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Citizenfour
Citizenfour
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Citizenfour

Citizenfour

2014
Documentary
1h 54m
A documentarian and a reporter travel to Hong Kong for the first of many meetings with Edward Snowden.

Directed by:

Laura Poitras

Starring:

Jeremy Scahill, Glenn Greenwald, Edward Snowden, Jacob Appelbaum, William Binney, Ewen MacAskill, M. Margareth McKeown, Kevin Bankston, Harry Pregerson, H. Thomas Byron, Michael Daly Hawkins, Jonathan Man

Genre:

Documentary

Countries:

Germany, USA

Languages:

English, German, Portuguese
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Citizenfour

2014
Documentary
1h 54m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 69.79% from 1274 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

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barthalenBarthalen
Rated 07 Mar 2019
84
90th
It's a weird thing to rate, because as others have rightly said, it's not much of an informative documentary. But as a look into the last few days of a young guy before his life would become completely upended because he felt he had to do what was right no matter the consequences... yeah, damn, this got me good. A very unique slow burner.
Rated 07 Mar 2019
funkyastroFunkyAstro
Rated 26 Apr 2015
85
86th
"Told you so" -Homeless guy wearing tin foil hat
Rated 26 Apr 2015
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 02 Jan 2015
90
80th
A brilliant documentary that mixes the incisive cinema verite style of Pennebaker, the Maysles and others with the abject paranoia that made Alan J. Pakula's films so compelling. A marvel of documentary filmmaking that does an excellent job of humanizing Edward Snowden, and of illustrating the overall significance of his actions without becoming bogged down by political babble, which was valuable to a relatively clueless person like myself.
Rated 02 Jan 2015
begoniabolbegoniabol
Rated 21 May 2019
87
90th
It's scary how big companies and organizations in America are above the law and can get away with anything, while one man, revealing what they've done, would get either prosecuted or killed. The amount of courage Snowden must've had to reveal this is beyond me.
Rated 21 May 2019
theoldniteTheOldNite
Rated 02 May 2015
75
44th
An important and a unique account of a pivotal moment in modern history. The question of privacy versus security has never been more paramount, as the world is still trying to understand how deep the rabbit hole goes in our modern internet world. Citizenfour is a snapshot of a larger story that is still playing itself out. It is intimate and well documented, but should not be seen as having real artistic or narrative value. It is not documentary film excellence, but excellence in reporting.
Rated 02 May 2015
kasperlKasperL
Rated 15 Mar 2015
75
77th
Until Snowden appeared, I feared that I was watching 'Citizenbore', but Laura Poitras' almost unlimited access made this doc quite riveting.
Rated 15 Mar 2015
redactedredacted
Rated 31 Jan 2015
98
99th
Basically a 'making of' film for the disclosure of extremely sensitive US/ UK intelligence via several international media outlets. The filmmakers/ journalists are intelligent people with excellent access & coverage across all the layers of the scandals reach. You don't come across this kind of insight into an international event with such a low level of bias in its portrayal often at all.
Rated 31 Jan 2015
mspraguemsprague
Rated 24 Jan 2015
85
91st
Less about the details of what he revealed, although they do discuss that, it's more about what happened on the days running up to Edward Snowden releasing to the Western world that their governments are watching them contrary to many of the their own laws. Must see viewing.
Rated 24 Jan 2015
schnofelschnofel
Rated 21 Jan 2015
65
62nd
Doesn't add anything but cinematic paranoia to the story. So contrary to Snowden's wishes this is a personality portrait - as much of Poitras and Greenwald as of him. And what we see is quiet, strained, day-to-day courage, wearing even to the viewer, but in the scheme of things probably important.
