The Idiots
“Take a long ride on the short bus.”
A group of perfectly intelligent young people decide to react to society's cult of aimless, non-creative and non-responsible form intellect by living together in a community of 'idiots'. Their primary activity becomes going out into the world of 'normal' people and pretending to be mentally incompetent. They take advantage of this situation to create anarchy, and, by every possible means, to make those around them miserable.
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Cast
45 people
Bodil Jørgensen
Karen
Known for
The Kingdom
The Green Butchers
Jens Albinus
Stoffer
Known for
The Boss of It All
Borgen
Anne Louise Hassing
Susanne
Known for
The Hunt
Knud Romer Jørgensen
Axel
Troels Lyby
Henrik
Known for
What We Become
The Keeper of Lost Causes
Nikolaj Lie Kaas
Jeppe
Known for
Angels & Demons
The Keeper of Lost Causes
Louise Mieritz
Josephine
Known for
1864
The Boss of It All
Henrik Prip
Ped
Known for
Secrets We Keep
Chosen
Luis Mesonero
Miguel
Known for
Intacto
Trine Michelsen
Nana
Known for
Delirium: Photo of Gioia
Anne-Grethe Bjarup Riis
Katrine
Also in
Halalabad Blues
Anna Pihl
Paprika Steen
High Class Lady
Known for
The Celebration
Adam's Apples
Lars von Trier Director · Molly Malene Stensgaard Editor
Budget $2.5M · United States release April 28, 2000 · Produced in Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Sweden
Box office
Budget
$2,500,000
Production
Zentropa Entertainments
Production
DR TV
Production
La Sept Cinéma
Production
Liberator Productions
Production
VPRO
Production
Argus Film Produktie
Production
ZDF/Arte
Production
Denmark · France · Germany · Netherlands · Italy · Sweden
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Idioterne
Original language
Danish
Spoken on screen
Danish
Release dates
Belgium · May 20, 1998
Theatrical
Denmark · July 17, 1998
Theatrical
United States · April 28, 2000
Limited theatrical
United States · July 7, 2023
Digital · MUBI
United States
June 16, 2023 · Limited theatrical · re-release
Argentina
July 7, 2023 · Digital · MUBI
Brazil
July 7, 2023 · Digital · MUBI
Canada
July 7, 2023 · Digital · MUBI
Colombia
July 7, 2023 · Digital · MUBI
Czechia
August 31, 2002 · Premiere · Litomerice Film Festival
January 15, 2003 · Limited theatrical · Projekt 100
November 24, 2022 · Theatrical
France
May 20, 1998 · Premiere · Cannes Film Festival
May 20, 1998 · Theatrical
July 12, 2023 · Theatrical · re-release
Germany
April 22, 1999 · Theatrical
Greece
April 22, 1999 · Theatrical
India
July 7, 2023 · Digital · MUBI
Italy
January 29, 1999 · Theatrical
Japan
March 23, 2001 · Digital
Netherlands
August 27, 1998 · Theatrical
June 5, 2025 · Theatrical · 30 jaar Dogma
Poland
June 11, 2025 · Premiere · WTF Fest
Portugal
October 2, 1998 · Theatrical
South Korea
May 20, 2000 · Theatrical
Sweden
September 4, 1998 · Theatrical
Türkiye
July 7, 2023 · Digital · MUBI
United Kingdom
May 14, 1999 · Theatrical
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