2013PG-13

The Unknown Known

Name: The Unknown Known
Genre: Documentary, History
Released: 2013-08-29
Rating: 6.8

Why is this man smiling?

DocumentaryHistory1h 42m

🍅82%

🍅

82%

Tomatometer

🍿

70%

Popcornmeter

6.8

TMDB

Storyline

Former United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld discusses his career in Washington D.C. from his days as a congressman in the early 1960s to planning the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Trailers

Details

DirectorErrol Morris

ReleasedAug 29, 2013

StatusReleased

Original languageEnglish

Budget

Not disclosed

Revenue

$301.6K

Parental guidePG-13US

Reviews

8 reviews · 7 critics

6 fresh · 1 rotten

Critics consensus

“Viewers hoping to see Donald Rumsfeld admit making mistakes in public office (or hoping Errol Morris will force him to give straight answers) may find The Unknown Known frustrating -- but no less fascinating.”

82% TomatometerRotten Tomatoes

Jason Bailey

RTFlavorwireJun 18, 2016

He poses simple questions and lets them talk, and talk, and talk. In doing so, he gives them enough rope to hang themselves.

Jennifer Dworkin

RTFilm Comment MagazineApr 21, 2014

Morris's commentary comes in the form of stunning images ... and a truly beautiful score ... The Unknown Known is revealing, but what it reveals is emptiness.

Bill Stamets

RTChicago Sun-TimesApr 18, 2014

[A] scary inquiry.

Vadim Rizov

RTFilmmaker MagazineJan 25, 2023

Why not a new style rather than hiring someone to ape a past collaborator? That’s the exact problem repeated on every level.