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Watchmen

  • 2009
  • 16
  • 2h 42m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
572K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
412
57
Billy Crudup, Malin Akerman, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Patrick Wilson in Watchmen (2009)
Watch Tráiler [ES]
Play trailer2:20
41 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionDramaMystery

In 1985 where former superheroes exist, the murder of a colleague sends active vigilante Rorschach into his own sprawling investigation, uncovering something that could completely change the... Read allIn 1985 where former superheroes exist, the murder of a colleague sends active vigilante Rorschach into his own sprawling investigation, uncovering something that could completely change the course of history as we know it.In 1985 where former superheroes exist, the murder of a colleague sends active vigilante Rorschach into his own sprawling investigation, uncovering something that could completely change the course of history as we know it.

  • Director
    • Zack Snyder
  • Writers
    • Dave Gibbons
    • David Hayter
    • Alex Tse
  • Stars
    • Jackie Earle Haley
    • Patrick Wilson
    • Carla Gugino
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    572K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    412
    57
    • Director
      • Zack Snyder
    • Writers
      • Dave Gibbons
      • David Hayter
      • Alex Tse
    • Stars
      • Jackie Earle Haley
      • Patrick Wilson
      • Carla Gugino
    • 1.5KUser reviews
    • 351Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 12 wins & 24 nominations

    Videos41

    Tráiler [ES]
    Trailer 2:20
    Watch Tráiler [ES]
    Watchmen: Trailer #2
    Trailer 2:33
    Watch Watchmen: Trailer #2
    Watchmen: Scream Awards Trailer
    Trailer 1:49
    Watch Watchmen: Scream Awards Trailer
    Watchmen: Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:22
    Watch Watchmen: Trailer #1
    Watchmen: Journal #4
    Trailer 2:49
    Watch Watchmen: Journal #4
    A Guide to the Films of Zack Snyder
    Clip 1:31
    Watch A Guide to the Films of Zack Snyder
    The "Watchmen" Easter Eggs You Missed
    Clip 3:50
    Watch The "Watchmen" Easter Eggs You Missed
    What We Know About "Watchmen" ... So Far
    Clip 3:19
    Watch What We Know About "Watchmen" ... So Far
    Watchmen
    Clip 1:26
    Watch Watchmen
    Watchmen
    Clip 0:51
    Watch Watchmen
    Watchmen
    Clip 0:31
    Watch Watchmen
    Watchmen
    Clip 1:07
    Watch Watchmen

    Photos400

    Matthew Goode and Jeffrey Dean Morgan in Watchmen (2009)
    Matthew Goode in Watchmen (2009)
    Malin Akerman and Patrick Wilson in Watchmen (2009)
    Jackie Earle Haley in Watchmen (2009)
    Matthew Goode in Watchmen (2009)
    Matthew Goode and Jeffrey Dean Morgan in Watchmen (2009)
    Dave Gibbons in Watchmen (2009)
    Zack Snyder and Robert Wisden in Watchmen (2009)
    Jackie Earle Haley in Watchmen (2009)
    Malin Akerman in Watchmen (2009)
    Jackie Earle Haley in Watchmen (2009)
    Patrick Wilson and Dave Gibbons in Watchmen (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jackie Earle Haley
    Jackie Earle Haley
    • Rorschach
    Patrick Wilson
    Patrick Wilson
    • Dan Dreiberg…
    Carla Gugino
    Carla Gugino
    • Sally Jupiter…
    Malin Akerman
    Malin Akerman
    • Laurie Jupiter…
    Billy Crudup
    Billy Crudup
    • Dr. Manhattan…
    Matthew Goode
    Matthew Goode
    • Adrian Veidt…
    Jeffrey Dean Morgan
    Jeffrey Dean Morgan
    • Edward Blake…
    Matt Frewer
    Matt Frewer
    • Moloch
    Stephen McHattie
    Stephen McHattie
    • Hollis Mason
    Laura Mennell
    Laura Mennell
    • Janey Slater
    Rob LaBelle
    Rob LaBelle
    • Wally Weaver
    Gary Houston
    Gary Houston
    • John McLaughlin
    James M. Connor
    James M. Connor
    • Pat Buchanan
    • (as James Micheal Connor)
    Mary Ann Burger
    • Eleanor Clift
    John Shaw
    John Shaw
    • Doug Roth
    Robert Wisden
    Robert Wisden
    • Richard Nixon
    Jerry Wasserman
    Jerry Wasserman
    • Detective Fine
    Don Thompson
    Don Thompson
    • Detective Gallagher
    • Director
      • Zack Snyder
    • Writers
      • Dave Gibbons
      • David Hayter
      • Alex Tse
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jackie Earle Haley was the only one of the main cast who was already familiar with the graphic novel. He actively campaigned for the part of Rorschach.
    • Goofs
      (at around 1h 8 mins) Doctor Manhattan describes a "circulatory system" appearing on the grounds of a government base. However what is depicted is clearly the nervous system, as it features a brain and spinal cord, but no heart or lungs. (This error is repeated from the novel.)
    • Quotes

      Rorschach: I heard joke once: Man goes to doctor. Says he's depressed. Life seems harsh, and cruel. Says he feels all alone in threatening world. Doctor says: "Treatment is simple. The great clown - Pagliacci - is in town. Go see him. That should pick you up." Man bursts into tears. "But doctor..." he says "I am Pagliacci." Good joke. Everybody laugh. Roll on snare drum. Curtains.

