Synopsis
A chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks, and his death at the hands of the Navy S.E.A.L. Team 6 in May, 2011.
Zero Dark Thirty (2012) is a 2h 37min thriller feature film by Kathryn Bigelow. A chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks, a... Selected for Los Angeles Film Awards (2025).
Key facts
Cast
Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Ehle, Mark Strong, Kyle Chandler, Edgar Ramírez, James Gandolfini
Original language
English
First release
December 19, 2012 (United States)
Production companies
Columbia Pictures
Awards
Academy Award for Best Sound Editing, National Board of Review: Top Ten Films, National Board of Review Award for Best Film
Setting
London, New York City, Washington, D.C., Afghanistan, Kuwait City
Filming locations
Gdańsk, London
Crew
Screenplay
Mark Boal
Producer
Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Megan Ellison
Cinematography
Greig Fraser
Editing
Dylan Tichenor, William Goldenberg
Music
Alexandre Desplat
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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Festival History
- Deauville Film Festival 2026 generic - Once Upon a Time (in) America
- Los Angeles Film Awards 2025
- Academy Awards 2013 academy_award
- American Film Institute Awards 2013 generic
- Golden Globes (USA) 2013 generic - Best Director ★ Nominee
- Austin Film Critics Association 2012
- Directors Guild of America 2012 generic
- Indiewire Critics' Poll 2012 generic - Best Director ★ 1 (winner per main article)
- National Board of Review 2012 generic - Award winners ★ Best Film; Best Director; Best Actress (Jessica Chastain)
- Village Voice Film Poll 2012 generic
Titles
| Original title | Zero Dark Thirty | English |
| Québec French title | Opération avant l 'aube | |
| Alternate title | Kill Bin Laden |
Soundtracks
| CD | Zero Dark Thirty: Original Soundtrack - Alexandre Desplat, Xavier Forcioli (2012) | 2 releases, 2012: Madison Gate Records |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | United States | December 19, 2012 |
| Theatrical | Spain | January 4, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Angola | January 7, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Canada | January 11, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Philippines | January 11, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Taiwan | January 11, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Macedonia | January 17, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Portugal | January 17, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Belgium | January 23, 2013 |
| Theatrical | France | January 23, 2013 |
| Theatrical | KW | January 24, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | January 24, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Singapore | January 24, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Finland | January 25, 2013 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | January 25, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Ireland | January 25, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Thailand | January 30, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Australia | January 31, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Germany | January 31, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Israel | January 31, 2013 |
| Theatrical | New Zealand | January 31, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Lithuania | February 1, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Sweden | February 1, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Turkey | February 1, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Denmark | February 7, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Italy | February 7, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Estonia | February 8, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Iceland | February 8, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Norway | February 8, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Poland | February 8, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Mexico | February 14, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Brazil | February 15, 2013 |
| Theatrical | India | February 15, 2013 |
