Zero Dark ThirtyMovie Reviews


  • Go Based on 22,182 reviews
    Breakdown:
  • Must Go!
    Written February 10, 2013

    Excellent film

    This is an excellent film. Even though you know what is coming, it is very suspenseful. Amazing that Kathryn Bigelow was not given an Academy Award nomination for Best Director.
    Jessica Chastain is excellent in the lead, and the supporting performances are solid.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
    • Was this helpful to you? 
    • Yes
    • No
  • So-so
    Written January 12, 2013

    Zero? Yes Dark? Yes Thirty? Huh???

    I didn't know or had forgotten that one of the helicopters crash-landed and had to be blown up -- that's planning. Did everybody then hop on the other helicopter? But the breathtaking thoroughness and swiftness of the well-trained team was brilliantly executed. And Jessica Chastain is totally brilliant -- her two great lines: "Nothing" (to James Gandolfini on what she's done in her 12 years in the CIA besides chase UBL) and "I'm the MF who found the house." But this is not a new kind of movie as Bigelow asserts. And the torture scenes -- if that's NOT how the info was gotten, why do we have to dwell there? I'll take "Argo" for my military movie this year. And see "Beasts of the Southern Wild" if you want to see what is truly a new kind of film.

    • 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
    • Was this helpful to you? 
    • Yes
    • No
  • Must Go!
    Written January 12, 2013

    Great Perspective and excellent story

    This is definitely not as action packed as some may think. It would be a pretty tough task to make a 15 minute raid into a 2.5 hour movie. So if you are expecting an action movie, look elsewhere.
    That said, this was a great movie. The way the story progresses over 10 years and the way you get to know a couple of the key characters in the movie is done very well. It does a great job of showing the chronology of things and connecting the dots. I'm not sure how much Hollywood fluff is involved in the movie, I'm sure only a couple dozen people in this country can truly attest to that, but if this movie was 90% accurate, that would be awesome. The persistence of a single case manager in the CIA who made it her career to hunt down UBL, fighting through bureaucracy, sexism, and all other road blocks is amazing. The tactics, language, and equipment employed during the raid were also extremely accurate.
    Definite must see if you are at all interested in the chain of events.

    • 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
    • Was this helpful to you? 
    • Yes
    • No
  • Must Go!
    Written February 2, 2013

    Zero Dark Thirty

    I have seen Lincoln, Les, Argo and this movie is easily as good as any of those. The acting and Directing was great and you got a better sense of history being made. It was a little slow in a couple of places but necessary to secure character, time line and action development. I read the book "No Easy Day" and the stories match up well. I will watch this movie again on DVD.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
    • Was this helpful to you? 
    • Yes
    • No
  • Must Go!
    Written January 25, 2013

    Absolutely True!

    by jwmore

    This is one of the few movies produced to show what our warfighters do that is nearly 100% spot on. Anyone who followed the hunt for Bin Laden over the years knows what the sequence of events was. This movie demonstrates with a huge sense of forthrightness what it took to get the man. it also portrays the degree of the technological ability we used to accomplish this. The portrayal was quite brilliant! Kudos to the producers and director for taking the time and energy to get it right!

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
    • Was this helpful to you? 
    • Yes
    • No
  • Must Go!
    Written January 21, 2013

    Intense and keeps you drawn in

    This movie lived up to its billing and hype. I did not expect I would like it as much as I did. Although we knew how things end it was intriguing and suspenseful to the end. The cast was good but I was not familiar with many of them. Go see it and be surprisd yourself!

    • 6 out of 8 found this review helpful.
    • Was this helpful to you? 
    • Yes
    • No
  • Go
    Written January 13, 2013

    Murky early details, but solid payoff

    Bigelow proveddshe's a first rate director with Hurt Locker. This one's rather busy, with many characters and details thrown into the mix. It's overlong, with many characters introduced, without a clear sense of their place in the proceedings. The emphasis on the gritty, dirty, detailed work of intelligence gathering is not glamorized...except for the lead female. Jessica Chastain does a very fine job with the role but I can't help but question whether there was too much Hollywood gloss put on this deep-behind-scenes character. Was she really diminished by her male colleagues? We still have that much chauvinist attitudes in the 2000's? If so...then she's an even greater hero than simply the well-deserved accolades for the diligent work of a successful investigator. The big payoff is the Bin Laden raid. Though there's only sketchy preparations provided for the raid itself, the actual evening of the raid if fabulously documented. A great conclusion to an important film.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
    • Was this helpful to you? 
    • Yes
    • No
  • Must Go!
    Written January 12, 2013

    ZERO DARK THIRTY Shows Again that Reality is More Compelling Than Fiction

    Fortunately an apolitical drama showing the behind the scenes heroes who never gave up the search from criminal #1......As an individual and society in general, I/we can't get enough intel on this operation and the brave souls behind it. Compelling and edge of seat reality drama. The truth is always better than fiction. Great female role modeling.

