Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- paranoid
- propulsive
- thriller night
- action movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film brisk and effective as a suspense thriller, while noting implausible turns and a psychologically thin story.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Dr. Martin Harris wakes from a coma with gaps in his memory and must reconstruct his identity.
The missing briefcase, left near the airport, becomes a key question in the identity and conspiracy investigation.
Berlin hotels, hospitals, taxis, and public streets become unstable spaces as Harris searches for answers.
Harris moves from coma-induced confusion and social denial toward active investigation of who he is.
Films like Unknown, and why
The Bourne Identity
Shares an amnesiac protagonist, identity mystery, international conspiracy, and brisk action-thriller pacing.
The Tourist
Combines a European setting, stolen identity, escalating conspiracy, and propulsive thriller mechanics.
The Long Kiss Goodnight
Features a protagonist uncovering a hidden identity through fragmented memory, pursuit, and psychological suspense.
The Lives of Others
Shares a Berlin-based conspiracy atmosphere, espionage themes, and tense investigation-driven storytelling.
Movie Details
- Director
- Jaume Collet-Serra
- Release Date
- 2011-02-16
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (4299)
Cast
- Liam Neeson
- Diane Kruger
- January Jones
- Aidan Quinn
- Bruno Ganz
- Frank Langella
- Sebastian Koch
- Olivier Schneider
- Stipe Erceg
- Rainer Bock
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Unknown about?
- After a coma erases his certainty and another man takes his place, a scientist races through Berlin to recover his identity and expose the conspiracy behind it.
- What is Unknown like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Unknown as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Unknown violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Unknown as moderate.
- What did critics think of Unknown?
- Critics broadly found the film brisk and effective as a suspense thriller, while noting implausible turns and a psychologically thin story.
- Which films are like Unknown?
- Films with a similar feel include The Bourne Identity, The Tourist, The Long Kiss Goodnight, and The Lives of Others.
- How long is Unknown?
- Unknown runs 113 minutes.
- Where can I watch Unknown?
- In United States, Unknown is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube.
