--- title: "Beasts of No Nation" year: 2015 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/beasts-of-no-nation" fi1m_id: "beasts-of-no-nation" imdb_id: "tt1365050" tmdb_id: 283587 wikidata_id: "Q17508302" fi1m_score: 72 critics_score: 70 critics_reviews: 24 published: "2026-10-02T08:33:33.152559+00:00" updated: "2026-10-02T08:33:35.279971+00:00" region: "AE" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Beasts of No Nation (2015) Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga · 2h 17m · Drama, War ## Identity Beasts of No Nation - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/beasts-of-no-nation - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** beasts-of-no-nation - **IMDb ID:** tt1365050 - **TMDB ID:** 283587 - **Wikidata ID:** Q17508302 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1365050/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/283587, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17508302 **Fi1m score: 72** · Critics 70 from 24 reviews *In a sentence:* Idris Elba builds a battalion out of children, and the frightening thing is how reasonable he sounds > Cary Joji Fukunaga’s drama about a boy swept into a West African civil war is beautifully made and, for an hour, close to unbearable in the right way. The second hour goes on too long and the horrors start to blur into a list. ## Synopsis An unnamed West African country, in the middle of a civil war. Agu (Abraham Attah) lives in a village inside the buffer zone, where his father (Kobina Amissah-Sam) teaches and his mother (Ama K. Abebrese) keeps the house, and spends his days with friends trying to sell an “imagination TV”, a television with no insides, to the soldiers at the checkpoint. The fighting reaches the village. His mother and baby sister are put on a bus to the capital; the men stay, and government troops arrive. Agu runs into the bush alone and is picked up by a battalion of rebel fighters, many of them boys, led by a man known only as the Commandant (Idris Elba). A mute boy, Strika (Emmanuel Nii Adom Quaye), becomes his closest companion as the Commandant sets about making him a soldier. ## Review Cary Joji Fukunaga wrote, directed and shot this adaptation of Uzodinma Iweala’s novel, about a boy taken by a civil war in a West African country the film never names. It is serious, well acted and for its first hour close to unbearable, which is to its credit. It then runs another hour and ten minutes, and the longer it goes on the less it has to add. Good, then, and worth your evening, with a warning about what the evening will be like. The opening is the best stretch. Agu (Abraham Attah) is trying to sell an “imagination TV”, a television set with the insides taken out, to soldiers at a checkpoint: you look through the empty frame and the boys act the programmes for you. Fukunaga shoots the village in deep green and hard afternoon light, and for half an hour there is a father (Kobina Amissah-Sam) who teaches, a mother (Ama K. Abebrese), a baby sister, and a war that is somewhere else. Then it is not somewhere else. Attah had never acted before this and never seems to be acting; he watches, and the film trusts us to watch him. Idris Elba, who also produced, plays the Commandant of the rebel battalion that finds Agu in the bush. It is a performance built on talk. He gives his boys speeches about courage and family and the enemy in a slow, rolling voice that rarely needs to rise, and what frightened us was that we could feel the pull of it from a sofa; Agu is a child with nobody left. The beret and the swagger are the easy part. The hard part, which Elba gets, is that this man is both a father to these children and the worst thing that will ever happen to them. The craft holds up throughout. Fukunaga’s long take through a village under attack, following Agu from doorway to doorway while the shooting carries on around him, is the set piece and it earns the name: we were holding our breath without having decided to. Later an assault is filmed with the colour drained to a flat pink, after the boys have been given a drug, so the violence looks like a bad dream, which is how Agu is seeing it. Inbal Weinberg’s rebel camp is tarpaulins, looted furniture and a radio. Jenny Eagan puts the boys in football shirts and wigs a size too big, so a line of them looks like a school trip gone wrong. Dan Romer’s score is a low electronic hum under the pictures, and it never tells us when to cry. The trouble is length and shape. Mikkel E.G. Nielsen and Pete Beaudreau have cut it to 137 minutes, and from the midpoint the film becomes a series of