Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- ambitious
- tense
- stylized
- history film night
- technology themed viewing
What critics said
Critics generally found the historical subject and cast compelling but considered the drama overstuffed, emotionally uninvolving, and less illuminating than its stylish presentation suggests.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Edison, Westinghouse, and Tesla compete to determine which electrical system will power America while pursuing business dominance.
The film presents its nineteenth-century settings through intricate backgrounds, expressive lighting, and composed visual set pieces.
The central conflict pits Edison’s DC system against Westinghouse and Tesla’s AC technology in a personal and corporate feud.
Edison, Westinghouse, and Tesla each receive consequential roles in the struggle over electrical standards.
Films like The Current War, and why
The Social Network
historical biographical drama about ambitious industrial innovation, moral compromise, and the transformation of modern society
The Aviator
stylized historical drama centered on ruthless competition, visionary entrepreneurs, and technological progress
Tucker: The Man and His Dream
biographical period drama portraying invention, business rivalry, and the costs of obsessive ambition
There Will Be Blood
ensemble historical drama about industrial power, innovation, and competing visions of the future
Movie Details
- Director
- Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
- Release Date
- 2018-02-01
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (1179)
Cast
- Benedict Cumberbatch
- Michael Shannon
- Nicholas Hoult
- Katherine Waterston
- Tom Holland
- Matthew Macfadyen
- Tuppence Middleton
- Stanley Townsend
- Damien Molony
- Conor MacNeill
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Current War about?
- Rival inventors and businessmen wage a high-stakes corporate contest over whether alternating or direct current will illuminate America.
- What is The Current War like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Current War as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Current War violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Current War as mild.
- What did critics think of The Current War?
- Critics generally found the historical subject and cast compelling but considered the drama overstuffed, emotionally uninvolving, and less illuminating than its stylish presentation suggests.
- Which films are like The Current War?
- Films with a similar feel include The Social Network, The Aviator, Tucker: The Man and His Dream, and There Will Be Blood.
- How long is The Current War?
- The Current War runs 108 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Current War?
- In United States, The Current War is available to rent or buy from Fandango At Home.
