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Action thriller

Zero Dark Thirty (2012): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Zero Dark Thirty (2012) movie poster

Zero Dark Thirty is a 2012 action thriller directed by Kathryn Bigelow, starring Jason Clarke, Jessica Chastain and Jennifer Ehle. It runs 2 hours 37 minutes and earned $132.8 million worldwide on a $40 million budget. It won 1 Oscar, including Sound Editing, and 4 awards in all. Critics gave it 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 95 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10. Stream it on Apple TV and Netflix, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
91%
worldwide gross
$132.8M
Oscar won
1
Where to watch Watch the trailer
Zero Dark Thirty (2012) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 37m (157 min)
Director
Kathryn Bigelow
Genres
Action , Drama , History , Thriller
Original language
English
Studio
Columbia Pictures
Budget
$40M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Zero Dark Thirty About?

The premise of Zero Dark Thirty without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Following the September 11 attacks, a relentless international effort begins to locate and capture Osama bin Laden. The hunt spans multiple U.S. administrations and involves significant resources as authorities track the elusive terrorist leader. A dedicated intelligence operative becomes instrumental in identifying bin Laden's whereabouts. The pursuit ultimately leads to a risky nighttime raid by Navy SEALs in Pakistan, resulting in bin Laden's death in May 2011 and marking a significant moment in the fight against terrorism.

Zero Dark Thirty Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • terrorist
  • death of osama bin laden
  • al qaeda
  • navy seal
  • special forces
  • commando raid
  • afghan pakistan border
  • combat
  • commando mission
  • war on terrorism
  • female spy
  • street shootout
+38 more
  • mossad
  • military drone
  • manhunt
  • intelligence agent
  • terrorist plot
  • explosion
  • based on true story
  • torture
  • lie
  • aircraft carrier
  • female agent
  • september 11 2001
  • waterboarding
  • male tied up
  • 2000s
  • 2010s
  • interrogation
  • pakistan
  • u.s. invasion of afghanistan
  • targeting laser
  • reference to osama bin laden
  • military checkpoint
  • reference to richard reid
  • reference to bob marley
  • gunfight
  • shootout
  • paris france
  • desert
  • night vision goggles
  • helicopter
  • commando unit
  • soldier
  • area 51
  • terrorist group
  • terrorism
  • dead woman with eyes open
  • espionage
  • shot through a door
Where to watch

Where to Watch Zero Dark Thirty

Stream it on Apple TV and Netflix, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Stream 7

Rent or buy 7

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Zero Dark Thirty Cast

Jason Clarke leads the cast, with Jessica Chastain and Jennifer Ehle. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow; 7 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Zero Dark Thirty

· 3 more
Ratings

Zero Dark Thirty Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Zero Dark Thirty 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 95 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10.

Plot

Zero Dark Thirty Plot Summary

What happens in Zero Dark Thirty from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Part 1: THE SAUDI GROUP

Two years after the September 11 attacks, at a CIA Black Site, we find Dan (Jason Clarke) entering a gloomy room where a terrorist financier named Ammar (Reda Kateb) is being held by masked CIA agents. Dan establishes a brutally intense atmosphere, making it clear that any disobedience from Ammar will result in harm. He restrains Ammar further, instructing one of the masked agents to follow him outside. There, he introduces a young CIA agent named Maya (Jessica Chastain), who is new to such interrogations. Dan expresses apologies for the harshness, while Maya questions the potential for Ammar’s release, to which Dan bleakly responds, “Never.”

Full summary

The whole story of Zero Dark Thirty, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Zero Dark Thirty Box Office & Budget

Zero Dark Thirty grossed $132.8 million worldwide on a $40 million budget, 3.3 times what it cost. $95.7 million came from the US and Canada and $37.1 million (28%) from the rest of the world.

2012 box office

Worldwide gross

$132.8M

3.3× its budget

US & Canada
$95.7M
International
$37.1M
Budget
$40M
US & Canada 72% Rest of the world 28%
Awards

Zero Dark Thirty Awards & Nominations

Zero Dark Thirty won 1 Oscar, including Sound Editing, and 4 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Critics' Choice 2013, with 2 wins from 5 nominations.

