Snowden

Play trailer

2:25

Snowden

R

2016

2h 14m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Biography

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

61%

Tomatometer

261 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Disillusioned with the intelligence community, top contractor Edward Snowden (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) leaves his job at the National Security Agency. He now knows that a virtual mountain of data is being assembled to track all forms of digital communication -- not just from foreign governments and terrorist groups, but from ordinary Americans. When Snowden decides to leak this classified information, he becomes a traitor to some, a hero to others and a fugitive from the law.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Snowden boasts a thrilling fact-based tale and a solid lead performance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt, even if director Oliver Stone saps the story of some of its impact by playing it safe.

Read Critics Reviews

Elena Lazic

Little White Lies

03/21/2018

Yet although Gordon-Levitt presence helps to keep us invested in the story, you'll be left wondering how this dull, overlong film might have turned out in the hands of a less bombastic filmmaker.

Go to Full Review

K. Austin Collins

The Ringer

08/10/2017

But what [Snowden] mostly adds up to is a strange, disappointing movie.

Go to Full Review

Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

12/11/2016

3/5

Snowden's intellect is most effectively conveyed in Gordon-Levitt's eyes - watchful, sober and clouded by doubt, they are a window into his impossible ethical quandary.

Go to Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Jul 31

2/5

The volume of the pedestal-placing and monument-building is terribly effusive.

Go to Full Review

Zach Pope

Zach Pope Reviews

08/07/2023

Oliver Stone's best movie in years

Go to Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

04/11/2022

3.5/4

Stone brings to light that our disturbed and anxious feelings about cyber-scrutiny are not paranoia, because that word suggests the menace isn't real.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

thiago S

@Thiagostone Mar 11

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

See more

Rehan T

@RT81460504 May 24

I loved the movie, he exposed the people...

See more

A.L.Jude P

@judebd May 22

The misrepresentation of Edward Snowden detracts from the essence of the real story.

See more

Phillip D

@phildub 04/05/2025

Compelling story. Interesting information & perspective. Lots of great cast & acting. Stone did a great job putting this together and executing.

See more

Richard M

@RichardMille 03/02/2025

Really slow. Initially thought it was spy or action movie, but it's just mostly informational/drama/true story. The end was nice though.

See more

Tyler L

@TLLars99 01/25/2025

Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives a stellar performance that pretty much carries the entire film. Unfortunately, Oliver Stone is unable to comidate deeper into the titular character's phychy that makes the plot feel too safe and boring.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Oliver Stone

Director

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Edward Snowden

Shailene Woodley

Lindsay Mills

Rhys Ifans

Corbin O'Brian

Nicolas Cage

Hank Forrester

Melissa Leo

Laura Poitras

The Infiltrator

72%

71%

The Infiltrator

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Infiltrator

Kill the Messenger

76%

69%

Kill the Messenger

Watchlist

Argo

96%

90%

Argo

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Argo

The Fifth Estate

35%

36%

The Fifth Estate

Watchlist

Money Monster

59%

51%

Money Monster

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Money Monster

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

On DVD This Week: Snowden, American Honey, The Dressmaker, and More

The Santa Clause, Misery, and More Available to Stream on Netflix and Amazon Prime

Box Office: Sully Repeats

Snowden: Comic-Con Trailer

2:25

Snowden: Trailer 1

2:25

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Disillusioned with the intelligence community, top contractor Edward Snowden (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) leaves his job at the National Security Agency. He now knows that a virtual mountain of data is being assembled to track all forms of digital communication -- not just from foreign governments and terrorist groups, but from ordinary Americans. When Snowden decides to leak this classified information, he becomes a traitor to some, a hero to others and a fugitive from the law.

Director: Oliver Stone
Producer: Moritz Borman, Eric Kopeloff, Philip Schulz-Deyle, Fernando Sulichin
Screenwriter: Oliver Stone, Kieran Fitzgerald
Distributor: Open Road
Production Co: KrautPack Entertainment, Endgame Entertainment, Vendian Entertainment, Wild Bunch, Onda Entertainment
Rating: R (Some Sexuality/Nudity|Language)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 16, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 17, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $21.6M
Runtime: 2h 14m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now