atrocities joined by marching. We were horrified by the first killing, as we were meant to be; by the fifth we noticed we were counting, and a film about a child going numb should not let its audience go numb beside him. Agu’s voiceover, addressed to God and to his mother, tells us what we have just seen and how he feels about it, when the pictures have usually said it already. A visit to the rebels’ headquarters in the city, where Jude Akuwudike’s Supreme Commander Dada Goodblood receives the Commandant, is the one point where the war acquires a politics, and it is over quickly. The second half goes places we will not describe. We will say that the film handles the worst of them with a restraint some critics have called a failure of nerve, and that we were grateful for it. The ending is quieter than everything before it, and it is the right one. [*Come and See*](https://film.one/film/come-and-see) (1985) remains the standard for films about a child inside a war, and it has the same shape: a boy’s face recording horrors until the face itself is the subject. Klimov holds on that face far longer than on anything the boy sees. Fukunaga shows us more of what Agu sees, and by the end we felt less. It is a good film all the same, with a fine performance from Elba and an unaffected one from Attah, and it would be a better one with half an hour gone. Watch it at home with the door shut and nothing planned for afterwards. It carries a 15, and the certificate is not being cautious. *Fi1m score 72, published 2 October 2026.* ## Straight answers **Is Beasts of No Nation worth watching?** *Beasts of No Nation* is worth watching for anyone prepared for a serious, well-made and often harrowing drama about a child soldier, and we scored it 72. The first hour is close to unbearable in the right way, with a fine performance from Idris Elba and an unaffected one from Abraham Attah. The second hour runs too long and the horrors start to blur. **How long is Beasts of No Nation, and what is it rated?** *Beasts of No Nation* runs 2h 17m. It is a drama and war film. **Where can I watch Beasts of No Nation in the UAE?** *Beasts of No Nation* is streaming on Netflix in the UAE. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How violent or frightening is Beasts of No Nation, and is it suitable for children?** *Beasts of No Nation* is a 15 in the UK and R in the US, and the certificate is not being cautious; this is not a film for children. It shows a boy drafted into a rebel battalion, killings filmed at close quarters, a drugged assault and worse in its second half, handled with some restraint. The squeamish should think carefully. **How does Beasts of No Nation compare to Come and See?** *Beasts of No Nation* is measured against [*Come and See*](https://film.one/film/come-and-see), and the earlier film is the stronger of the two. Both follow a boy whose face records the horrors of a war, but Klimov holds on that face far longer, while Fukunaga shows more of what Agu sees, and by the end we felt less. Fukunaga's is the gentler way in. **Is Beasts of No Nation based on a true story or a book?** *Beasts of No Nation* is based on Uzodinma Iweala's novel of the same name, adapted for the screen by Cary Joji Fukunaga, who also directed and shot it. It is not a true story, and the West African country in which it is set is never named. You do not need to have read the book to follow the film. **What should I watch after Beasts of No Nation?** After *Beasts of No Nation*, try [*Come and See*](https://film.one/film/come-and-see) (1985, Fi1m 92): Klimov’s Belarusian boy in the war; the film this one is measured against. Then [*Empire of the Sun*](https://film.one/film/empire-of-the-sun) (1987, Fi1m 81): Spielberg’s boy in a Shanghai camp, learning to admire the men who hold him. ### Reviews we read (24) - **IndieWire**, Demetrios Matheou (90/100, inferred): Matheou finds the film harrowing, heartbreaking, and every bit as good as hoped. He singles out Idris Elba’s nuanced performance and Fukunaga’s forceful storytelling as giving the film its power. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/venice-beasts-of-no-nation-takes-a-young-boy-into-the-heart-of-darkness-review-182789/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Michael Phillips (4 stars): Phillips calls the film gripping, empathetic, and dramatically indelible. He singles out Idris Elba’s richly troubling performance and Abraham Attah’s striking portrayal of Agu for praise. