Gary Oldman is a cross-generational household name in Britain: whether you first encountered him as part of the Brit Pack in the mid-Eighties, as Sirius Black in the Harry Potter series, or even more recently than that, you're surely familiar with the British legend. One of his greatest films to date is the one that won him his Oscar, and it's available to stream on Prime Video now.

In Darkest Hour, Gary Oldman plays British prime minister Winston Churchill. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for this role, which should give you an idea for how good this film is. It's a heavy, thrilling and deeply forceful movie, so if you're yet to see it, there's no excuse to miss it now. Read on to find out everything you need to know before watching.

What is Darkest Hour about?

Darkest Hour dramatises the early days of Churchill's time as prime minister, from his election to the battle of Dunkirk including Operation Dynamo, all told from Churchill's perspective. The film traces his difficulties negotiating with his cabinet thanks to his brashness and refusal to negotiate peace in the wear

Who is in Darkest Hour?

  • Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill
  • Kristin Scott Thomas as Clementine Churchill
  • Ben Mendelsohn as King George VI
  • Lily James as Elizabeth Layton
  • Ronald Pickup as Neville Chamberlain
  • Stephen Dillane as Viscount Halifax

What have critics said about Darkest Hour?

The film opened to critical acclaim, with a lot of praise going to Joe Wright's direction and Gary Oldman's performance. It currently has an 84% approval rating on critical review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes. On that site, the critical consensus reads: "Darkest Hour is held together by Gary Oldman's electrifying performance, which brings Winston Churchill to life even when the movie's narrative falters."

Olly Richards of NME called it a "film that delivers you everything you'd expect from it, handsomely produced, confidently crafted and risk-free". Meanwhile, Keith Garlington of Keith & the Movies wrote: "Joe Wright offers up compelling and timely lessons on conviction, persuasion, and the power of bipartisanship – all things our current governments could learn from."

Where can I watch Darkest Hour?

Darkest Hour is available to stream on Prime Video included with a subscription, but is also available to rent on the platform, as well as Apple TV+ and the Sky Store.