The President's Cake

Name: The President's Cake
Genre: Drama
Released: February 6, 2026
Duration: 105 min
Rating: 84

2026

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 17 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

No score yet

tbd

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

tbd	Your Score
tbd	User Score No score yet

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: February 6, 2026 | Not Rated

Summary: While people across 1990s Iraq struggle to survive the war and food shortages, the President requires each school in the country to prepare a cake to celebrate his birthday. Despite her efforts to avoid getting picked, 9-year-old Lamia is chosen among her classmates. The young girl must now use her wits and imagination to gather ingredientsWhile people across 1990s Iraq struggle to survive the war and food shortages, the President requires each school in the country to prepare a cake to celebrate his birthday. Despite her efforts to avoid getting picked, 9-year-old Lamia is chosen among her classmates. The young girl must now use her wits and imagination to gather ingredients and prepare the mandatory cake.… Expand

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 105 min

See All Details and Credits

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

The Film Stage Rory O'Connor

Jun 4, 2025

It’s difficult to think of another debut that combines such crowd-pleasing sensibilities, political resonance, and cinematic sweep. Read full review

Ben Kenigsberg

Feb 5, 2026

It’s a striking, mature debut. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

Feb 24, 2026

What’s most remarkable about the film, which was shot in Iraq, are the performances. The cast members are not actors. They’re non-professionals, at least, acting for the first time. Yet their performances feel so genuine, so lived-in. Read full review

Amber Wilkinson

May 24, 2025

Hadi has an eye for detail, echoes and lyrical touches. Read full review

The Times Kevin Maher

Feb 17, 2026

It’s a testament to Nayyef’s ingenuous performance and the mesmerising sense of place that the film is always compelling and sometimes bleakly funny, although there are no happy endings. Read full review

Richard Brody

Feb 10, 2026

Hadi tells an engaging story, brings complex and surprising characters to life, lends a locale an aesthetic iconography, and renders personal identity inextricable from the forces of history that shaped or deformed it. Read full review

Marina Ashioti

Feb 11, 2026

Filtering the tale through Lamia’s childlike whimsy allows the colourful, polished cinematography to sing. Read full review

SEE ALL 17 REVIEWS

User Score

Write a Review

tbd

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

No reviews yet.