Napoleon Director’s Cut Finally Lands On Apple TV+

The Napoleon director’s cut includes a good amount of footage regarding the famed French dictator’s wife Josephine and the life she led before she became acquainted with the man who ruled most of Europe in the years following the French Revolution. Earlier this year, Ridley Scott revealed that he has also assembled a “master cut” of the movie that dives into this character (and others) even further, in a version that has a runtime of more than four and a half hours.

The longest cut notwithstanding, the Napoleon director’s cut makes the 2023 entry Ridley Scott’s longest film to date. But the length didn’t dictate the movie’s popularity or its critical success.

Napoleon was moderately received by critics upon its 2023 release, even without the director’s cut footage addition. The film garnered more than 42 award nominations, including three Academy Award entrants for Best Achievement in Visual Effects, Best Achievement in Production Design, and Best Achievement in Costume Design. The big production budget needed to command more than just respect for props, effects, and clothing, however, in order to even meet the massive budget green-lighted for the epic period piece.

Napoleon was created on a budget of an estimated $200 million and was set against a massive marketing campaign throughout Europe and the United States to drum up excitement for what could have been Ridley Scott’s most impressive film to date. But even with the manufactured hype, the film barely exceeded the production budget with a little more than $220 million in ticket sales worldwide.

But the Napoleon director’s cut means that the movie will continue to draw in revenue and build on its audience and critical fanbase. The addition of the extra footage has already garnered a good amount of attention as fans of both Ridley Scott and lovers of historic epics are streaming this version on Apple TV+.

Napoleon stars Joaquin Phoenix as the film’s title character, Vanessa Kirby as Josephine Bonaparte, and Rupert Everett as the Duke of Wellington. Tahar Rahim, Mark Bonnar, Paul Rhys, Ben Miles, Riana Duce, and Ludivine Sagnier also co-star.

The film follows the leader’s early life, rise to power, and eventual exile to the remote Atlantic Ocean island of Saint Helena. The movie shows these events as they are viewed through the lens of he and Josephine’s tumultuous relationship.

Napoleon was in the works for more than three years before its eventual theatrical release in November of last year. Delays from the Covid-19 pandemic stalled production until February 2022.

Fans wanting the Napoleon director’s cut experience can do so with a subscription to Apple TV+.