The Act of Killing
“A story of killers who win and the society they build.”
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 watch The Act of Killing in United States
Can I watch The Act of Killing in United States? Yes — you can stream The Act of Killing in United States on Kanopy and Fawesome, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
Kanopy
Fawesome
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Fandango At HomeClick a service to open The Act of Killing there. Availability last verified on August 1, 2026.
Where is The Act of Killing streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Kanopy, Fawesome | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home |
| United Kingdom | BFI Player, BFI Player Amazon Channel, BFI Player Apple TV Channel | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Australia | DocPlay, DocPlay Amazon Channel, Beamafilm | JustWatch TV, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| France | — | Apple TV Store, Orange VOD, Sooner |
| Spain | Filmin | — |
| Brazil | Filmicca | — |
| Japan | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, FOD |
| South Korea | — | wavve |
About The Act of Killing
The Act of Killing is a 2012 Danish-language documentary and history film directed by Joshua Oppenheimer. The cast is led by Anwar Congo, Herman Koto, Syamsul Arifin. It has a runtime of 1h 57m. Viewers rate it 7.7/10 across 800 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Kanopy, Fawesome.
The Act of Killing was produced by Final Cut for Real, Piraya Film, and Novaya Zemlya and made in Denmark and Norway. It was released on November 8, 2012, and carries a NR certification. Made on a budget of about $1 million, it went on to gross $1 million worldwide.
- Director
- Joshua Oppenheimer
- Release date
- November 8, 2012
- Original language
- Danish
- Age rating
- NR
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Denmark, Norway
- Budget
- $1 million
- Box office
- $1 million
- Production
- Final Cut for Real, Piraya Film, Novaya Zemlya
The Act of Killing cast & crew
The Act of Killing was directed by Joshua Oppenheimer.
The cast features Anwar Congo as Self - Executioner in 1965, Herman Koto as Self - Gangster & Paramilitary Leader, Syamsul Arifin as Self - Governor of North Sumatra, Ibrahim Sinik as Self - Newspaper Publisher, Yapto Soerjosoemarno as Self - Leader of Pancasila Youth, and Safit Pardede as Self - Local Paramilitary Leader.
Behind the camera, cinematography is by Lars Skree and it was produced by Werner Herzog and André Singer.
Is The Act of Killing worth watching?
The Act of Killing holds an audience score of 7.7/10 from 764 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed documentary films.
At 1h 57m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy documentary and history, The Act of Killing is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Act of Killing
In United States, you can stream The Act of Killing on Kanopy and Fawesome, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of The Act of Killing
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
The Act of Killing — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Act of Killing in United States?
The Act of Killing is streaming on Kanopy, Fawesome in United States.
▸Is The Act of Killing on Kanopy?
Yes — The Act of Killing is currently available on Kanopy in United States.
▸What language is The Act of Killing in?
The Act of Killing is originally in Danish. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Act of Killing?
The Act of Killing runs 1 hours 57 minutes (117 minutes).
▸What is The Act of Killing rated?
The Act of Killing is rated NR. It holds a 7.7/10 audience score from 764 ratings.
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