Rated 21 Jan 2015
rufamRufam
Rated 24 Apr 2017
80
85th
Poitras very adeptly handles the balance between the microscopic (the Hong Kong hotel room) and the global. Like "Inside Job", it's shameless about being one-sided, but most political gut-punches are and, as such, it's essential.
Rated 24 Apr 2017
ecitizeneCitizen
Rated 04 Feb 2016
40
32nd
A revealing documentary, but nevertheless a long boring slog through the material. I guess you have to be in the mood for some not so surprising government conspiracy revelations. I must be jaded or desensitized because I found little of it to be new, all that shocking or even unexpected. Perhaps I should have watched this when it first came out a few years ago. I wonder how many government monitors got insider information and then made a killing in the stock market?
Rated 04 Feb 2016
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 17 Sep 2015
8
78th
Dear NSA and/or other foreign intelligence agencies, I'm sure by now, you've identified me as the sole renter of Tony Tang's 2011 'Beach Spike' and similar beach volleyball classics. While I understand that, at least from your point of view, my attitude may seem alarming and extreme, I can assure you those tapes were rented and viewed STRICTLY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, and should not be construed as evidence of atypical behaviour; P.S. Fuck off.
Rated 17 Sep 2015
vorpalkittenVorpalKitten
Rated 22 Jun 2015
75
40th
Takes an important sequence of recent history and makes it boring by showing shots of charts and lots of text without voiceovers - only the innate import of what happened and Snowden's charisma makes this interesting to watch. Must see for anyone still not familiar with the details of Snowden's leak.
Rated 22 Jun 2015
axleblazeaxleblaze
Rated 08 Jun 2015
91
84th
A very good documentary that has unprecedented access to an historic event and even with this is still really well made and well shot while managing to not treat it's audience like idiots.
Rated 08 Jun 2015
hofschneiderHofschneider
Rated 11 May 2015
88
88th
I can imagine 2 ways history aka: we will judge Edward Snowden. A) He will be the one that saved us from ourselfs. B) He is the one we didn't listen to. (I really can't imagine seeing him as traitor in 2050). Snowden showcases himself as a nearly-doomed, mediative person and with that Citizenfour is less a portray of Snowdens ideas but more of his physicalness, his look, his charisma. What we see (with lots of inside!) is the fight about the Symbol Swnoden.
Rated 11 May 2015
chemical404chemical404
Rated 04 May 2015
82
96th
Perhaps in some distant future will be looked at as the most important documentary in decades. I don't know, for some reason the whole reality in which things that are shown in this film are real feels nightmarishly surreal. It's like Snowden is a character in some classic dystopian novel.
Rated 04 May 2015
bofbof
Rated 01 May 2015
80
83rd
If this were a Hollywood movie, it'd end with public outrage, a heroic speech by Glenn Greenwald, and an image of the responsible parties being led away in handcuffs. Alternately, it'd end with Snowden being assassinated, Greenwald reduced to a homeless crank, and fat men with big cigars shaking hands. As it is, it doesn't end, except with the promise of more to come, and silence.
Rated 01 May 2015
alanstrangalanstrang
Rated 12 Apr 2015
80
79th
Every citizen on earth should watch this movie. Not because it is a great documentary -it is not, at all-, but because we all have to see that there is no such thing as nation (or patriotism), the two concepts which have become instruments to justify the horrifiying, marginalizing, paranoid policies of governing organizations. We owe these 114 minutes to these people, who had the power and courage to risk everything they have, just to shout: 'the king is naked!'.
Rated 12 Apr 2015
syntaxerrorsyntaxerror
Rated 11 Mar 2015
8
38th
Watch this.
