity of it don't make as much of an impact any more, Cohen's bumbling, anti-Semetic, misogynistic, gleefully offensive character still does. If you have somehow missed seeing this and you enjoy comedy like South Park, watching Borat will make your face turn blue. And I mean that in a good way.
Phil H

Very very good film, clever and extremely funny. Baron really hits the mark with so many touchy subjects by tricking people into admitting their real beliefs and thoughts to camera without them really realising haha such examples include racism, sexism and cultral misunderstandings.… More
Very very good film, clever and extremely funny. Baron really hits the mark with so many touchy subjects by tricking people into admitting their real beliefs and thoughts to camera without them really realising haha such examples include racism, sexism and cultral misunderstandings. Not quite as hot as the TV clips on 'Ali G' but there are some sections which are truely embarassing and hilarious. The Pamela Anderson signing and the rodeo singing was pretty cringing hahaha the naked fight was also pretty sick, how does he do it? the look of his character is so good too, very realistic and the accent is so comical. Its funny for all the wrong reasons but you need to be open minded and remember its a take or heavy sarcasm on real life, much like a live action 'South Park'.
Richard C

a hilarious, great, real movie. A-
Dead A

Why would anyone like this movie. Such a stupid movie. It's not that funny. It was okay.
KJ P

Can be very gay and stupid at times! However, Sacha Baron Cohen makes this movie pass with flying colours!
Tim S

Very very funny, but not something I could watch over and over again.
Thomas B

This is one of tne of the funniest films I've seen in a long time. I sat, open mouthed, as Borat explained the corellation between a car breaking down and his 12 year old wife hitting puberty to a car salesman with phrases like 'wizard sleeve.' I was rolling around on… More
This is one of tne of the funniest films I've seen in a long time. I sat, open mouthed, as Borat explained the corellation between a car breaking down and his 12 year old wife hitting puberty to a car salesman with phrases like 'wizard sleeve.' I was rolling around on the floor (not literally, that's undignified) as he admired the dinner party fo letting a 'retard' join the table. It only makes it funnier when you think about the fact that most of the cast were unaware of their involvement in the film. But the film itself is a very close look at America itself, their many different cultures, societies and belief systems. As Borat travels across the entire country we get to see all different types of people, from college boys to homosexuals to rednecks. And there we meet the point of the film. Some people may call it a cheap laugh olr shock-value humour, and the more engineered moments are. However, the real insight happens when Sacha Baron-Cohen doesn't say a word. When an ageing country gent begins to tell him about the dangers of "lookin' like a Muslim" and how people "don't trust him because he looks like one of 'them'" (uttering the word with complete disgust) and that if he "shaved his moustache he could more like an Italian and people would be less afraid of [him]." Cohen must have had a hard time not jumping for joy when this old man came along, making sure that he wasn't a Muslim before talking with him (as Borat assures him that no, he is Khazakh, they follow the hawk) and showing better than Cohen himself ever could as to how racist America can truly be. But aside from all of the underlying tones, Borat is without a doubt one of the funniest comedies ever made; blood vessel burstingly so. It's about time that films like this were appreciated worldwide for the light that they bring to otherwise untochable social subjects through calculated, though seemingly accidental, bumblings through society. Brilliant film. Defining Scene: There are far too many to choose from. There's the gun shop scene (Q: What kind of gun is best to kill a Jew? A: That'd be your 9millimeter or your 45.) and there's the aforementioned old Southern gentleman scene and the following singing of the national anthem (May George Bush drink the blood of every man, woman and child in Iraq!) which I think are tied for the top spot.
Conner R

Yeah, it's really not as good as I thought it was when I saw it in the theaters. The show was great, but Sacha Baron Cohen took a lot of the humor WAY too far, making it corny and often stupid. It's not horrible, but compared to the show, it's the ugly cousin. Watch… More
Yeah, it's really not as good as I thought it was when I saw it in the theaters. The show was great, but Sacha Baron Cohen took a lot of the humor WAY too far, making it corny and often stupid. It's not horrible, but compared to the show, it's the ugly cousin. Watch "Da Ali G Show" to see Borat in all his glory, not this overly publicized movie
Anthony L

Unlike his Ali G film outing, Sacha Baron Cohen wisely films Borat in the same way he had with the TV series. Part documentary style, half skit. The result is a hilarious original comedy that upset people as much as it did entertain them, which is always the sign of a comedians? job… More
Unlike his Ali G film outing, Sacha Baron Cohen wisely films Borat in the same way he had with the TV series. Part documentary style, half skit. The result is a hilarious original comedy that upset people as much as it did entertain them, which is always the sign of a comedians? job well done. Getting Larry Charles, from Seinfeld fame to direct was also a clever move.
Cassie H

Some of it was funny. But It was a average film.