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Historical drama

The Current War (2017): Cast, Box Office & Plot

The Current War (2017) movie poster

The Current War is a 2017 historical drama directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Thomas Edison, Michael Shannon and Woody Norman. It runs 1 hour 48 minutes and earned $12.2 million worldwide.

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The Current War (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 48m (108 min)
Director
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
Genres
Drama , History
Original language
English
Studio
Bazelevs Production
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Current War About?

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

Power changes everything Electricity titans Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse compete to create a sustainable system and market it to the American people.

The Current War Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • world's fair
  • 1893 columbian exposition
  • 19th century
  • based on true story
  • lens flare
  • chicago illinois
  • thomas edison character
  • patent application
  • menlo park new jersey
  • j.p. morgan character
  • morse code
  • chester a. arthur character
+38 more
  • pittsburgh pennsylvania
  • reference to giuseppe verdi
  • trick question
  • train trip
  • phonograph
  • george westinghouse character
  • nikola tesla character
  • westinghouse corporation
  • great barrington massachusetts
  • execution
  • electrocution
  • autograph seeker
  • alternating current
  • direct current
  • sioux city iowa
  • new orleans louisiana
  • fort worth texas
  • grover cleveland character
  • president of the united states
  • wind
  • snow
  • year 1880
  • voice over narration
  • patent
  • american history
  • train
  • looking out a train window
  • lantern
  • man wears a top hat
  • inventor
  • food
  • prologue
  • husband wife relationship
  • mother son relationship
  • mother daughter relationship
  • father son relationship
  • father daughter relationship
  • male secretary
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Cast & crew

The Current War Cast & Characters

Benedict Cumberbatch leads the cast as Thomas Edison, with Michael Shannon as George Westinghouse and Woody Norman as Dash Edison. Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon; 61 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Current War

· 57 more
Show all 61 cast members
Plot

The Current War Plot Summary

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

Spoilers ahead

In the year 1880, the story begins with Benedict Cumberbatch as Thomas Edison, passionately applying for a patent for his revolutionary electric lightbulb. In his detailed presentation, Edison explains the design and purpose of his invention to an eager audience. As he demonstrates his vision, a crowd of men gathers in the woods, drawn by the promise of fortune. They approach to find a sprawling field illuminated by thousands of glowing lightbulbs—an awe-inspiring sight that symbolizes Edison’s dream of illuminating the world. Edison has gathered these investors to bankroll his venture, though he still requires additional funding to fully realize his ambitions.

Full summary

The whole story of The Current War, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Current War Box Office

The Current War grossed $12.2 million worldwide. $6 million came from the US and Canada and $6.2 million (51%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$12.2M

US & Canada
$6M
International
$6.2M
US & Canada 49% Rest of the world 51%
Videos

The Current War Trailers & Videos

10 videos: 2 trailers, 3 teasers, 3 clips and 2 featurettes.

All 10 videos
Official Movie Trailer
  • Trailer THE CURRENT WAR: Director's Cut | Official Trailer | 101 Studios
  • Teaser UK Spot
  • Teaser UK Spot
  • Teaser The Story
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Current War?

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 portrayed as the inventor applying for a patent for the lightbulb in the film?
Details

The Current War Also Known As

38 alternative titles, including “Akım Savaşı” and “Война на токовете”.

Also known as
  • Akım Savaşı
  • Война на токовете
  • Feszültség
  • Война токов
  • A BATALHA DAS CORRENTES
  • 电流战争
  • Una Guerra Brillante
  • La guerra de las corrientes
  • The Current War: Director's Cut
  • 电力大战
  • A Guerra das Correntes
  • エジソンズ・ゲーム：2018
+26 more
  • Wojna o Prąd
  • Vysoké napětí
  • Edison - Ein Leben voller Licht
  • Elektrik Savaşları
  • 電流大戰
  • Война за светлина
  • Válka vynálezců
  • 电力之战
  • Рат струја
  • 電流戰爭
  • 커런트 워
  • Η Μάχη της Επικράτησης
  • Edison - L'uomo che illuminò il mondo
  • המלחמה על הכוח
  • Guerra das Correntes
  • สงครามไฟฟ้า คนขั้วอัจฉริยะ
  • Strāvas karš
  • Srovių karas
  • La guerra dels corrents, მიმდინარე ომი
  • Війна струмів
  • エジソンズ・ゲーム
  • Rat struja
  • Trận Chiến Ánh Sáng
  • Bitka za električni tok
  • Vojna vynálezcov
  • La guerre des courants

Seen The Current War?
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Movies Like The Current War

Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Current War: Director's Cut, The Cut and Tesla: Master of Lightning.

FAQ

The Current War FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of The Current War, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Current War?

The Current War runs 1 hour 48 minutes (108 minutes).

When was The Current War released?

The Current War was released on September 9, 2017.

Who directed The Current War?

The Current War was directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon.

Who is in the cast of The Current War?

The Current War stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Thomas Edison, Michael Shannon as George Westinghouse and Woody Norman as Dash Edison, among 61 credited actors.

How much did The Current War make at the box office?

The Current War grossed $12.2 million worldwide ($6 million domestic, $6.2 million international).

Does The Current War have a post-credit scene?

No. The Current War has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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