Rated 11 Mar 2015
ddrudgesd_drudges
Rated 07 Mar 2015
60
69th
Despite claiming otherwise, focuses a bit too much on the people involved instead of the importance of the actual leaks. There's not much new revealed, mostly just neat details. Still, having the events documented for posterity is undoubtedly important.
Rated 07 Mar 2015
ag0stomesmerAg0stoMesmer
Rated 26 Feb 2015
4
91st
More about the journalistic process/logistics than the actual revelations, looking a little and sounding a lot social network. The contrast between Snowden's earnest, honest words and the shameless, performative lies from Washington is stark. Nice to see some big-ups for some FOSS in the credits.
Rated 26 Feb 2015
kavuKavu
Rated 01 Feb 2015
85
86th
Not that great cinematically, but extremely important and interesting. It's grotesque that there's still a manhunt for Snowden.
Rated 01 Feb 2015
timmotimmo
Rated 01 Feb 2015
80
44th
A very, very important story told very poorly. Humanizing Snowden is important, but it doesn't need to be the centrality of the movie, and doesn't need to be monotonous. Poitros isn't a good enough documentarian to pull this off, unfortunately, in spite of her unique perspective. In other words, it's too much DIRTY WARS and not enough INSIDE JOB.
Rated 01 Feb 2015
chmulcr0nchmul_cr0n
Rated 23 Jan 2015
82
93rd
Ed Snowden is fucking Batman.
Rated 23 Jan 2015
xacviantxacviant
Rated 12 Dec 2014
87
80th
The story of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, and how over eight days in a Hong Kong hotel room he revealed the extent of American surveillance operations. A chilling portrait of a vital chapter in history, inviting somber meditation on the state of privacy and security in the modern world. The deliberate pacing and the use of music may be frustrating at times, but the blunt objectivity of Laura Poitras' direction, and the sheer importance of the material, keep it compelling throughout.
Rated 12 Dec 2014
nilooravaeinilooravaei
Rated 08 Nov 2014
85
72nd
a great documentary that walked a thin line on a polarizing issue. it was well-shot and captured both the gravity, the hard politics and moments of intimacy and humanity without leaning too much in either direction. snowdon is fascinating, and the film captures his character perfectly. definitely a great watch!
Rated 08 Nov 2014
brrrpbrrrp
Rated 19 Feb 2024
70
63rd
Probably not as incendiary as it could have been, but it's a solid supporting document if the journalism can be considered the primary objective.
Rated 19 Feb 2024
babaracusbabaracus
Rated 07 Dec 2023
8
70th
a movie about a guy who's somehow stuck on a hotel room's bed and the journalists who help him tell his story
Rated 07 Dec 2023
ceekay19Ceekay19
Rated 11 Jun 2021
80
81st
Edward Snowden: "We are building the biggest weapon for oppression in the history of mankind."
Rated 11 Jun 2021
p_u_l_pP u l p
Rated 18 Apr 2021
67
66th
I mean, the content is WOW WTF! but its form is not very good.
Rated 18 Apr 2021
arossaross
Rated 02 Nov 2020
87
80th
Citizenfour does not try to present all the details on what Snowden leaked, nor does it give any perspectives from anyone that disagrees with him. But it gives raw footage as this story unfolded in real time, which is amazing to see.
Rated 02 Nov 2020
rgbRGB
Rated 04 Dec 2017
98
99th
This documentary is incredible. I was literally stunned by it. It's like a thriller movie, with the difference that it is all real, as the footage captures the original disclosures made my Edward Snowden .
Rated 04 Dec 2017
gpatkinsongpatkinson
Rated 06 Nov 2017
95
87th
Tremendous footage of a very important event. Still manages to feel almost like an art film at times. Such a great film.
Rated 06 Nov 2017
knwsvxgzmkNwsVXgzm
Rated 31 Mar 2017
8
87th
Interesting not because of the subject matter itself; that only felt touched upon, but because you get to see exactly how this all unfolded from the inside. Honestly a little boring, but more importantly, it's unobtrusive and though Snowden and the reporter have obvious opinions, the film remains neutral and fair.
