The East

"Spy on us, we'll spy on you."

2013 1h 56m EN

👍

6.5

SOLID

🍅

77%

FRESH

👌

METACRITIC

⭐

6.8

IMDB

★6.5TMDB · 893🍅77%Rotten Tomatoes●68Metacritic★6.8IMDB · 54,344

DramaThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

An operative for an elite private intelligence firm finds her priorities irrevocably changed after she is tasked with infiltrating an anarchist group known for executing covert attacks upon major corporations.

“Spy on us, we'll spy on you.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Cinemax Amazon ChannelSubscription

Cinemax Apple TV channelSubscription

Cast

Brit Marling
Sarah
Alexander Skarsgård
Benji
Elliot Page
Izzy
Toby Kebbell
Doc
Shiloh Fernandez
Luca
Aldis Hodge
Thumbs
Danielle Macdonald
Tess
Hillary Baack
Eve

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Zal Batmanglij
Writers: Brit Marling, Zal Batmanglij
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America, United Kingdom

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

Earned back only 37% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 13 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United States of America, United Kingdom.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Zal Batmanglij, shot by Roman Vasyanov. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Brit Marling and Alexander Skarsgård and Elliot Page carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Spy on us, we'll spy on you.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Zal Batmanglij directs. Roman Vasyanov behind the camera. Halli Cauthery scores. Bill Pankow cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America, United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 37% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 13 years ago.
3International production across 2 countries: United States of America, United Kingdom.
4Directed by Zal Batmanglij, shot by Roman Vasyanov. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Halli Cauthery. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Bill Pankow shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Brit Marling and Alexander Skarsgård and Elliot Page carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Spy on us, we'll spy on you.".
9IMDB entry: tt1869716 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Roman Vasyanov
Original score: Halli Cauthery
Editing: Bill Pankow
Production design: Alex DiGerlando
Costume design: Jenny Gering
Makeup / hair: Ma Kalaadevi Ananda
Sound: Joe Barnett
Stunt coordinator: Kevin Beard
Runtime: 116 min · 1h 56m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $6,500,000
Box office: $2,401,510
Return: 37% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: The East (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes: 77% 🍅 Fresh
Metacritic: 68/100
IMDB rating: 6.8/10 · 54,344 votes
MPAA: PG-13

Awards

1 win & 8 nominations total

Also by

Zal Batmanglij

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2022-04-27
★ 6/10
Probably inspired by a swathe of similarly themed movies, this is a fairly run of the mill drama about a stereotypically off-beat group determined to bring down a corporation that treats the local ecology with scent regard. Brit Marling - who has involvement on both sides of the camera - is "Sarah" an agent tasked with infiltrating this group. The more she mixes with them, understands them and their views and priorities, the more she begins to feel emotionally and professionally compromised - especially as there appears ample evidence that at least one of their target organisations is as guilty as sin. The supporting cast are adequate - Toby Kebbell and Alexander Skarsgård chip in well, but for the most part this is really pretty dull. Marling fails to inspire as does the incredibly simplistic writing and though there is a degree of vindication towards the end; the whole thing lacked characters about whom I really cared and at just short of two hours I was a bit bored. A worthy topic doesn't necessarily make for a worthy film and this needed way much more creative effort than is offered up here.

Production companies