Overview
A gripping tale of courage and moral conviction in the face of war.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- serious
- tense
- sober
- political film night
- history discussion
What critics said
Critics generally found the film accurate, engrossing, and worthwhile, with its familiar political-thriller structure elevated by Keira Knightley's powerful performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Katharine Gun risks her career and freedom by leaking an NSA memo about an alleged operation to pressure UN Security Council members.
The film tests the obligations of intelligence personnel, journalists, lawyers, and governments when secret actions undermine democratic accountability.
The leaked memo, newspaper publication, arrest, and Official Secrets Act proceedings generate the film's central tension.
The narrative occupies the immediate run-up to the 2003 Iraq invasion and its political aftermath.
Films like Official Secrets, and why
The Report
shared political thriller framework, true-events dramatization, and focus on government secrecy and institutional accountability
The Insider
shared whistleblower narrative, investigative journalism, and tense examination of state misconduct
The Post
shared historical political drama, moral courage, and individuals confronting powerful governments
A Private War
shared procedural tension, contemporary geopolitics, and the personal cost of exposing official wrongdoing
Movie Details
- Director
- Gavin Hood
- Release Date
- 2019-08-30
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (1158)
Cast
- Keira Knightley
- Matt Smith
- Ralph Fiennes
- Adam Bakri
- Matthew Goode
- Rhys Ifans
- Indira Varma
- John Heffernan
- Conleth Hill
- Jack Farthing
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Official Secrets about?
- A British intelligence translator risks everything to expose a covert attempt to manipulate the United Nations into supporting the Iraq invasion.
- What is Official Secrets like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Official Secrets as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Official Secrets violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Official Secrets.
- What did critics think of Official Secrets?
- Critics generally found the film accurate, engrossing, and worthwhile, with its familiar political-thriller structure elevated by Keira Knightley's powerful performance.
- Which films are like Official Secrets?
- Films with a similar feel include The Report, The Insider, The Post, and A Private War.
- How long is Official Secrets?
- Official Secrets runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch Official Secrets?
- In United States, Official Secrets streams on Netflix, Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now.