Rated 31 Mar 2017
cherroristcherrorist
Rated 01 Dec 2016
74
47th
I find the theme super interesting - I have huge respect for Edward Snowden - but the movie itself is not so well done - lacks in both directing, screenwriting and editing departments. It's a must see nonetheless for anybody interested in the online surveillance rabbit hole.
Rated 01 Dec 2016
overratedoverrated
Rated 26 Nov 2016
80
90th
This is all very important & informative, but I was immediately curious about how damn likeable Greenwald & Snowden are portrayed, especially after Assange whose douchiness is impossible to gloss over. Well, https://newrepublic.com/article/116253/edward-snowden-glenn-greenwald-julian-assange-what-they-believe
Rated 26 Nov 2016
radumsmnradumsmn
Rated 23 Oct 2016
71
52nd
The reality is as bleak and dreaded as this doc. Don't panic, don't get paranoid, they're probably not spying on you, you're not that important.
Rated 23 Oct 2016
lethiaslethias
Rated 20 Oct 2016
90
89th
Should be shown to kids in schools.
Rated 20 Oct 2016
suture_selfSuture Self
Rated 15 Sep 2016
7
67th
Really basic, without much in the way of complex analysis or in-depth explanation. As a documentary, it's more useful as an introduction to Snowden's revelations than anything else. Will interest those who are fascinated by the subject matter (and everyone should be).
Rated 15 Sep 2016
siphus007siphus007
Rated 19 Jul 2016
72
36th
This is one of the most significant whistle blowers in modern USA history, but man this is a dry documentary.
Rated 19 Jul 2016
duderDuder
Rated 15 Jun 2016
60
40th
This was not what I expected. I guess, even with documentaries, we are used to a Hollywood style, fast editing, nice music, flashy images, biased oppinions.. This one is in raw form. You look at a very very smart and decent person, trying to do the right thing and you see him through the process with no bullshit montages, just see what's happening as it unfolds. Which is why, although very important, it didn't get a bigger impact.
Rated 15 Jun 2016
forehead1forehead1
Rated 04 Apr 2016
60
72nd
Snowden comes across as a very decent chap, and it's interesting to see his conversations with the press about how to manage his situation from the start of the process, but aside from that you'll learn very little - if anything - you didn't know already. I was happy enough to sit through it the once though.
Rated 04 Apr 2016
cinegeekdecinegeek.de
Rated 07 Mar 2016
80
55th
Laura Poitras hat Edward Snowden während der Tage seiner Enthüllungen in Hong Kong gefilmt. Geschichte wird geschrieben - aus nächster Nähe. Snowden hatte über den Codenamen Citizenfour Kontakt mit der Filmemacherin aufgenommen und Dokumente versprochen, die beweisen, wie die NSA ihre Bürger ausspioniert... mehr auf cinegeek.de
Rated 07 Mar 2016
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 09 Feb 2016
80
95th
Great doc.
Rated 09 Feb 2016
timon88Timon88
Rated 06 Jan 2016
80
82nd
Compelling--and chilling--account of Edward Snowden's whistleblowing. If only it were fiction... The U.S. government really ought to be ashamed of itself, but of course it isn't.
Rated 06 Jan 2016
parcalihamparcaliham
Rated 07 Dec 2015
85
77th
6 Aralik '15 &
Rated 07 Dec 2015
greenerGreener
Rated 23 Nov 2015
53
18th
I learned that I was not really intrested in Snowden.
Rated 23 Nov 2015
ryan_luedersRyan Lueders
Rated 06 Nov 2015
20
3rd
A real snore for a citizen like me. I don't watch an incredible amount of documentaries but this one dragged on forever. It was slightly less than two hours long but it felt like at least four. It seemed forever before they got to Edward Snowden in the film. I got to hear from some journalists that I really don't care for and had to watch some sort of strange symposium from Occupy Wall Street...
Rated 06 Nov 2015
rd_vortexRd. Vortex
Rated 17 Oct 2015
45
3rd
The subject itself is interesting, however personally I found the documentary itself to be incredibly boring. It's almost entirely Snowden sitting in a hotel room talking about the NSA spying.
