Exposing the Darkness: 20 Movies That Reveal the Terrifying Truth About Fascism

Maya Ellison
Maya EllisonAugust 29, 2025
Fascism, a political ideology that has plagued humanity for centuries, has been a subject of interest and concern for filmmakers around the world. Through the lens of cinema, we can gain a deeper understanding of the dangers of fascist regimes and the importance of standing up against oppression.

From classic films like 'The Great Dictator' to more modern productions like 'The Pianist', movies have played a significant role in raising awareness about the atrocities committed by fascist governments and the impact on individuals and communities. By watching these films, we can learn from the past and appreciate the value of freedom, democracy, and human rights.

The movies on this list are a mix of historical dramas, documentaries, and thought-provoking thrillers that explore the complexities of fascism and its effects on society. They offer a unique perspective on the rise of fascist regimes, the consequences of their actions, and the resilience of those who resist.

Whether you're a history buff, a film enthusiast, or simply someone who cares about social justice, this list of movies is sure to educate, inspire, and provoke you. So, get ready to explore the darker side of human nature and the importance of standing up against oppression.

By exploring the themes and stories presented in these films, we can gain a deeper understanding of the dangers of fascism and the importance of promoting tolerance, empathy, and understanding. So, let's dive into the list of movies that will take you on a journey through the complexities of fascism and its impact on humanity.
The Great Dictator
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The Great Dictator

#1

Dictator Adenoid Hynkel tries to expand his empire while a poor Jewish barber tries to avoid persecution from Hynkel's regime.

1940125 min
ComedyWar
8.3
3510 votes
The Pianist
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The Pianist

#2

The true story of pianist Władysław Szpilman's experiences in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. When the Jews of the city find themselves forced into a ghetto, Szpilman finds work playing in a café; and when his family is deported in 1942, he stays behind, works for a while as a laborer, and eventually goes into hiding in the ruins of the war-torn city.

2002150 min
DramaWar
8.4
9649 votes
Schindler's List
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Schindler's List

#3

The true story of how businessman Oskar Schindler saved over a thousand Jewish lives from the Nazis while they worked as slaves in his factory during World War II.

1993195 min
DramaHistoryWar
8.6
16662 votes
Downfall
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Downfall

#4

In April of 1945, Germany stands at the brink of defeat with the Russian Army closing in from the east and the Allied Expeditionary Force attacking from the west. In Berlin, capital of the Third Reich, Adolf Hitler proclaims that Germany will still achieve victory and orders his generals and advisers to fight to the last man. When the end finally does come, and Hitler lies dead by his own hand, what is left of his military must find a way to end the killing that is the Battle of Berlin, and lay

2004155 min
DramaHistoryWar
7.9
4040 votes
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
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The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

#5

When his family moves from their home in Berlin to a strange new house in Poland, young Bruno befriends Shmuel, a boy who lives on the other side of the fence where everyone seems to be wearing striped pajamas. Unaware of Shmuel's fate as a Jewish prisoner or the role his own Nazi father plays in his imprisonment, Bruno embarks on a dangerous journey inside the camp's walls.

200894 min
DramaWarHistory
7.8
7385 votes
The Book Thief
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The Book Thief

#6

While subjected to the horrors of WWII Germany, young Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. Under the stairs in her home, a Jewish refugee is being sheltered by her adoptive parents.

2013131 min
Drama
7.5
4407 votes
Fahrenheit 451
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Fahrenheit 451

#7

In an oppressive future, a 'fireman' whose duty is to destroy all books begins to question his task.

2018100 min
DramaScience FictionThriller
5.4
894 votes
V for Vendetta
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V for Vendetta

#8

In a world in which Great Britain has become a fascist state, a masked vigilante known only as “V” conducts guerrilla warfare against the oppressive British government. When V rescues a young woman from the secret police, he finds in her an ally with whom he can continue his fight to free the people of Britain.

2006132 min
ActionThrillerScience Fiction
7.9
14961 votes
The Handmaid's Tale
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The Handmaid's Tale

#9

In a dystopian, polluted right-wing religious tyranny, a young woman is put in sexual slavery on account of her now rare fertility.