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/sc-beasts-no-nation-mov-rev-1012-20151012-story.html) - **Empire**, David Hughes (80/100, inferred): Hughes calls the film searingly powerful and unflinchingly brutal, while noting its bleakness may be difficult for audiences to stomach. He particularly praises Abraham Attah’s assured performance and Idris Elba’s formidable presence. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/beasts-nation-review/) - **Radio Times**, Damon Wise (4/5): Wise calls the film overlong but intense and extraordinary. He singles out its powerful depiction of a child forced into war. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-poix7p/beasts-of-no-nation/) - **The Guardian**, Mark Kermode (4/5): Kermode finds the film harrowing and heartbreaking, praising its uncompromising depiction of a child soldier’s descent into violence. He singles out Idris Elba’s terrifying charisma and the film’s cinematography and score for giving the story epic sweep. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/oct/11/beasts-of-no-nation-review-idris-elba) - **Total Film**, Neil Smith (4/5): The critic finds the film gripping and harrowing, though somewhat overlong. He praises Abraham Attah’s portrayal of Agu’s gradual loss of innocence. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/beasts-no-nation-review/) - **Vulture**, David Edelstein (75/100, inferred): Edelstein finds the film morally urgent and ultimately powerful, despite one failure of nerve. He praises Fukunaga’s kinetic filmmaking and Idris Elba’s commanding performance. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2015/10/movie-review-beasts-of-no-nation.html) - **Slant Magazine**, Ed Gonzalez (3.5/5): Gonzalez finds the film’s choreographed violence and detached pop aesthetic emotionally distancing. He praises the Criterion release’s sharp, textured image and immersive sound. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/beasts-of-no-nation-blu-ray-review-cary-joji-fukunaga-criterion/) - **Screen Daily**, Fionnuala Halligan (65/100, inferred): The review’s verdict is unavailable because the article text is paywalled. Its specific praise or criticism cannot be determined from the visible page. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/beasts-of-no-nation-review/5092413.article) - **The New York Times** (65/100, inferred): The page content is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. No praise or complaint can be reliably identified from the available text. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/16/movies/review-beasts-of-no-nation-a-brutal-tale-of-child-soldiers-in-africa.html) - **Variety**, Justin Chang (65/100, inferred): Chang finds the film artful and accomplished, though overlong and not fully sustained. He praises its vivid Ghanaian landscapes and the young lead’s soulful performance, while faulting its weaker psychological perspective. [Read](https://variety.com/2015/film/markets-festivals/beasts-of-no-nation-review-venice-film-festival-1201582527/) - **RogerEbert.com** (64/100, inferred): The page could not be accessed, so the critic’s verdict is unavailable. No praise or complaint can be verified from the supplied content. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/beasts-of-no-nation-2015) - **The AV Club**, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky (C+): The critic finds the film technically assured but impersonal and emotionally unconvincing. He singles out Idris Elba’s Commandant as the film’s most compelling presence. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/idris-elba-highlights-the-flawed-beasts-of-no-nation-1798185237) - **Time Out**, Dave Calhoun (3/5): The review calls the film a humane, uncompromising portrait that is tough to watch. It singles out Idris Elba’s charismatic performance as a warlord. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/beasts-of-no-nation) - **Evening Standard**, David Sexton (30/100, inferred): Sexton finds the film horrific and dark but ultimately too long and unstructured. He praises Abraham Attah’s haunting performance, while criticizing the story’s lack of specificity and its token ending. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/venice-film-festival-2015-beasts-of-no-nation-film-review-a-horrific-account-of-the-exploitation-of-a-child-soldier-a2926406.html) - **The New Yorker** (25/100, inferred): The critic finds the film’s accumulation of horrors overwhelming and ultimately diminishing. They fault its gruesome flourishes, arguing that some of its direst events called for a steadier approach. