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Action thriller

Dunkirk (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Dunkirk (2017) movie poster

Dunkirk is a 2017 action thriller directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Fionn Whitehead, Aneurin Barnard and Harry Styles. It runs 1 hour 46 minutes and earned $533.7 million worldwide on a $100 million budget. It won 3 Oscars, including Film Editing and Sound Editing, and 7 awards in all. Critics gave it 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 94 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.8/10. Stream it on fuboTV and Paramount Plus Essential, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
92%
worldwide gross
$533.7M
Oscars won
3
Dunkirk (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 46m (106 min)
Genres
Action , Drama , History , Thriller
Original language
English
Budget
$100M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Dunkirk About?

The premise of Dunkirk without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

During World War II, as German forces advance, hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers are stranded on the beaches of Dunkirk. A desperate evacuation begins, with a small fleet of civilian ships and boats risking everything to rescue the trapped troops. Facing relentless air and ground attacks, the operation is fraught with peril, but ultimately leads to the safe return of approximately 330,000 soldiers, showcasing remarkable bravery and unity.

Dunkirk Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • world war two
  • 1940s
  • soldier
  • evacuation
  • beach
  • spitfire
  • military
  • air attack
  • yacht
  • sinking ship
  • shell shock
  • survival
+38 more
  • england
  • army
  • france
  • rescue mission
  • very little dialogue
  • year 1940
  • airforce pilot
  • military officer
  • royal air force
  • rescue
  • bravery
  • english channel
  • aerial combat
  • fighter plane
  • combat
  • fate
  • epic
  • royal navy
  • pilot
  • surrounded
  • british soldier
  • boat
  • german army
  • heinkel he 111 bomber
  • messerschmitt me 109
  • british military
  • rescue attempt
  • british navy
  • running out of fuel
  • jumping off a ship
  • death notice
  • fighter pilot
  • one word title
  • general
  • confusion
  • ship
  • dunkirk france
  • coast
Where to watch

Where to Watch Dunkirk

Stream it on fuboTV and Paramount Plus Essential, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Dunkirk Cast

Fionn Whitehead leads the cast, with Aneurin Barnard and Harry Styles. Directed by Christopher Nolan; 11 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Dunkirk Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Dunkirk 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 94 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 88/100, strongest in art & craft (95) and weakest in story & flow (75).

88 /100

Dunkirk Echo Score Breakdown

Dunkirk excels as a rigorously crafted and emotionally charged cinematic experience. Its sparse yet potent narrative cohesion and measured pacing generate sustained tension through intertwined land, sea, and air perspectives. The film’s technical brilliance—spanning direction, cinematography, and sound design—immerses viewers in a visceral recreation of wartime evacuation. While its minimal dialogue and understated character moments may leave some seeking deeper personal arcs, the overall execution delivers a compelling and unrelenting portrayal of collective survival.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 95

    In terms of art and craft, Dunkirk delivers a standout demonstration of technical mastery. Its spare framing and precise editing convey urgency without visual clutter. Nolan’s use of IMAX photography and restrained color palette heightens the starkness of each environment. Production design seamlessly blends practical sets and real vessels, reinforcing authenticity. Overall, the film’s visual and editorial choices represent an exemplary achievement in cinematic workmanship.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    When it comes to character and emotion, Dunkirk emphasizes atmosphere over individual backstory, yielding a more collective portrait of survival. Performances convey anxiety and resolve through minimal dialogue and expressive physicality. Moments of genuine distress and solidarity emerge across land, sea, and air perspectives. However, some viewers may find limited personal development among the ensemble. Ultimately, the film balances emotional resonance with stylistic restraint, resulting in a tension-driven yet somewhat distant character experience.

  • Story & Flow 75

    Regarding story and flow, Dunkirk offers a lean and focused narrative structure that intertwines three timelines efficiently. The film’s brisk pacing maintains engagement, with each sequence building toward a cohesive climax. Its deliberate omissions and sparse exposition contribute to immersive tension but leave narrative questions open. Viewers seeking deeper thematic exploration may feel the storyline is minimal. In the end, the film sustains interest through momentum and highlights survival rather than detailed plot intricacies.

  • Sensory Experience 90

    In terms of sensory experience, Dunkirk delivers an overwhelmingly immersive audio-visual impact. The thunderous sound design and dynamic score propel sequences of aerial and naval combat with palpable intensity. Visual cohesion is reinforced by stark lighting and authentic set pieces that draw the audience into the period setting. Moments of silence punctuate chaos, amplifying sonic shocks. Overall, the film’s sensory elements combine to create a highly engaging and visceral viewing atmosphere.