| Streaming | Japan | February 15, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Argentina | February 21, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Greece | February 21, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Hong Kong | February 21, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Hungary | February 21, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Peru | February 21, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Russia | February 21, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Bulgaria | February 22, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Romania | February 22, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Ukraine | February 28, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Vietnam | March 1, 2013 |
| Theatrical | South Korea | March 7, 2013 |
| Television | France | January 17, 2014 |
| Television | France | August 11, 2014 |
| Television | Switzerland | June 1, 2015 |
| Television | United Kingdom | November 11, 2015 |
| Streaming | France | September 30, 2016 |
| Streaming | France | December 30, 2020 |
| Streaming | France | May 16, 2021 |
| Streaming | Germany | October 7, 2026 |
| Television | Germany | October 7, 2026 |
| Streaming | France | October 7, 2026 |
| Television | France | October 7, 2026 |
| Classification | United Kingdom | 15 |
| Classification | United States | R |
Versions & editions
| Original version (English) | ||
| Home video | France | May 23, 2013 |
| Home video | Greece | May 27, 2013 |
Full credits
| Director | Kathryn Bigelow |
| Cast | Jessica Chastain (Maya), Jason Clarke (Dan), Joel Edgerton (Patrick - Squadron Team Leader), Jennifer Ehle (Jessica), Mark Strong (George), Kyle Chandler (Joseph Bradley), Edgar Ramírez (Larry from Ground Branch), James Gandolfini (C.I.A. Director), Chris Pratt (Justin - DEVGRU), Callan Mulvey (Saber - DEVGRU), Fares Fares (Hakim), Reda Kateb (Ammar), Harold Perrineau (Jack), Stephen Dillane (National Security Advisor), Mark Duplass (Steve), Scott Adkins (John), Jeremy Strong (Thomas), John Barrowman (Jeremy), J.J. Kandel (J.J.), Ricky Sekhon (Osama Bin Laden), John Schwab (Deputy National Security Advisor), Martin Delaney (Assistant to National Security Advisor), Jeff Mash (Deputy Director of C.I.A.), Taylor Kinney (Jared - DEVGRU), Phil Somerville (Phil - DEVGRU), Nash Edgerton (Nate - DEVGRU EOD), Mike Colter (Mike - DEVGRU), Jessica Ann Collins (Debbie), Frank Grillo (Squadron Commanding Officer), Siaosi Fonua (Henry - DEVGRU), Daniel Lapaine (Tim - Station Chief), Homayoun Ershadi (Hassan Ghul), Fredric Lehne (The Wolf), Alexander Karim (Detainee on Monitor), Wahab Sheikh (Detainee on Monitor), Nabil Elouahabi (Detainee on Monitor), Aymen Hamdouchi (Detainee on Monitor), Simon Abkarian (Detainee on Monitor), Ali Marhyar (Interrogator on Monitor), Parker Sawyers (Interrogator on Monitor), Akin Gazi (Interrogator on Monitor), Derek Siow (Interrogator on Monitor), Henry Garrett (Bagram Guard), Darshan Aulakh (Pakistani Detention Center Guard), Navdeep Singh (Faraj Courier), Yoav Levi (Abu Faraj al-Libbi), David Menkin (Case Officer), Eyad Zoubi (Zied), Julian Lewis Jones (Blackwater Guard), Christian Contreras (C.I.A. Security), Lauren Shaw (Lauren), John Antonini (Analyst at Embassy), Ashraf Telfah (Kuwaiti Businessman), Jonathan Olley (Tech from Ground Branch), Ben Lambert (N.S.A. Tech), Udayan Baijal (Guard at Maya's Apartment), Nabil Koni (Pakistani Doctor), Anthony Edridge (General in Hangar), Brett Praed (DEVGRU Operator), Aron Eastwood (DEVGRU Operator), Barrie Rice (DEVGRU Operator), Robert Young (DEVGRU Operator), Alex Corbet Burcher (DEVGRU Operator), Mitchell Hall (DEVGRU Operator), Alan Pietruszewski (Pilot), Kevin LaRosa Jr. (Pilot), M.D. Selig (Pilot), Benjamin John Parrillo (Pilot), Christopher Stanley (Admiral Bill McRaven), Noureddine Hajoujou (Abrar), Nour Alkawaja (Abrar's Wife), Siham Rida (UBL Wife), Monia Moula (UBL Wife), Zalfa Seurat (UBL Wife), Tarick Hadouch (Khalid), Mark Valley (C-130 Pilot), Michael G. Gabel (C.I.A. Security (uncredited)) |
| Screenplay | Mark Boal |
| Producer | Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Megan Ellison |
| Executive producer | Colin Wilson, Greg Shapiro, Ted Schipper |
| Cinematography | Greig Fraser |
| Editing | Dylan Tichenor, William Goldenberg |
| Music | Alexandre Desplat |
| Production design | Jeremy Hindle |
| Visual effects | Mike Uguccioni |
| Sound | Paul N.J. Ottosson |
| Costumes | George L. Little |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