Rated 17 Oct 2015
aflickeringAFlickering
Rated 11 Sep 2015
3
36th
next time i hear a fire alarm i'll probably shit myself
Rated 11 Sep 2015
dougiedDougieD
Rated 11 Aug 2015
70
35th
It's riveting based on the power of the story. Really chilling just watching events unfold. But it doesn't really dig beyond the surface of the Snowden's story.
Rated 11 Aug 2015
abunchofcatsABUNCHOFCATS
Rated 27 Jul 2015
83
61st
Fascinating look at what transpired after the Snowden leaks.
Rated 27 Jul 2015
actionbergActionberg
Rated 16 Jul 2015
80
71st
An activist documentary tradition spearheaded by the likes of Emile de Antonio is apparently alive and well. This movie ought to feel cripplingly mundane, shifting between courtroom depositions and a guy lounging in a hotel room, but the context makes it captivating. The guy is quite a character. His use of rhetoric, about how he's doing all this to bring power back to the electorate, is so telling. He's aware of the historical implications of his decision, and practically revels in it. Great do
Rated 16 Jul 2015
vassagoVassago
Rated 15 Jul 2015
88
95th
Astonishing.
Rated 15 Jul 2015
patmanpatman
Rated 06 Jul 2015
74
85th
Cinematically far from perfect but in terms of the source materials magnitude and aftermath, it's an unprecedented observation of a historical real-life thriller.
Rated 06 Jul 2015
montycircusMontyCircus
Rated 04 Jul 2015
40
38th
2 hours in a hotel room in Hong Kong. Do we learn much about Snowden? Not really. Do we learn much about the topic at hand, i.e. U.S. government surveillance? Not really. A movie about either one of those could be compelling. This was disappointing. Everyone involved said they "didn't want to make this about Snowden", yet that's all the film is! And the end bit, (not saying government secrets out loud, instead writing notes and ripping them up, yet filming them) was laughable.
Rated 04 Jul 2015
wwallce4prezWWallce4prez
Rated 07 Jun 2015
82
80th
I could have watched much more of Snowden's paranoia in this unlimited access look into the man. Humanizing and fascinating. Wonderful filmmaking from Poitras.
Rated 07 Jun 2015
pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 01 May 2015
8
82nd
Why did I watch this? I'm already paranoid enough.
Rated 01 May 2015
chr1sCHR1S
Rated 29 Apr 2015
70
50th
Hero.
Rated 29 Apr 2015
damildamil
Rated 19 Apr 2015
80
90th
This is a really important film, and a very important document of this time in history. It was really interesting to see things from the personal perspective of Snowden. A lot of it really felt like it was from some sort of conspiracy thriller story. That being said, it never felt like a dramatisation - there weren't attempts to sensationalise; just simple, direct, often fly-on-the-wall documentary filmmaking. Also, bonus points for the use of Nine Inch Nails music.
Rated 19 Apr 2015
darkcloudDarkCloud
Rated 12 Apr 2015
95
94th
Democracy's days are limited, if all of us don't become Snowden.
Rated 12 Apr 2015
bakcheiabakcheia
Rated 09 Apr 2015
89
83rd
What is terrifying about this documentary is that I often found myself subconsciously treating it as fiction at points because the content often became so appalling and absurd that it could be interchangeable with many dystopian stories. The role of the whistleblower has become so vital to government-heavy society today, so in many ways I think this film is merely so important because of its content alone. As a film, it is fairly uninspired, but the thrill of it builds slowly throughout.
Rated 09 Apr 2015
comepeliculacomepelicula
Rated 06 Apr 2015
60
52nd
It's not a "filmy" documentary is more activism journalism than a documentary, it centers around the biggest spy scandal of all times, nevertheless is often slow and boring and doesn't gives to much insight or new information. But for just the kind of information it was revealed because of this film it's worth watching if you care about privacy in a connected era.
Rated 06 Apr 2015
zealot185Zealot185
Rated 28 Mar 2015
90
90th