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/beasts-of-no-nation) - **Den of Geek**, Chiara Gabardi (5 out of 5): Gabardi gives the film a highly favorable verdict, praising its delicate yet gritty portrayal of a child’s journey through war. She especially singles out Abraham Attah’s performance and the cinematography’s ability to convey violence without becoming invasive or morbid. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/beasts-of-no-nation-review/) - **HeyUGuys** (85/100, inferred): The critic finds the film powerful, engrossing and devastating. They single out Fukunaga’s striking use of colour and the compelling performances of Idris Elba and the young cast. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/beasts-of-no-nation-review/) - **Paste**, Nick Schager (8.5): Schager finds the film a harrowing, unflinching portrait of a child’s descent into violence, tempered by a measure of hope. He especially praises Abraham Attah’s debut performance and a virtuoso single-take sequence that captures the anarchic brutality of war. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/beasts-of-no-nation) - **The Wrap** (80/100, inferred): The critic finds the film gripping and powerful despite its relentlessly bleak subject matter. They single out Abraham Attah’s performance and character transformation as central to its success. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/beasts-of-no-nation-review-idris-elba-cary-fukunaga-netflix/) - **Collider**, Brian Formo (75/100, inferred): Formo calls the film devastating, important, and exceptionally well-crafted, despite its brutal subject matter. He especially praises the long takes for connecting viewers emotionally to Agu’s helplessness amid violence. [Read](https://collider.com/room-beasts-of-no-nation-reviews-telluride/) - **Consequence**, Collin Brennan (75/100, inferred): Brennan finds the film devastating but essential viewing, arguing that its bleakness should not be avoided. He praises Fukunaga’s striking use of Ghana’s scenery as a counterpoint to the brutality of war. [Read](https://consequence.net/2015/10/film-review-beasts-of-no-nation/) - **Digital Spy**, Simon Reynolds (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the film powerful and worth seeing, despite a narrative that loses force near the end. They single out the magnetic performances by Idris Elba and Abraham Attah, along with Fukunaga’s visual flair. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a673067/beasts-of-no-nation-review-netflix-goes-to-war-with-idris-elba/) - **Eye for Film**, Owen Van Spall (60/100, inferred): The critic finds the film gripping and disturbing, but says its relentless immersion risks numbing viewers rather than offering insight. They praise Abraham Attah’s performance and Fukunaga’s visually arresting, immersive combat sequences. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/beasts-of-no-nation-2015-film-review-by-owen-van-spall) ## Details - **Director:** Cary Joji Fukunaga - **Director:** Cary Joji Fukunaga - **Screenplay:** Cary Joji Fukunaga - **Novel:** Uzodinma Iweala - **Cinematography:** Cary Joji Fukunaga - **Editor:** Mikkel E.G. Nielsen, Pete Beaudreau - **Music:** Dan Romer - **Production design:** Inbal Weinberg - **Costume design:** Jenny Eagan - **Producer:** Riva Marker, Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Idris Elba - **Cast:** Abraham Attah as Agu; Idris Elba as Commandant; Emmanuel Nii Adom Quaye as Strika; Opeyemi Fagbohungbe as Sergeant Gaz; Emmanuel Affadzi as Dike; Richard Pepple as Father Friday; Ama K. Abebrese as Mother; Kobina Amissah-Sam as Father - **Runtime:** 2h 17m - **First release (Italy):** 3 September 2015 - **Genres:** Drama, War - **Budget:** $6 million - **Box office:** $9 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xb9Ty-1frw ## Where to watch in the UAE - Netflix: streaming *Checked 2026-10-02.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, AZ, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *Come and See* (1985), Fi1m 92: Klimov’s Belarusian boy in the war; the film this one is measured against. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/come-and-see.md) - *War Witch* (2012): A Congolese girl soldier, told with ghosts and far fewer gunshots. - *Johnny Mad Dog* (2008): Liberia’s child fighters played by former child fighters; rougher and angrier. - *Empire of the Sun* (1987), Fi1m 81: Spielberg’s boy in a Shanghai camp, learning to admire the men who hold him. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/empire-of-the-sun.md) - *Sin Nombre* (2009): Fukunaga’s first film: a gang boy on a train north, shot with the same eye. --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/beasts-of-no-nation