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Snowden

  • 2016
  • R
  • 2h 14m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
168K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,021
204
Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Snowden (2016)
Snowden, the politically-charged, pulse-pounding thriller starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Shailene Woodley, reveals the untold personal story of Edward Snowden, the polarizing figure who exposed shocking illegal surveillance activities by the NSA and became one of the most wanted men in the world. He is considered a hero by some, and a traitor by others.
Play trailer2:26
23 Videos
99+ Photos
True CrimeBiographyCrimeDramaThriller

The NSA's illegal surveillance techniques are leaked to the public by one of the agency's employees, Edward Snowden, in the form of thousands of classified documents distributed to the press... Read allThe NSA's illegal surveillance techniques are leaked to the public by one of the agency's employees, Edward Snowden, in the form of thousands of classified documents distributed to the press.The NSA's illegal surveillance techniques are leaked to the public by one of the agency's employees, Edward Snowden, in the form of thousands of classified documents distributed to the press.

  • Director
    • Oliver Stone
  • Writers
    • Kieran Fitzgerald
    • Oliver Stone
    • Luke Harding
  • Stars
    • Joseph Gordon-Levitt
    • Shailene Woodley
    • Melissa Leo
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    168K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,021
    204
    • Director
      • Oliver Stone
    • Writers
      • Kieran Fitzgerald
      • Oliver Stone
      • Luke Harding
    • Stars
      • Joseph Gordon-Levitt
      • Shailene Woodley
      • Melissa Leo
    • 304User reviews
    • 338Critic reviews
    • 58Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos23

    Exclusive Comic-Con Trailer
    Trailer 2:26
    Exclusive Comic-Con Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:40
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:40
    Official Trailer
    Teaser
    Trailer 1:28
    Teaser
    Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 1:28
    Teaser Trailer
    Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 1:28
    Teaser Trailer
    Pressure Point
    Clip 1:23
    Pressure Point

    Photos152

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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Joseph Gordon-Levitt
    Joseph Gordon-Levitt
    • Edward Snowden
    Shailene Woodley
    Shailene Woodley
    • Lindsay Mills
    Melissa Leo
    Melissa Leo
    • Laura Poitras
    Zachary Quinto
    Zachary Quinto
    • Glenn Greenwald
    Jaymes Butler
    Jaymes Butler
    • Drill Sergeant
    Robert Firth
    Robert Firth
    • Dr. Stillwell
    Rachel Handshaw
    Rachel Handshaw
    • CIA Polygraph Adminstrator
    Christian Contreras
    Christian Contreras
    • CIA Psychologist
    Parker Sawyers
    Parker Sawyers
    • CIA Interviewer
    Rhys Ifans
    Rhys Ifans
    • Corbin O'Brian
    Ken Thomas
    Ken Thomas
    • Warrenton Gate Guard
    • (as Kenneth Thomas)
    Nicolas Cage
    Nicolas Cage
    • Hank Forrester
    Michael Benz
    Michael Benz
    • CIA Student
    Tom Wilkinson
    Tom Wilkinson
    • Ewen MacAskill
    Joely Richardson
    Joely Richardson
    • Janine Gibson
    Nicholas Rowe
    Nicholas Rowe
    • Assistant Editor Guardian
    Demetri Goritsas
    Demetri Goritsas
    • CIA Supervisor
    Timothy Olyphant
    Timothy Olyphant
    • CIA Agent Geneva
    • Director
      • Oliver Stone
    • Writers
      • Kieran Fitzgerald
      • Oliver Stone
      • Luke Harding
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews304

    7.3168.3K
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    Featured reviews

    8Ramascreen

    Riveting! Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives an Oscar-worthy performance.

    The great director who's not afraid to tackle matters of war, conspiracy and controversial American political issues, has returned. Only this time, Oliver Stone has upgraded his latest film's look and tone to make it seem more digitally advanced, which is fine because it fits the story of Edward Snowden and we're living in this day and age where every millennial's favorite series happens to be "Mr. Robot." SNOWDEN, as you've guessed it, is a thriller about the whistleblower and former intelligence contractor, Edward Snowden, played in this film by the talented Joseph Gordon-Levitt. "Divergent" star, Shailene Woodley plays his girlfriend, Lindsay Mills, who stays by his side through his ordeals of working for the government due to his patriotism while at the same time feeling conflicted about how the government runs its methods in the name of national security. This film dramatizes the events that led Snowden to becoming one of the most wanted men in the world.

    First, I have to give praises to Joseph Gordon-Levitt who I think went above and beyond in not only capturing Edward Snowden's mannerism and the way he speaks but my goodness, Gordon-Levitt's performance in this film is so calculating and precise, you can see his brains constantly work itself out, just by looking at him. And Shailene Woodley gives her most mature performance yet, because this film is more than just about the whole surveillance controversy, it's also about how that negatively affects Snowden & Mills relationship and I think it's fairly handled, both aspects don't take away or diminish each other's importance in the process.

    When it comes to the film's dramatizing the U.S. and British global surveillance program, I'm sure there'll be questions as to how authentic the portrayal is, as far as the headquarters are concerned, for example, some may see it as a bit too much like a Bond villain's secret lair, but you'll be entertained by some of the visual effects that the film applies to showcase hacking and how one person can connect to another person and to another person and what's most fascinating about it is that there's a programmer watching the whole thing the entire time.

