Four Lions | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Chris Morris |
Written by | Chris Morris Jesse Armstrong Sam Bain |
Produced by | Mark Herbert Derrin Schlesinger |
Starring | Riz Ahmed Kayvan Novak Nigel Lindsay Arsher Ali Adeel Akhtar |
Cinematography | Lol Crawley |
Edited by | Billy Sneddon |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Optimum Releasing |
Release dates |
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Running time | 97 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Budget | £2.5 million[1] |
Box office | £6 million[2] |
Four Lions is a 2010 British satire film directed by Chris Morris (in his feature film debut) from a screenplay written by Morris, Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong.[3] It stars Riz Ahmed, Kayvan Novak, Nigel Lindsay, Arsher Ali and Adeel Akhtar. In the film, a group of dimwitted homegrown terrorist jihadis attempt to plan an attack in Britain.
Production on Four Lions began in late 2008, with writing partners Armstrong and Bain hired to complete the screenplay. Prior to this, Morris spent multiple years researching for the film, conducting interviews with terrorism and religion experts, law enforcement, and British Muslims. Principal photography took place in May 2009, with filming primarily done on location in Sheffield.
Four Lions first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on 23 January 2010, and was released in the United Kingdom on 7 May, by Optimum Releasing. The film grossed £6 million worldwide and received positive reviews from critics, with praise for the screenplay, direction, themes, humour, and cast performances (particularly Ahmed's).