    • 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
    • Was this helpful to you? 
    • Yes
    • No
  • Go
    Written February 17, 2013

    Great!

    I was not really looking forward to a 2.5 hour movie, but it went by really quickly. The last thirty minutes were the most intense. Really well done movie.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
    • Was this helpful to you? 
    • Yes
    • No
  • Must Go!
    Written January 14, 2013

    Zero Dark Thirty

    Overall a very good movie. The ending with the Seal team made the movie. The rest of the movie was pretty in depth and slow at times with focus on CIA topics.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
    • Was this helpful to you? 
    • Yes
    • No
  • Go
    Written January 13, 2013

    Zero Dark Thirty

    by jc75644

    This film is not for everyone. Those believing that the CIA and other such agencies of our government adhere to the restrictions from the statements that "we don't participate in enhanced interrogation tactics" might be offended by the scenes of such torture in the first 1/2 hour of the film. If you enjoy the Showtime series "Homeland" you should enjoy this film. The last 1/2 hour is the most exciting and some have complained about it being the only "worthwhile-watching" portion of the movie but I found all the actions leading up to the raid and capture very exciting. While I understand the reason for the feeling that we "must get bin Laden", I'm still not sure I understand or agree with the reason we are active in that culture and I have lots of admiration for those who serve there.

    • 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
    • Was this helpful to you? 
    • Yes
    • No
  • Must Go!
    Written January 13, 2013

    Zero Dark Thirty

    The movie was good was what I wanted to see about the CIA and the Navy Seals were amazing..I like it and is sad these things had to happened BUT they did happened...

    I say go....

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
    • Was this helpful to you? 
    • Yes
    • No
  • Must Go!
    Written January 12, 2013

    Awesome Movie!!!

    by Seb Ave

    Not 100% accurate, but it's not a documentary. Gripping story line and plot, eventhough you go in knowing how the movie ends. It was funny seeing Tony Soprano as Leon Panetta. I kept waiting for Carmine, Furio, or "big *****" to come out from behind the curtains. Go see it!!!

    • 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
    • Was this helpful to you? 
    • Yes
    • No
  • Must Go!
    Written January 14, 2013

    Great Movie!

    by rockyva

    What a great movie this was! It was a long movie but didn't seen so because of the suspense and the action toward the end. Just a must see movie.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
    • Was this helpful to you? 
    • Yes
    • No
  • Must Go!
    Written January 12, 2013

    Thoroughly Entertaining "Thinking Person's" Action Drama

    Well made, gripping and well-researched "shoot 'em up" picture.

    I agree with others' comments that it moved slowly in places. However I feel the tradeoff (more thorough character exposition / plot development) was well worth it.

    • 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
    • Was this helpful to you? 
    • Yes
    • No

Zero Dark Thirty Movie Reviews + Ratings

Fans say

Go
22,182 fan reviews

Critics say

Must Go! See all critic reviews

Tweets About Zero Dark Thirty

91% positive
Join the conversation

ElizabelleM Ever since I watched Zero Dark Thirty (4 days ago) I'm seeing the word "tradecraft" everywhere.

8 days ago.

lisalush32 Watched Zero Dark Thirty last nite would normally hate those kinda films .. But I loved it think ending could have been better though

8 days ago.

INFAMOUZ_KING Just saw zero dark thirty... crazy ass movie.

8 days ago.

Leonaa_Always Finally watched Zero Dark Thirty

8 days ago.

yjxdi Zero dark thirty was gay af & i love these type of movies

8 days ago.

Zero Dark Thirty Featured Trailers + Video Clips

Exclusive Features

Cast Interviews Exclusive Cast Interivew Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Jennifer Ehle and Kyle Chandler chat about the upcoming war thriller. The Frontrunners - Jessica Chastain Interview Fandango's Chief Correspondent Dave Karger interviews Jessica Chastain about her film 'Zero Dark Thirty' in this episode of 'The Frontrunners.' More Films on Fandango's Award Watch Valentine's Day Movies