The Death of Stalin (2017)

When his 2017 comedy, The Death of Stalin, failed to make a favorable impression on Russia, filmmaker Armando Iannucci was visibly perplexed. Although the historical drama was initially licensed for a release in Russia, authorities suddenly proceeded to pull the plug on its release.

Based on the final days of the Soviet leader in 1953, The Death of Stalin is a comical take on the days leading up to and following the dictator’s death. Given that its release date coincided with the 2017 elections, one cannot rule out the possibility that the film did not make the cut given Russia’s political climate at the time.