June 1940. France collapses and signs the armistice. In the chaos, one unknown general flees to London with no army, no backing and no hope, only the conviction that France has not laid down its arms.
De Gaulle: Résistance, directed by Antonin Baudry, opened in limited US cinemas on Wednesday 4 November and arrives on digital on Friday.
Simon Abkarian makes stubbornness look like heroism, and sometimes the reverse.
Movie at a Glance
- US release: Limited cinemas from Wednesday 4 November 2026; digital from Friday 6 November (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
- UK release: No UK release date confirmed at the time of writing
- Director: Antonin Baudry
- Writers: Bérénice Vila and Antonin Baudry
- Starring: Simon Abkarian, Simon Russell Beale, Benoît Magimel and Mathieu Kassovitz
- Runtime: 160 minutes
- Genre: Historical drama
- Language: French and English, with subtitles
Viewer Match
- Best for: History lovers and fans of Darkest Hour-style political drama.
- Maybe skip if: Long running times test your patience.
- Mood and pace: Stately, tense and grand.
- Cinema or streaming? Either; it is on digital in the US from Friday.
- Spoiler level: Spoiler-free, beyond the history.
Alone Against the Odds
The film follows de Gaulle’s gamble to convince the world that the battle for France was not lost, and the resistance fighters, students and soldiers who slowly rallied to him in England, France and Africa.
Simon Abkarian is commanding in the title role.
Churchill and More
Simon Russell Beale makes a memorable Churchill, and the scenes between the two leaders crackle. UK critics have been highly positive.
The production is lavish and handsome.
Long but Rewarding
At 160 minutes it is a big commitment, and the pace is stately. But it rarely loses its grip. For another wartime story, read our Fatherland Super Review. This week’s other films are in this week’s Weekly Cinema Pack, and tonight’s picks are in What to Watch Tonight.
Spoiler-Free Verdict
De Gaulle: Résistance is a handsome, gripping wartime epic with a commanding Simon Abkarian and a fine Simon Russell Beale as Churchill.
- Performances: 8.5/10
- Direction: 8/10
- Screenplay: 7.5/10
- Score: 7.5/10
- Cinematography: 8/10
- Entertainment Value: 7.5/10
- Overall score: 8/10
Star rating: 4/5
Verdict badge: Worth Seeing
One-line verdict: A stately, gripping portrait of a man who refused to give up.
Watch the Official Trailer
Watch the official trailer from Samuel Goldwyn Films.
Who is the best screen Churchill? Tell us.