A newspaper tycoon's rise and ruin, told in shadow and snowglobes.
CITIZEN KANE
Some called him a hero...others called him a heel.
Newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane is taken from his mother as a boy and made the ward of a rich industrialist. As a result, every well-meaning, tyrannical or self-destructive move he makes for the rest of his life appears in some way to be a reaction to that deeply wounding event.
Quick Answer
Citizen Kane is a 1941 American mystery drama film directed by Orson Welles about the tumultuous life of newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane, whose every move is shaped by a childhood separation from his mother.
Programmer's Pick
Citizen Kane isn't just about a media titan’s quest for power—it's a labyrinth of flashbacks, snowglobes, and the American Dream slipping through icy fingers. Orson Welles swings big as director and star, dissecting ambition, regret, and the cost of wanting it all.
— Flashington Programmer
Details & Specs
- Director
- Orson Welles
- Writers
- Orson Welles, Herman J. Mankiewicz
- Release
- 1941
- Runtime
- 1h 59m
- Country
- United States of America
- Language
- English
- Also Known As
- El ciudadano, Obcan Kane, O Mundo a Seus Pés, 시민 케인, Vətəndaş Kane, Громадянен Кейн, Den store mann, Քաղաքացի Քեյնը, Citoyen Kane, Llaqtayuq Kane
Cast & Crew
View all →Why Cult
The story unfolds through layered flashbacks, giving you a fractured, subjective look at Kane's enigmatic life.
Striking black-and-white cinematography sets an atmospheric stage for the rise and fall of a capitalist giant.
Follow the psychological unraveling of a newspaper tycoon whose childhood wounds echo in every adult disaster.
Questions from the Vault
When was Citizen Kane released? +
Citizen Kane was released in 1941.
Who directed Citizen Kane? +
Citizen Kane was directed by Orson Welles.
How long is Citizen Kane? +
Citizen Kane has a runtime of 119 minutes.
What genre is Citizen Kane? +
Citizen Kane is a mystery and drama film.