Lincoln (2012)
The hours that changed history.
The revealing story of the 16th US President's tumultuous final months in office. In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, Lincoln pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish slavery. With the moral courage and fierce determination to succeed, his choices during this critical moment will change the fate of generations to come.
Rent on Prime Video $3.99 (opens in a new tab) Buy on Prime Video $4.99 (opens in a new tab)
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 9 November 2012 |
| Genre | History, Drama |
| Director | Steven Spielberg |
| Starring | Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and David Strathairn |
| Runtime | 150 min |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 8/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 90% · Metacritic 87/100 · TMDB users 6.8/10 |
| Budget | $65 million |
Where to watch Lincoln
We could not find Lincoln on any of the subscription services we track in the US right now. That changes often; open it in Binge Boss and we will show you where it lands.
Rent or buy
You can rent or buy Lincoln on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home.
What kind of watch this is
Steven Spielberg directs this 150-minute history drama, focusing on the final months of Abraham Lincoln’s presidency. Daniel Day-Lewis plays the 16th US President, navigating a nation divided by war. The film examines his push to abolish slavery and unite the country. It is a slow burn that trusts the weight of the moment. You will feel the gravity of every decision. The stakes are not just political; they are personal.
What the critics said
Rotten Tomatoes sits at 90%, based on 287 reviews as of August 2024. Metacritic follows with 87, a score that signals universal acclaim. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it four stars, noting the calm self-confidence Day-Lewis brings to the role. Glenn Kenny of MSN Movies went further, calling it the most remarkable film Spielberg has made in quite a spell. Not everyone agreed. Rex Reed of The New York Observer found too much material and too little revelation, a critique that lands softly given the rest of the reception. Reviewers were unanimous in their praise of Day-Lewis's performance.
How it did with audiences
The budget was $65 million. It returned $275 million. On TMDB, users rate it 6.8 out of 10. It started in 11 theaters and opened at #15, a record for such a limited release. Disney had to print more copies to keep up with the demand. The numbers add up, even if the score doesn't.
Awards
Lincoln picked up 5 awards from 12 nominations. Daniel Day-Lewis took the Academy Award for Best Actor, while Rick Carter won for Production Design. The film also claimed the Satellite Award for Best Film and the Dallas-Fort Worth Critics' pick. It made the National Board of Review's Top Ten. The 12 nominations suggest the industry couldn't decide if it was a history lesson or a performance showcase.
What came next for the cast
Daniel Day-Lewis stepped from Gangs of New York and There Will Be Blood into a quiet pause, eventually surfacing for Phantom Thread. Sally Field moved from Forrest Gump to a mix of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and indie oddities like Maniac. Joseph Gordon-Levitt traded Inception energy for the more intimate Snowden. David Strathairn went from L.A. Confidential to Godzilla. The credits do not link these shifts to Lincoln. They just show where everyone landed next.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Lincoln.
Sources
- Lincoln on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q32433 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Lincoln (film)” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
Watch it without paying for the whole year
Binge Boss tracks the movie you are on and tells you which services you need this month, and which you can cancel.
Add Lincoln to your list