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Documentary

The Great Hack (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

The Great Hack (2019) movie poster

The Great Hack is a 2019 documentary directed by Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer, starring Steve Bannon, Jamie Bartlett and Carole Cadwalladr. It runs 1 hour 53 minutes and earned $41.5 million worldwide. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Documentary at the BAFTA 2020. Critics gave it 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10. Stream it on Netflix.

IMDb rating
7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes
85%
worldwide gross
$41.5M
award nomination
1
The Great Hack (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 53m (113 min)
Directors
Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer
Genre
Documentary
Original language
English
Studio
Netflix
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Great Hack About?

The premise of The Great Hack without spoilers.

This explosive documentary explores the Cambridge Analytica/Facebook scandal and the manipulation of data for cultural and political gain. Award-winning filmmakers Karim Amer and Jehane Noujaim follow key figures involved, revealing how personal data became a powerful and valuable resource exploited to influence opinions and control narratives. The film delves into the dark underbelly of data exploitation and the fight for control over personal details in the digital age.

The Great Hack Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • social media
  • facebook
  • election
  • brexit
  • investigative journalism
  • investigative documentary
  • reference to julian assange
  • donald trump presidential campaign
  • hillary clinton presidential campaign
  • presidential election
  • fake news
  • whistleblower
+38 more
  • mark zuckerberg's testimony to congress
  • data rights are human rights
  • information
  • information age
  • cambridge analytica scandal
  • scandal
  • data
  • data science
  • influence peddling
  • surveillance industrial complex
  • surveillance capitalism
  • manipulation
  • social manipulation
  • negative advertising
  • microtargeting
  • psy ops
  • psychological manipulation
  • social hacking
  • social engineering
  • electioneering
  • mass surveillance
  • advertising
  • commercialization
  • social control
  • psychological profile
  • psychographics
  • psychometrics
  • political consultant
  • military contractor
  • military industrial complex
  • reference to mark zuckerberg
  • data harvesting
  • data mining
  • personal data
  • reference to alexander nix
  • mass communication
  • communications
  • data privacy
Where to watch

Where to Watch The Great Hack

Stream it on Netflix. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

The Great Hack Cast

Steve Bannon leads the cast, with Jamie Bartlett and Carole Cadwalladr. Directed by Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer; 17 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

The Great Hack Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Great Hack 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10. Our Echo Score gives it 52/100, strongest in art & craft (60) and weakest in rewatch factor (40).

52 /100

The Great Hack Echo Score Breakdown

When taken together, The Great Hack delivers an informative examination of digital privacy that is both timely and revealing. The documentary brings depth to the Cambridge Analytica scandal through alarming testimony and real-world examples. In terms of narrative flow, however, it struggles with uneven pacing and a scattered structure that undermines sustained engagement. The visual style and production design maintain a professional polish, but the heavy-handed direction and occasional repetition reduce its lasting impact. Overall, it offers important insights while feeling somewhat disjointed.

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

  • Art & Craft 60

    In terms of art and craft, The Great Hack displays a professional sheen in its cinematography and production design. The editing delivers moments of propulsion, especially in data-driven sequences, yet stylistic flourishes sometimes feel heavy-handed. While the film benefits from experienced direction, instances of ham-fisted presentation and uneven visual transitions detract from its overall coherence.

  • Character & Emotion 50

    In terms of character and emotion, the film presents compelling figures whose testimonies carry genuine alarm. Individual stories are engaging when spotlighted, yet the focus on certain personalities overshadows broader context. Emotional resonance fluctuates between urgency and detachment, diminishing deeper connection. Overall, character depth remains uneven despite moments of personal insight.

  • Story & Flow 55

    In terms of story and flow, The Great Hack assembles valuable information about data manipulation with clear urgency. It outlines key events methodically, yet pacing is inconsistent and narrative threads often diverge without clear transitions. Repetitive segments and fragmented chronology hinder original storytelling. The documentary’s content is relevant, but its structure undermines sustained engagement.

  • Sensory Experience 55

    When it comes to sensory experience, the documentary maintains a clean sound design and straightforward soundtrack that support its informational aims. Visual framing and color palettes are functional but seldom striking, adhering to a neutral documentary style. Moments of arcing motion graphics provide clarity, though overall sensory elements remain serviceable rather than evocative.

  • Rewatch Factor 40

    Regarding rewatch factor, The Great Hack’s dense informational content offers initial value but limited incentive for repeat viewings. Its heavy emphasis on data exposition and uneven pacing reduce the sense of rediscovery. While key revelations maintain relevance, viewers are unlikely to revisit the film frequently. The lasting appeal is primarily educational rather than entertaining.

Box office

The Great Hack Box Office

The Great Hack grossed $41.5 million worldwide. $472,166 came from the US and Canada and $41 million (99%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$41.5M

US & Canada
$472.2K
International
$41M
US & Canada 1% Rest of the world 99%
Awards

The Great Hack Awards & Nominations

The Great Hack earned 1 award nomination, including Best Documentary at the BAFTA 2020.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

The Great Hack Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Great Hack.

The Great Hack | Official Trailer | Netflix
Details

The Great Hack Also Known As

28 alternative titles, including “Злам” and “Великий гак”.

Also known as
  • Злам
  • Великий гак
  • Великий хак
  • Большой хак
  • Muneeb ibni usuf
  • Privacidade Hackeada
  • The Great Hack : L'affaire Cambridge Analytica
  • 거대한 해킹
  • Το Μεγάλο Χακάρισμα
  • El gran hackeo
  • Hakowanie świata
  • The Great Hack - Privacy violata
+16 more
  • A nagy hack
  • Cambridge Analyticas großer Hack
  • פרטיות ופוליטיקה: פרשת קיימברידג אנליטיקה
  • Nada é Privado: O Escândalo da Cambridge Analytica
  • Хакването на света
  • Nada es Privado
  • 隐私大盗
  • Velký hack
  • Cambridge Analytica. Скандальный взлом
  • 個資風暴:劍橋分析事件
  • แฮ็กสนั่นโลก
  • The Great Hack – Tietovuotoskandaalin tarina
  • Hacker Vĩ Đại
  • Великий злам
  • グレート・ハック: SNS史上最悪のスキャンダル
  • 以私謀權

Seen The Great Hack?

FAQ

The Great Hack FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

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

How long is The Great Hack?

The Great Hack runs 1 hour 53 minutes (113 minutes).

When was The Great Hack released?

The Great Hack was released on July 24, 2019.

Who directed The Great Hack?

The Great Hack was directed by Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer.

More films by Jehane Noujaim

Who is in the cast of The Great Hack?

The Great Hack stars Steve Bannon, Jamie Bartlett and Carole Cadwalladr, among 17 credited actors.

Where can I watch The Great Hack?

In the US, The Great Hack is streaming on Netflix (availability from JustWatch).

How much did The Great Hack make at the box office?

The Great Hack grossed $41.5 million worldwide ($472,166 domestic, $41 million international).

How is The Great Hack rated?

The Great Hack has 7.0/10 on IMDb, 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, 67 on Metacritic and 69% on TMDB.

Was The Great Hack nominated for any awards?

The Great Hack received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

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