    So SNOWDEN is essentially part conspiracy thriller, part relationship drama, and to a certain extent, part heist. Overall, I think it's a riveting film that keeps you engaged and more importantly gets you thinking, which I think is the goal of Oliver Stone's movies. Does the film lean one way in that it paints Edward Snowden as a hero? I think so, but not in a way that intentionally judges those who at the end still think of him as a traitor. SNOWDEN might cause audiences to become more paranoid or it might cause audiences to start supporting any effort to hold our government accountable. The jury's still out.

    -- Rama's Screen --
    7gabrieltaitmusic

    Misrepresentation of Edward Snowden Takes Away From the Real Story

    Let me preface this by saying that the film cinematically was good. However, my criticisms regard the impact of the film in relation to the true events that took place, and the real Edward Snowden.

    The main character in the movie 'Snowden' was a dishonest and grossly false representation of the real Edward Snowden. Oliver Stone portrays him as this hot shot genius big-wig within the NSA and CIA when the truth is that Edward Snowden was really a mid-level intelligence analyst. I thought that took a lot away from the real story, being that Edward Snowden was one of many ordinary government employees and what made him different is that he had the courage of his convictions to speak up and become a whistle-blower when he saw that our government was acting against the democratic principles for which this country was founded upon.

    The real Edward Snowden shows us that even everyday Americans can become true patriotic heroes by speaking up when they see something they know is wrong. It is clear and obvious that the programs he revealed that ARE STILL BEING USED TODAY are completely prohibited by the 4th Amendment.
    8Laakbaar

    The Snowden story, well told

    Oliver Stone is such a great director. He's succeeded once again in producing an interesting and sympathetic historical movie, this time about the Edward Snowden whistle-blowing story. His movies are so credible, so finely crafted, so watchable.

    It is a pleasure to just sit back and let Stone show Snowden's story to you. I can't imagine anyone ever producing a Snowden movie that is better than this one. I felt the story was presented objectively and neutrally. Only near the end did the political aspect become a little too much. Yes, Stone is taking a pro-Snowden position and is trying to convince you that his position is right. If you are unable to emotionally handle that didactic aspect, don't see this movie.

    Can I also talk about Joseph Gordon-Levitt? The man is clearly a great actor with enormous range. He's been in dozens of movies now, and his performances in each of them have been excellent. He really does capture Snowden in this movie. Kudos to him, Stone and everyone else involved in this film.
    8michaeljtrubic

    I think it might be Oliver Stone's best film yet

    I know he won best picture for platoon - which also was a serious endeavour - but its behind us.

    Vietnam is over, Vietnam is done.

    Snowden lives. Actually, Snowden escaped and survived.

    He went to what might be the only place people can be protected from US government agencies. I would like to think all whistle blowers would have to do is cross into Canada but then Snowden would know. He was smart - he is smart.

    I remember Bambi Bembenek. She blew a whistle too and made it to Canada. Poor thing.

    This is a must see for all except those that don't care their protection set forth by the founders of the United States can be taken away by bullies, perhaps corrupted by limitless power of a new industrialized intelligence complex.

    Masterful work by Oliver Stone.

    Thanks for bringing it to Tiff.

    Oliver, please ask for a theatre more appropriate for Q&A for Snowden 2.0
    10cinswan

    Watch this instead of, or along with, the documentary: Keep an open mind

    For those who don't like documentaries (the documentary about Snowden, which is part of this movie, is excellent education about what our government can do with us) watch this first. Oliver Stone paints a portrait of a stand-up, pretty much button down guy who realizes the work he falls into is anything but what he was taught was right -- and then he needs to find a way out, without endangering his girlfriend. Another great film about a whistleblower --- and for his whistleblowing, he faces far harsher penalties just for coming home. Oliver Stone delivers thought provoking film again, and the entire cast, as well as the writing, is stellar.

    For those who made up their mind about Ed Snowden through what was reported in mass media, I would simply say, watch this with an open mind. What happened to him could happen to any of us. This is a cautionary tale based on true facts told in the most exquisite way by Stone and his cast.

    Isabeau Vollhardt, author, The Casebook of Elisha Grey

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      To make sure the screenplay was not hacked or leaked, Oliver Stone wrote the script on a single computer with no Internet connection.
    • Goofs
      Despite being portrayed as an extremely skilled hacker, Snowden uses drag-and-drop to copy the files to his microSD card in the Hawaii NSA base, exposing himself to being found due to the tens of file copy dialogs that pop up on the screen. Any sort of power user, let alone a hacker, would have used the command line, and would have minimized the window so it wouldn't stay visible on the screen.
    • Quotes

      Edward Snowden: Terrorism is just an excuse.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Michael Strahan/Zachary Quinto/James Cameron/Vince Staples (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      Secret Downloading
      Written and Produced by Craig Armstrong

      Programming by Craig Armstrong and Scott Fraser

      Remixed by Boys Noize

      Additional Production and Programming by Boys Noize (as Alex Ridha)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 16, 2016 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Germany
      • France
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Instagram
    • Languages
      • English
      • American Sign Language
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • The Snowden Files
    • Filming locations
      • Hawaii, USA
    • Production companies
      • Endgame Entertainment
      • Vendian Entertainment
      • KrautPack Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $40,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $21,587,519
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $8,000,058
      • Sep 18, 2016
    • Gross worldwide
      • $37,357,216
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 14 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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