1990108 min
DramaScience Fiction
6.2
255 votes
Equilibrium
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Equilibrium

#10

In a dystopian future, a totalitarian regime maintains peace by subduing the populace with a drug, and displays of emotion are punishable by death. A man in charge of enforcing the law rises to overthrow the system.

2002107 min
ActionScience FictionThriller
7.0
4724 votes
Gattaca
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Gattaca

#11

Vincent is an all-too-human man who dares to defy a system obsessed with genetic perfection. He is an "In-Valid" who assumes the identity of a member of the genetic elite to pursue his goal of traveling into space with the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation.

1997107 min
ThrillerScience FictionMystery
7.6
6590 votes
The Wave
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The Wave

#12

A school teacher discusses types of government with his class. His students find it too boring to repeatedly go over national socialism and believe that dictatorship cannot be established in modern Germany. He starts an experiment to show how easily the masses can become manipulated.

2008107 min
DramaThriller
7.5
3446 votes
The Round Up
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The Round Up

#13

A faithful retelling of the 1942 "Vel' d'Hiv Roundup" and the events surrounding it.

2010115 min
DramaHistoryWar
7.5
1025 votes
Sarah's Key
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Sarah's Key

#14

On the night of 16 July 1942, ten year old Sarah and her parents are being arrested and transported to the Velodrome d'Hiver in Paris where thousands of other jews are being sent to get deported. Sarah however managed to lock her little brother in a closet just before the police entered their apartment. Sixty years later, Julia Jarmond, an American journalist in Paris, gets the assignment to write an article about this raid, a black page in the history of France. She starts digging archives and

2010111 min
DramaWar
7.3
688 votes
The Counterfeiters
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The Counterfeiters

#15

The story of Jewish counterfeiter Salomon Sorowitsch, who was coerced into assisting the Nazi operation of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp during World War II.

200798 min
DramaWar
7.4
642 votes
Defiance
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Defiance

#16

Based on a true story, during World War II, four Jewish brothers escape their Nazi-occupied homeland of West Belarus in Poland and join the Soviet partisans to combat the Nazis. The brothers begin the rescue of roughly 1,200 Jews still trapped in the ghettos of Poland.

2008137 min
ActionDramaHistory
6.8
1792 votes
The Lives of Others
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The Lives of Others

#17

In 1984 East Berlin, dedicated Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler begins spying on a famous playwright and his actress-lover Christa-Maria. Wiesler becomes unexpectedly sympathetic to the couple, and faces conflicting loyalties when his superior takes a liking to Christa-Maria.

2006137 min
DramaThriller
8.0
3866 votes
Good Bye, Lenin!
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Good Bye, Lenin!

#18

Alex Kerner's mother was in a coma while the Berlin wall fell. When she wakes up he must try to keep her from learning what happened (as she was an avid communist supporter) to avoid shocking her which could lead to another heart attack.

2003121 min
ComedyDrama
7.5
2490 votes
The Man in the Glass Booth
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The Man in the Glass Booth

#19

Arthur Goldman is a rich Jewish industrialist, living in luxury in a Manhattan high-rise. He banters with his assistant Charlie, often shocking him with his outrageousness and irreverent musings on aspects of Jewish life. Nonetheless, Charlie is astonished one day when Israeli secret agents burst in and arrest Goldman for being a Nazi war criminal. Whisked to Israel for trial, Goldman forces his accusers to face, not only his presumed guilt, but their own.

1975117 min
DramaThriller
6.1
22 votes
Rome, Open City
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Rome, Open City

#20

In WWII-era Rome, underground resistance leader Manfredi attempts to evade the Gestapo by enlisting the help of Pina, the fiancée of a fellow member of the resistance, and Don Pietro, the priest due to oversee her marriage. But it’s not long before the Nazis and the local police find him.

1945103 min
DramaWar
8.0
922 votes
The Garden of the Finzi-Continis
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The Garden of the Finzi-Continis

#21

In 1930s Italy, a wealthy Jewish family tries to maintain their privileged lifestyle, hosting friends for tennis and parties at their villa. As anti-Semitism intensifies under Fascism, they must ultimately face the horrors of the Holocaust.

197095 min
DramaHistory
6.9
266 votes

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