4 wins22 nominations7 ceremonies

Show all 7 ceremonies
Videos

Zero Dark Thirty Trailers & Videos

3 videos: 3 trailers.

ZERO DARK THIRTY - Official Trailer - In Theaters 12/19
  • Trailer ZERO DARK THIRTY - Official US Trailer - In Theaters 12/19
  • Trailer Zero Dark Thirty Final Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Zero Dark Thirty?

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

Who is the main CIA operative driving the investigation in 'Zero Dark Thirty'?
Cars

Cars in Zero Dark Thirty

35 cars on screen, including the 2010 Maruti Suzuki Eeco and the Maruti Gypsy.

All 35 cars
  • 2010 Maruti Suzuki Eeco in Zero Dark Thirty 2010 Maruti Suzuki Eeco Main role
  • Maruti Gypsy in Zero Dark Thirty Maruti Gypsy Important role
  • 1990 Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon in Zero Dark Thirty 1990 Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon Important role
  • 2002 Toyota Corolla in Zero Dark Thirty 2002 Toyota Corolla Important role
Details

Zero Dark Thirty Also Known As

32 alternative titles, including “ยุทธการถล่ม บินลาดิน” and “猎杀本拉登”.

Also known as
  • ยุทธการถล่ม บินลาดิน
  • 猎杀本拉登
  • Zero Dark Thirty - Die Jagd auf Osama bin Laden
  • Pusvalandis po vidurnakčio
  • Karanlık Operasyon
  • La noche más oscura
  • 00:30 A Hora Negra
  • Wróg numer jeden
  • Цель номер один
  • 猎杀本·拉登
  • 00:30 - Zero Dark Thirty
  • Zero Dark Thirty - A Bin Láden hajsza
+20 more
  • כוננות עם שחר
  • 30' Sau Nửa Đêm
  • ยุทธการถล่มบินลาเดน
  • 30 minut po půlnoci
  • ゼロ・ダーク・サーティ
  • 30 minút po polnoci
  • A Hora Mais Escura
  • Zero Dark Thirty: Misiunea: 00.30 A.M.
  • 제로 다크 서티
  • 00:30 - Tajna operacija
  • 00:30凌晨密令
  • Враг номер едно
  • Тридцять хвилин по опівночі
  • Opération avant l'aube
  • Slepenā operācija „30 pēc pusnakts”
  • Taikinys #1
  • 追擊拉登行動, მიზანი ნომერი ერთი
  • ثلاثون دقيقة بعد منتصف الليل
  • La nit més fosca
  • 00.30

Seen Zero Dark Thirty?
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Movies Like Zero Dark Thirty

Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Zero, D-Day and Revealed: The Hunt for Bin Laden.

From the blog

Articles About Zero Dark Thirty

3 articles about Zero Dark Thirty. The latest: “The Evolution of the Spy Genre in Cinema”.

FAQ

Zero Dark Thirty FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

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

How long is Zero Dark Thirty?

Zero Dark Thirty runs 2 hours 37 minutes (157 minutes).

When was Zero Dark Thirty released?

Zero Dark Thirty was released on December 19, 2012.

Who directed Zero Dark Thirty?

Zero Dark Thirty was directed by Kathryn Bigelow.

More films by Kathryn Bigelow

Who is in the cast of Zero Dark Thirty?

Zero Dark Thirty stars Jason Clarke, Jessica Chastain and Jennifer Ehle, among 7 credited actors.

Where can I watch Zero Dark Thirty?

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

How much did Zero Dark Thirty make at the box office?

Zero Dark Thirty grossed $132.8 million worldwide ($95.7 million domestic, $37.1 million international) on a budget of $40 million.

How is Zero Dark Thirty rated?

Zero Dark Thirty has 7.4/10 on IMDb, 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, 95 on Metacritic and 70% on TMDB.

What awards did Zero Dark Thirty win?

Zero Dark Thirty won 4 awards from 22 nominations, including Best Actress at the Critics' Choice 2013.

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