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Documentary

Risk (2017): Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Risk (2017) movie poster

Risk is a 2017 documentary directed by Laura Poitras. It runs 1 hour 32 minutes and earned $214,669 worldwide on a $25 million budget. Critics gave it 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and 72 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10.

IMDb rating
5.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
80%
worldwide gross
$214.7K
Echo Score
60
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Risk (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 32m (92 min)
Director
Laura Poitras
Genre
Documentary
Original language
English
Budget
$25M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Risk About?

The premise of Risk without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Laura Poitras’s Risk offers a deeply personal look at the world of WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange. Filmed over six years, the documentary chronicles Assange's fight against powerful institutions and the legal battles he faces. The film explores the complexities of his character, his unwavering beliefs, and the significant risks he takes while navigating a period of intense controversy and global impact.

Risk Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • knife
  • hitman
  • two word title
  • u.s. deputy marshal
  • u.s. marshal
  • f word
  • violence
  • gun
  • blood
  • profanity
  • airplaine pilot
  • bullet
+38 more
  • informant
  • swearing
  • knife wound
  • deputy marshal
  • tough woman
  • wound
  • airplane
  • government witness
  • stab wound
  • handcuffs
  • deputy
  • pilot
  • handgun
  • flight risk
  • anchorage alaska
  • zapped with a taser
  • satellite phone
  • prisoner transport
  • small plane crash
  • shackled prisoner
  • witness on the run
  • prisoner air transport
  • bribery with crypto
  • witness protection program
  • executing a snitch
  • alaskan mountain range
  • corrupt marshal
  • crash landing
  • microwave
  • snow
  • plastic bag
  • plastic bag on head
  • plastic bag over head
  • plastic bag over one's head
  • cup of noodles
  • glasses
  • headset
  • noodles
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Crew

The Director of Risk

Directed by Laura Poitras.

From the director

More from Laura Poitras

More films directed by Laura Poitras, best-rated first: Citizenfour, Cover-Up, All the Beauty and the Bloodshed and The Oath.

Full filmography
Ratings

Risk Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Risk 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and 72 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 60/100, strongest in sensory experience (80) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).

60 /100

Risk Echo Score Breakdown

The documentary offers compelling access and striking visuals, but its uneven structure and limited depth diminish its impact. Critics praise the intimate portrayal of its subject and dramatic sequences, yet many note a lack of narrative focus and unresolved threads. The film’s ambient styling and raw reportage create moments of fascination while failing to cohere into a fully engaging documentary. On balance, Risk presents intriguing material in need of sharper storytelling to sustain its ambition.

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

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of art and craft, the documentary excels in its visual presentation through carefully composed shots and deliberate editing choices. The cinematography is consistently artful, employing an understated color palette and dynamic framing to emphasize key moments. Laura Poitras’s direction secures access that underpins much of the film’s power. Overall, the visual design demonstrates strong craftsmanship despite occasional lapses in cohesion.

  • Character & Emotion 55

    When it comes to character and emotion, the film offers an intimate view of its central figure but stops short of sustained depth. Julian Assange appears in moments of candid reflection, yet the documentary peels back only a few layers of his personality and motivations. The dynamic between filmmaker and subject reveals tension but lacks consistent emotional resonance. In sum, the character portrayal is intriguing but not fully realized.

  • Story & Flow 50

    In terms of story and flow, Risk exhibits uneven pacing that disrupts narrative coherence. The film frequently shifts between timelines and topics without clear transition, leading to moments that feel disjointed. While certain scenes carry dramatic weight, the overall structure resembles an outline rather than a cohesive arc. Consequently, the storytelling maintains spikes of engagement but ultimately falls short of sustaining a unified narrative momentum.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    When it comes to sensory experience, Risk leverages an ambient soundtrack and carefully chosen sound design to enhance its mood. The score’s jittery textures underscore moments of tension, while the visual style blends raw surveillance footage with composed sequences. This blend creates a cohesive audiovisual identity that reinforces the film’s investigative tone. Overall, the sensory elements consistently support the documentary’s immersive atmosphere.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    In terms of rewatch factor, Risk offers specific appeal for viewers interested in its subject but limited broader replay value. The unparalleled access yields moments worth revisiting, particularly candid interviews that reveal personal nuances. However, the film’s uneven structure and unresolved threads reduce its enjoyment on repeated viewings. Ultimately, while certain sequences may retain intrigue, the documentary lacks sufficient cohesion to sustain long-term rewatch interest.

Plot

Risk Plot Summary

What happens in Risk from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 6-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

A tense, high-stakes chase unfolds as a U.S. Marshal’s plan to bring a guarded informant to testify against a powerful crime family spirals into a deadly flight for survival. U.S. Marshal Madolyn Harris follows the trail of Winston, an accountant who turned informant, from a remote Alaskan hideout toward New York City, hoping to secure his testimony against the Moretti crime family. Winston’s demand for full immunity and airtight protection sets the terms of a mission that is already precarious, because every mile toward Manhattan increases the risk of betrayal, pursuit, and an execution that could shield the mob rather than expose it.

Full summary

The whole story of Risk, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Risk Box Office & Budget

Risk grossed $214,669 worldwide on a $25 million budget. $200,219 came from the US and Canada and $14,450 (7%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$214.7K

US & Canada
$200.2K
International
$14.5K
Budget
$25M
US & Canada 93% Rest of the world 7%
Videos

Risk Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Risk.

Official Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Risk?

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

Question 1 of 9

  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

Which actress plays U.S. Marshal Madolyn Harris?

Details

Risk Also Known As

6 alternative titles, including “Asylum” and “Risk: filmen om Julian Assange”.

Also known as
  • Asylum
  • Risk: filmen om Julian Assange
  • 리스크
  • 风险
  • Kuka Julian Assange?
  • Riscul

Seen Risk?

FAQ

Risk FAQ: Box Office, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Risk, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Risk?

Risk runs 1 hour 32 minutes (92 minutes).

When was Risk released?

Risk was released on May 5, 2017.

Who directed Risk?

Risk was directed by Laura Poitras.

More films by Laura Poitras

How much did Risk make at the box office?

Risk grossed $214,669 worldwide ($200,219 domestic, $14,450 international) on a budget of $25 million.

How is Risk rated?

Risk has 5.3/10 on IMDb, 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, 72 on Metacritic and 66% on TMDB.

Does Risk have a post-credit scene?

No. Risk has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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