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits themselves often cast shadows in the frame that correspond with the flashes from photographer's bulbs.
    • Alternate versions
      In Thailand the genitals of Dr Manhattan are masked and where Rorschach attack with an ax the victim's head is heavily blurred.
    • Connections
      Edited from Tales of the Black Freighter (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      Unforgettable
      Written by Irving Gordon

      Performed by Nat 'King' Cole (as Nat King Cole)

      Courtesy of Capitol Records

      Under license from EMI Film & Television Music

    User reviews1.5K

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    We All Watch the Watchmen
    Let's get this out of the way - Watchmen the movie is not as good as the graphic novel.

    Zack Snyder's Watchmen is not your average graphic novel adaptation. Unlike with 300, which was short and sharp and shallow and easy to adapt, the original Watchmen is incredibly dense and, as written, unfilmable. So Snyder did something very smart - he didn't even try. What he did instead was to take the world of Watchmen and rebuild it in a way which made a virtue of this new medium (film) rather than try to cram the graphic novel into a cinematic form.

    Nowhere is this approach more obvious than in the film's title sequence. A wonderfully composed collage of images depicts scenes from the universe of Watchmen in a way which is only possible in the movies. In this way, we are subconsciously introduced to a world where costumed heroes are a part of everyday culture and brought, in a stylish and fluid way, from the original days of the Minutemen to those of the Watchmen. This introduction is cinematically perfect and is indicative of the heights which the Watchmen movie is perfectly capable of achieving but not quite capable of sustaining.

    Watchen is a brave film for a major studio to make and without a doubt it would not exist in its present form without the success of 300. It is incredibly dark (both in tone as well as shooting style) with events that would be anathema to any other superhero story. The less you know about the story, the better so there will be no spoilers here but suffice to say Watchmen's version of a happy ending is a far cry from the Hollywood norm.

    Snyders brings his unique approach to action to bear on Watchmen, expanding on the action scenes in the comic without making it feel too redundant. His efforts are ably supported by the incredibly game cast, excellent cinematography and near perfect visual effects - this film is incredible to look at but also manages to create an entire world in a way which most superhero stories never do. The attention to detail in even the smallest scenes is commendable and the dense flashback structure means the same attention is paid to the presentation of full and complex characters.

    Snyder has made a film which is gorgeous to look at, agreeably violent, well written, wonderfully designed and features some of the best small scale action sequences ever committed to celluloid. But, naturally, not everything is perfect. Most of the performances are excellent, with a cast of relative unknowns who manage to distinguish themselves despite constantly competing with overbearing effects and design. Patrick Wilson, in particular, does great work with a difficult role as Nite Owl, while Jackie Earle Hayley is blistering as Rorschach. Unfortunately in a film which could have done with a strong female presence, neither Carla Gugino nor Malin Ackerman make much of an impression, despite having quite a lot of screen time. Synder's musical cues are another bone of contention - often pushing the tone of the film into the realm of parody. And the ending... well let's just say it cheapens the experience in search of the lowest common denominator and the whole package suffers. On a related note, neither of the stories major revelations are handled that well. These moments were genuinely shocking in the graphic novel but are almost glossed over in the film.

    Don't get the wrong impression, Watchmen is a good film, sometimes a great film. Snyder has managed to make a movie which is a terrifically well balanced compromise between accessibility and fidelity. That anyone can sit down in the cinema and experience a distillation of the Watchmen universe in just 163 minutes is a marvel. It does not deliver the depth of feeling and connection of the novel but that is more a matter of the differences in the media than a failure on the part of the film.

    On its own merits, Zack Synder's Watchmen is a dark and twisted tale peopled with complex characters whose motivations are not obvious even to themselves. It is a solid film, sometimes rising into the extraordinary, and deserves to be successful. This is not Alan Moore's Watchmen but it is a competent extension of the universe into another medium and a worthy cinema-going experience.
    helpful•786
    387
    • ftyl
    • Feb 26, 2009

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    FAQ42

    • How long is Watchmen?Powered by Alexa
    • Is "Watchmen" based on a book?
    • Does the film retain its 1985 setting?
    • Why are there two Nite Owls and two Silk Spectres?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 5, 2009 (Netherlands)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Watchmen: The IMAX Experience
    • Filming locations
      • Riverview Hospital, Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • Paramount Pictures
      • Legendary Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $130,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $107,509,799
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $55,214,334
      • Mar 8, 2009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $185,382,813
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 42 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • SDDS
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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