For a broader range of knowledge and history on the subject, I'd sooner recommend Frontline's 2-part series, but Citizenfour gets you behind-the-scenes of the most important leak in modern times so far.
Rated 28 Mar 2015
astrakhanastrakhan
Rated 25 Mar 2015
79
66th
A compelling and quite sad film, focusing more on the personal side of the story of a man who decided to sacrifice most of his liberties in order to expose the scandal-making information. Fascinating to see the man, how he is calm but nervous about the immediate future - thanks Laura Poitras. The film needs greater exposure so that people will actually start caring about their privacy.
Rated 25 Mar 2015
neonmanNeonman
Rated 14 Mar 2015
70
38th
I thought it was a pretty authentic way of getting the whole story (which I knew hardly anything about) -- claustrophobic and skeletal, works more effectively as a thriller than a documentary.
Rated 14 Mar 2015
cowfrappecowfrappe
Rated 06 Mar 2015
75
75th
Gripping and well-edited.
Rated 06 Mar 2015
michaelsmichaels
Rated 06 Mar 2015
85
88th
Citizenfour plays out more like a slow burning political thriller than a documentary. Bone-chilling.
Rated 06 Mar 2015
topaz024topaz024
Rated 02 Mar 2015
75
41st
The first third is almost like a spy thriller--more tension that any documentary in recent memory. The thrill continues when you realize the unique level of access that these filmmakers had. However, once the news breaks about who he is, the tension and interest fall off of that precipitous cliff, and the last half is a camera sitting on a table while three people talk about media strategy. As a living document of history, this is a 100. But as a film, it's a generous 75.
Rated 02 Mar 2015
derekstarDerekstar
Rated 01 Mar 2015
70
50th
I kinda hate to say this, but Citizenfour is only about 2/3rds of a documentary. It felt like it needed more. Either much more time devoted to the eight day meeting between Snowden and Greenwald, or more behind the scenes stuff with Greenwald, or...something. Even though I liked the movie, there were some pretty long sections in there where I wasn't learning anything new and wasn't feeling anything emotionally.
Rated 01 Mar 2015
benoliver999benoliver999
Rated 26 Feb 2015
70
56th
Poitras is a trusted source of Snowden's, and one of Citizenfour's great strengths is just how close we get to the action. We see Snowden before the leaks even take place, before anyone had even heard of him. Journalists meet him and discuss the story for the first time. It's intriguing to see how it all went down.
Rated 26 Feb 2015
syntheseizurSyntheseizur
Rated 24 Feb 2015
87
88th
Nailing the dichotomy between factual, historical meaning and dramatic presentation has rarely been done as well as it is in 'Citizenfour'. It's paced and structured almost like a classic Hollywood thriller, managing to capture a complex, filmic narrative that somehow enhances the universal, real life meaning of what's depicted. Yes, the film is important and meaningful, but it's also great cinema. Those elements elevate each other.
Rated 24 Feb 2015
carlosproCarlospro
Rated 24 Feb 2015
85
92nd
Por isso existe o Cinema
Rated 24 Feb 2015
td888td888
Rated 23 Feb 2015
70
76th
An intriguing watch into the run-up what happened with Snowden and his first contacts with journalists. A must see.
Rated 23 Feb 2015
caffecaffe
Rated 31 Jan 2015
80
81st
Fascinating portrait of a extremely strange period of time, capturing an undoubtedly brave and interesting man (no matter how you feel about the morals of what he did) in a unique situation and documenting it in great detail.
Rated 31 Jan 2015
pyrosexualpyrosexual
Rated 28 Jan 2015
90
90th
Snowden is sexy ;)
Rated 28 Jan 2015
krmrkrmr
Rated 24 Jan 2015
90
91st
There probably could not have been a better movie about Snowden during that specific time.
Rated 24 Jan 2015
donquixoticdonquixotic
Rated 22 Jan 2015
70
77th
For a film that's close to 2 hours long not an awful lot happens. Worth watching nonetheless
Rated 22 Jan 2015

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