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Ninotchka

Play trailer Poster for Ninotchka 1939 1h 50m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 39 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
A no-nonsense diplomat of the Soviet Union, Nina Ivanovna Ninotchka Yakushova (Greta Garbo) arrives in Paris to ensure the sale of jewels seized during the Russian Revolution. Meanwhile, carefree bachelor Count Leon d'Algout (Melvyn Douglas) attempts to intercept the valuables on behalf of their former owner, the Grand Duchess Swana (Ina Claire). Despite their conflicting allegiances, the icy Ninotchka soon warms to Leon's charms, reluctantly going against her better judgment.
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Ninotchka

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Critics Consensus

With Greta Garbo proving her comedy chops in the twilight of her career, Ninotchka is a can't-miss classic.

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Critics Reviews

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Richard Brody The New Yorker May 9, 2016
The romantic roundelay, linking fine emotions with fine lingerie, is shadowed by the brutality of Soviet tyranny. Go to Full Review Whittaker Chambers TIME Magazine Jan 15, 2013
This one is neither crude clowning nor crude prejudice, but a literate and knowingly directed satire which lands many a shrewd crack about phony Five Year Plans, collective farms, Communist jargon and pseudo-scientific gab. Go to Full Review Joshua Rothkopf Time Out Dec 27, 2012
5/5
Ninotchka is delicate flirtation and political satire made into a perfect whole, and a reminder of skills that studio writers have largely lost. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Dec 16, 2025
3.5/4
Billy Wilder and Charles Bracket contributed to the screenplay, as evidenced by the number of brilliant and biting exchanges. Go to Full Review Tony Sloman Radio Times Aug 22, 2024
5/5
This is without doubt one of the funniest, most original screen comedies ever made, and from the greatest year in Hollywood's history. Go to Full Review Pare Lorentz McCall's Oct 30, 2023
The picture itself might have been a very amusing satire at the expense of the Russians if it had been made with any thing lighter than a loaded baseball bat. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steven Feb 8, 2025 Fantastic, amazing, the more you think about it the better it gets See more Huntin P @PaxVobiscum80 Sep 16, 2026 Melvyn Douglas teaches all us men the ultimate masterclass in how to be suave, seductive, charming and chivalrous. Ninotchka is a very funny and romantic comedy, indeed! The legendary Greta Garbo had already graduated from silence to talking, and here she got to laugh as well. There is some pretty sly sexual humour in this movie, so keep your, ahem, ears open for it. Sad to think, the year this delectable film came out, was the year Europe went up in flames. See more Maguy L. @MagsTheFrog Jun 26, 2026 Classic Lubitsch and my favorite movie of all time. Garbo is spectacular. See more Isaiah Y @zayman2 Nov 27, 2025 Greta Garbo's greatest performance brought out by Ernst Lubitsch's superb direction See more alan g @agenser Feb 16, 2025 Greta Garbo at her best. See more Russ G @RT78760655 Oct 24, 2024 "There will be fewer but better Russians!" Nothing better encapsulates the Soviet attempt to "perfect" man as that line, delivered in absolute deadpan by Miss Garbo! Fun Fact: While Melvyn Douglas played the witty, urbane, and lecherous lead in this film, about two decades later he'd give a completely different performance as a God-fearing Texas cattle rancher opposite Paul Newman in the drama "Hud." See more Read all reviews
Ninotchka

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Cast & Crew

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Ernst Lubitsch

Director

Greta Garbo

Ninotchka (Nina Ivanovna Yakushova)

Melvyn Douglas

Count Leon d'Algout

Ina Claire

Swana

Sig Ruman

Michael Simonavich Iranoff

Felix Bressart

Buljanoff

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Ninotchka

Ninotchka (1939) Ninotchka (1939) Ninotchka (1939) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A no-nonsense diplomat of the Soviet Union, Nina Ivanovna Ninotchka Yakushova (Greta Garbo) arrives in Paris to ensure the sale of jewels seized during the Russian Revolution. Meanwhile, carefree bachelor Count Leon d'Algout (Melvyn Douglas) attempts to intercept the valuables on behalf of their former owner, the Grand Duchess Swana (Ina Claire). Despite their conflicting allegiances, the icy Ninotchka soon warms to Leon's charms, reluctantly going against her better judgment.
Director
Ernst Lubitsch
Producer
Ernst Lubitsch
Screenwriter
Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, Walter Reisch
Distributor
Loew's Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
Production Co
Loew's Inc., Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 9, 1939, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2009
Runtime
1h 50m
Sound Mix
Mono
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