The Dictator (2012)

The Dictator's portrayal of LGBTQ+ themes is overwhelmingly negative. It uses a gay character, Efawadh, as a source of crude humor and discomfort, forcing him into demeaning situations. The protagonist, Aladeen, is depicted as virulently homophobic, with his bigotry serving as a recurring comedic element. The film offers no affirming counter-narrative, instead relying on stereotypes and mockery for its humor.

The film includes a character whose gender presentation is used for crude comedic effect. The reveal of 'Denise' as a man is played for shock and revulsion, reinforcing problematic stereotypes rather than offering any nuanced or respectful portrayal of gender non-conformity. The overall impact is negative.

The film uses a fictional, culturally Islamic nation as the setting for its satire of dictatorship. The regime and its leader, Aladeen, are portrayed as tyrannical, absurd, and hypocritical. While the satire's primary target is authoritarianism, the film does not offer significant counterbalancing positive portrayals of Islam or its adherents within this context, leading to an overall problematic depiction of the religion through association with the oppressive state.

The film explicitly portrays Aladeen as virulently anti-Semitic, but the narrative consistently frames his bigotry as ignorant and ridiculous. The audience is positioned to condemn Aladeen's prejudice and sympathize with the Jewish characters who are victims of his hatred, thus affirming the dignity of the religion.