Films A Complete Unknown

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A Complete Unknown poster

Film · 2024

A Complete Unknown

Directed by James Mangold · starring Timothée Chalamet, Elle Fanning and Edward Norton

  • 2 h 21 min
  • 15
  • Biography · Drama · Music
  • USA
  • Released in the UK 16 January 2025
  • 7.3 AverageMovieNCo
  • 6.9 Users6 votes
  • 7.7 Critics6 reviews
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Synopsis

Set in 1960s New York, Bob Dylan, a 19-year-old musician from Minnesota, quickly rises in the music industry from being a singer in small Folk venues to reaching the top of the charts. Along the way, he has the support of his friend and companion Peter Seeger, with whom he will initially have a great relationship that will increasingly lead to clashes.

His songs and especially mystical style turn Bob Dylan into a sensation around the world, culminating in his successful and innovative rock and roll performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, which solidifies him as the recognized artist he is today.

This biopic of the legendary singer and songwriter is directed by James Mangold ('Logan' or 'Le Mans 66'), who also co-writes the script with Jay Cocks. The actor tasked with portraying Bob Dylan is Timothée Chalamet (the 'Dune' saga or 'Call Me by Your Name'). The cast also includes Elle Fanning ('Super 8' or 'Maleficent') as Sylvie Russo, Scoot McNairy ('Argo' or '12 Years a Slave') as Woody Guthrie, and Edward Norton ('Fight Club' or 'American History X') as Pete Seeger, a singer and also a friend of Bob Dylan during his rise to the top.

Where to watch A Complete Unknown

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Available now in the UK:

The essentials

Runtime
141 min2 hours and 21 minutes
Rating
15Suitable only for 15 years and over
How long is A Complete Unknown?
2 hours and 21 minutes (141 minutes).
When was A Complete Unknown released in the UK?
It was released in the UK on 16 January 2025.
Who directed A Complete Unknown?
James Mangold.
Who is in A Complete Unknown?
It stars Timothée Chalamet, Elle Fanning, Edward Norton and Boyd Holbrook.
Where can I watch A Complete Unknown?
In the UK it is available with a subscription on Disney+ and to rent on Apple TV and Prime Video.
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Cast

Full cast (15)
Director
James Mangold
Writers
Jay Cocks, James Mangold
Producers
Fred Berger, Timothée Chalamet, James Mangold

Videos and trailers

All 2 videos
'A Complete Unknown' Teaser 1:5223 July 2024

Photos and posters

All 10 photos

Reviews

All 6 reviews
6.9 6 votes
  • 100 %
  • 90 %
  • 817 %
  • 733 %
  • 633 %
  • ≤517 %

What the critics say average 7.7 from 6 outlets

  • 10 The PlaylistRodrigo Pérez Mangold has crafted the definitive portrait of this era and the poetic, aspiring, rebellious kid who refused to be pigeonholed, held down and defined. Read
  • 10 TimeStephanie Zacharek There's something about A Complete Unknown that pushes against traditional Dylan worship and cuts a path toward something far more beautiful, flawed, and human. Read
  • 9.0 VarietyOwen Gleiberman A Complete Unknown is a drama of scruffy naturalism, with a plot that doesn't so much unfold as lope right along with its legendary, curly-haired, sunglass-wearing coffee-house troubadour hero. Yet… Read

Awards

All the awards

Trivia

All 7 facts

  • Singers

    Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Monica Barbaro and Boyd Holbrook did all their own singing in the movie.

  • Title Change

    The original title for this film was "Going Electric".

  • Real person

    Edward Norton was the first cast member to muster up the courage to reach out to the real Joan Baez for advice, interested in what the real Pete Seeger was like and her friendship with him. He then passed on word to Monica Barbaro that Baez was willing to speak with her.

  • His instrument

    For his role as folk singer Pete Seeger, Edward Norton played Seeger's actual Martin 12-string acoustic guitar with its distinctive triangular soundhole.

  • Fined

    Timothée Chalamet got a $73 fine after riding a rental bike to the London premiere to beat traffic. He didn't park it properly - on the red carpet.

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