By the third act, Aladeen must infiltrate the UN (disguised as a drone pilot) to stop a vote that would install democracy in Wadiya. In a classic Baron Cohen twist, the “hero” does not learn the error of his ways. Instead, he delivers a speech about the virtues of tyranny—and wins.

He ends up wandering the streets of Brooklyn, completely helpless. He eventually finds work at a local organic food co-op run by a beautiful, liberal activist named Zoey (Anna Faris). The comedy engine of is the clash between Aladeen’s medieval, misogynistic worldview and the hyper-sensitive, gluten-free, hipster culture of Obama-era Brooklyn.

Released on May 16, 2012, The Dictator arrived at a fascinating cultural crossroads. The Arab Spring was fresh in global memory, Osama bin Laden had been killed a year prior, and America was gearing up for a presidential election. Into this tense environment stepped Sacha Baron Cohen—not as the bumbling Borat or the flamboyant Bruno, but as Admiral General Aladeen (pronounced Al-leh-deen ), the absolute ruler of the fictional North African nation of Wadiya.