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The Kleptocrats
2018• 82 minPG
6.4/ 10(14 ratings)• TMDB
Synopsis
Over $3 billion was stolen from Malaysia's 1MDB fund, implicating former Prime Minister Najib Razak and several high-profile associates.
Go deeperPeople
Synopsis
Najib Razak, former Prime Minister of Malaysia, faces scrutiny over the theft of more than $3 billion from the 1MDB fund. The documentary details the involvement of key figures such as Jho Low, a businessman now wanted by authorities, and Riza Aziz, Najib's stepson and co-founder of Red Granite Pictures. Investigative journalists from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal trace the misappropriated funds to luxury real estate, a superyacht, and extravagant parties, prompting international investigations and asset seizures.
iWonder’s verdict
8/10
The Kleptocrats turns the 1MDB scandal into a sleek, fast-moving financial thriller, following the money from Malaysian politics into the worlds of luxury, celebrity and Hollywood. It is an astonishing story, and the film’s real achievement is making its complexity feel as entertaining as its excess
iWonder · 17 August 2026
What Critics Say
FilmInk
Critic's Pick
Still, this is a story amply worthy of cinematic treatment, the outrageousness of the conspiracy outdone only by the clichéd way in which it was perpetrated.
Screen International
Accessible, engaging to the point of jaw-dropping, it makes the most of a fascinating story and should find a welcome at festivals and beyond following its Doc NYC premiere.
Allan HunterRead full article
November 10, 2018
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the amount of money stolen from the Malaysian government fund 1MDB?
Over $3 billion was stolen from the Malaysian government fund 1MDB.
Who are some of the public figures implicated in the 1MDB scandal?
Public figures implicated include former Prime Minister Najib Razak, his stepson Riza Aziz, and fugitive Jho Low.
What properties and items were allegedly purchased with the stolen money?
Allegedly, the money was used to buy a penthouse in New York City, a mansion in Los Angeles, a superyacht named The Equinimity, and a private jet.
Awards & Festivals
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We wrote about this film
The Kleptocrats: Unveiling Corruption in Malaysia's Halls of Power
"The Kleptocrats" unveils the shocking scale of political corruption in Malaysia, tracing a money trail that leads back to the government's top echelons.
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