Knowing

"What happens when the numbers run out?"

2009 2h 1m EN

😐

6.3

MID

★6.3TMDB · 6,031

Science FictionThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A teacher opens a time capsule that has been dug up at his son's elementary school; in it are some chilling predictions -- some that have already occurred and others that are about to -- that lead him to believe his family plays a role in the events that are about to unfold.

“What happens when the numbers run out?”

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Cast

Nicolas Cage
John Koestler
Rose Byrne
Diana Wayland
Chandler Canterbury
Caleb Koestler
Ben Mendelsohn
Phil Bergman
Nadia Townsend
Grace Koestler
Terry Camilleri
Cashier
Lara Robinson
Lucinda Embry / Abby Wayland
Adrienne Pickering
Allison

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Alex Proyas
Writers: Ryne Douglas Pearson, Juliet Snowden, Ryne Douglas Pearson
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Mid-budget at $50M — the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 3.1× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 17 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Alex Proyas, shot by Simon Duggan. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Marco Beltrami. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Richard Learoyd shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Nicolas Cage and Rose Byrne and Chandler Canterbury carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Alex Proyas directs. Simon Duggan behind the camera. Marco Beltrami scores. Richard Learoyd cuts. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Mid-budget at $50M — the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.
2Made its money back 3.1× over at the box office.
3Released 17 years ago.
4International production across 3 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia.
5Directed by Alex Proyas, shot by Simon Duggan. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Marco Beltrami. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Richard Learoyd shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Nicolas Cage and Rose Byrne and Chandler Canterbury carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "What happens when the numbers run out?".
10IMDB entry: tt0448011 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Classified under 19 themes, including "cataclysm", "melancholy", "code", "alien".
12Released under 11 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Simon Duggan
Original score: Marco Beltrami
Editing: Richard Learoyd
Production design: Steven Jones-Evans
Costume design: Terry Ryan
Makeup / hair: Ilona Herman
VFX supervisor: Andrew Jackson
Sound: Robert Sullivan
Stunt coordinator: Chris Anderson
Runtime: 121 min · 2h 1m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $50,000,000
Box office: $155,446,362
Return: 311% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Knowing (2009)

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Alex Proyas

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Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2015-09-20
★ 7/10
Pythagorus As Nostradamus. Knowing is directed by Alex Proyas and collectively written by Ryne Douglas Pearson, Juliet Snowden and Stiles White. It stars Nicolas Cage, Rose Byrne, Chandler Canterbury, Lara Robinson, Ben Mendelsohn and Nadia Townsend. Music is by Marco Beltrami and cinematography by Simon Duggan. 1959, and young schoolgirl Lucinda Embry (Robinson) keeps hearing voices. When asked to submit a drawing for the school time capsule that's to be opened in 50 years time, she writes a series of random numbers that don't appear to make sense. Forward to 50 years and the grand opening of the capsule, where Professor Jonathan Koestler (Cage) and his young son come by way of Lucinda's numbers. Just what do they mean? If anything?... Ah yes, the good old disaster movie, a genre of film that continues unabated through the decades, this in spite of critical indifference. But the paying public still keep turning up in droves, even in this new technological age. Where once was models being destroyed, and paintings forming elegant backdrops, now is whizz bangery that costs a fortune. Still great fun, though, which is why something like Knowing exists and has many fans. It's a splendid piece of sci-fi hokum pulsing with supernatural overtones, a gentle creeper unravelling the mystery in layers until the final countdown begins. The science is obviously dubious (it's a movie folks) and the air of pessimism that hovers consistently over proceedings (not only is the world in trouble, but all the protags have miserable issues as well), may be too much for some. However, Cage is as committed as ever, Proyas yet again proves himself a beautiful visualist, while the scenes of carnage are truly harrowing and unforgettable. A popcorner with moments of wonder and awe, and yes of course, some cheese as well. Ignore the Cage haters, if you like sci-fi infused disaster movies and haven't had fun with this one yet, then do so, it's a blast. And did I say it's gorgeous to look at as well? It is! 7/10
Wuchak2019-04-26
★ 7/10
What if everything’s not just meaningless chance? A disillusioned professor in the Boston area (Nicolas Cage) acquires a document that has successfully predicted tragedies for the last fifty years, but new ones as well (!). Rose Byrne plays the daughter of the seer. “Knowing” (2009) is a quality drama/mystery with elements of disaster/sci-fi and even a little horror. It’s along the lines of wonder-inducing flicks like “The Mothman Prophecies” (2002), “Contact” (1997), “The Forgotten” (2004), “The X-Files: Fight the Future” (1998), “Signs” (2002), “The Day the Earth Stood Still” (2008) and “War of the Worlds” (2005). If you favor the style and themes of those movies you’ll probably like this one. The film runs 2 hours, 1 minute and was shot in Victoria, Australia, with establishing shots of the Boston/Cambridge area. GRADE: B
Gimly2020-07-26
★ 4/10
A very intriguing set-up, but not much else of note is found in Knowing. Final rating:★★ - Had some things that appeal to me, but a poor finished product.