  • Rewatch Factor 85

    When it comes to rewatch factor, Dunkirk offers substantial appeal for enthusiasts of technical craftsmanship and immersive war cinema. Subsequent viewings reveal additional narrative interplay among the three timelines and nuanced visual details. The film’s measured pacing and absence of traditional character arcs may limit repeated emotional investment for some. Nevertheless, its intense atmosphere and precise filmmaking encourage revisiting to appreciate its construction. Overall, Dunkirk retains strong lasting appeal for viewers drawn to its experiential strengths.

Plot

Dunkirk Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Dunkirk from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The story unfolds through three interconnected narratives that span different durations: on land, covering a week; at sea, over a day; and in the air, within an hour. These segments intricately weave into a non-linear tale.

The tale begins with an introductory note, stating that in 1940, following Nazi Germany’s invasion of France, countless Allied soldiers retreated to the coastal town of Dunkirk. As the Allied lines tighten and German forces advance, the soldiers find themselves in a seemingly desperate situation, waiting for evacuation.

I. The Mole:

Full summary

The whole story of Dunkirk, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Dunkirk Box Office & Budget

Dunkirk grossed $533.7 million worldwide on a $100 million budget, 5.3 times what it cost. $189.7 million came from the US and Canada and $343.9 million (64%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$533.7M

5.3× its budget

US & Canada
$189.7M
International
$343.9M
Budget
$100M
US & Canada 36% Rest of the world 64%
Awards

Dunkirk Awards & Nominations

Dunkirk won 3 Oscars, including Film Editing and Sound Editing, and 7 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Oscars 2018, with 3 wins from 8 nominations.

7 wins31 nominations8 ceremonies

Show all 8 ceremonies
Videos

Dunkirk Trailers & Videos

10 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser, 6 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

All 10 videos
Dunkirk - Trailer 1 [HD]
  • Trailer DUNKIRK - OFFICIAL MAIN TRAILER [HD]
  • Teaser
  • Featurette Dunkirk - History Featurette
  • Featurette Dunkirk – Weathering the Storm Featurette
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Dunkirk?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the main protagonist among the British soldiers stranded on Dunkirk beaches?

Cars

Cars in Dunkirk

5 cars on screen, including the Bedford MW and the 1939 Bedford OY.

All 5 cars
  • Bedford MW in Dunkirk Bedford MW Background role
  • 1939 Bedford OY in Dunkirk 1939 Bedford OY Background role
  • 1944 Morris-Commercial C8 GS in Dunkirk 1944 Morris-Commercial C8 GS Background role
  • Peugeot 176 TC4 in Dunkirk Peugeot 176 TC4 Background role
Details

Dunkirk Also Known As

21 alternative titles, including “Dunkerque” and “Denkerka”.

Also known as
  • Dunkerque
  • Denkerka
  • Dunkirk 2017
  • 鄧寇克大行動
  • Դյունկերկ
  • Дюнкерк
  • Δουνκέρκη
  • דנקרק
  • Dunkierka
  • Dunkerk
  • Денкерк
  • 敦克爾克大行動
+9 more
  • Cuộc Di Tản Dunkirk
  • ดันเคิร์ก
  • 敦刻尔克
  • دانکرک
  • 덩케르크
  • دنكيرك
  • ダンケルク
  • Diunkerkas, გამოუვალი მდგომარეობა
  • دونكيرك

Seen Dunkirk?

FAQ

Dunkirk FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and awards of Dunkirk, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Dunkirk?

Dunkirk runs 1 hour 46 minutes (106 minutes).

When was Dunkirk released?

Dunkirk was released on July 21, 2017.

Who directed Dunkirk?

Dunkirk was directed by Christopher Nolan.

More films by Christopher Nolan

Who is in the cast of Dunkirk?

Dunkirk stars Fionn Whitehead, Aneurin Barnard and Harry Styles, among 11 credited actors.

Where can I watch Dunkirk?

In the US, Dunkirk is streaming on fuboTV, Paramount Plus Essential and Paramount Plus and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Dunkirk make at the box office?

Dunkirk grossed $533.7 million worldwide ($189.7 million domestic, $343.9 million international) on a budget of $100 million.

How is Dunkirk rated?

Dunkirk has 7.8/10 on IMDb, 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 94 on Metacritic and 75% on TMDB.

What awards did Dunkirk win?

Dunkirk won 7 awards from 31 nominations, including Film Editing at the Oscars 2018.

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