The Imitation Game
"The true enigma was the man who cracked the code."
During World War II, a tense race against time unfolds at Britain's top secret code breaking center, Bletchley Park. A mathematician named Alan Turing is recruited to crack the seemingly unbreakable German cipher known as Enigma. He assembles a diverse team of cryptanalysts and follows an... Read more
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About The Imitation Game
During World War II, a tense race against time unfolds at Britain's top secret code breaking center, Bletchley Park. A mathematician named Alan Turing is recruited to crack the seemingly unbreakable German cipher known as Enigma. He assembles a diverse team of cryptanalysts and follows an unconventional approach that clashes with tradition and policy, aiming to build a machine capable of deciphering the daily flood of encrypted messages. As the clock ticks, the team faces constant pressure from wartime urgency, bureaucratic doubt, and personal friction. The film balances sharp puzzle solving with a portrait of a man whose genius is matched by a complicated personal life, and the moral stakes of turning secrets into victory. The clock never stops ticking.
The film is directed by Morten Tyldum and adapted from Andrew Hodges' biography of Alan Turing, with a screenplay by Graham Moore. The collaboration blends historical research with dramatic pacing to bring a pivotal wartime chapter to the screen today.
Box office performance was strong worldwide, with broad appeal across theaters and audiences. The Imitation Game became a commercial success, helping to expand public interest in wartime code breaking and the human stories behind secrecy. It resonated with global audiences.
The movie helped reframe Alan Turing as a cultural figure and sparked renewed interest in Bletchley Park's wartime efforts. It fed public conversations about cryptography, artificial intelligence, and the ethical questions raised by secret work, while highlighting the personal toll of discrimination alongside achievement for future filmmakers and historians alike.
Critics generally praised the film for its brisk storytelling, strong performances, and thoughtful look at intellect, secrecy, and moral responsibility during war. Core themes include the tension between individual brilliance and collective effort, the cost of hiding truths, and the way society treats difference under pressure across generations and disciplines.
What Viewers Are Saying
Viewers praise the strong performances, particularly Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal of Alan Turing, and appreciate the engaging WWII setting and overall production quality. Many find the story compelling and well told, capturing both the historical context and broader themes like acceptance. However, some viewers criticize the film for taking significant liberties with historical accuracy, which detracts from its credibility for those familiar with Turing's life. There are also mixed feelings about the character portrayal, with some noting similarities to Cumberbatch's previous roles.
Details
- Release Date
- November 14, 2014
- Runtime
- 1h 53m
- Rating
- PG-13
- User Ratings
- 17,777 votes
- Type
- Movie
- Genres
- History, Drama, Thriller, War
- Country
- United States
- Studio
- Bristol Automotive +2 more
- Budget
- $14,000,000
- Box Office
- $233,555,708
- External Links
- View on IMDB
Official Trailer
Cast
Benedict Cumberbatch
Alan Turing
Keira Knightley
Joan Clarke
Matthew Goode
Hugh Alexander
Rory Kinnear
Detective Robert Nock
Allen Leech
John Cairncross
Matthew Beard
Peter Hilton
Charles Dance
Commander Denniston
Mark Strong
Stewart Menzies
James Northcote
Jack Good
Tom Goodman-Hill
Sergeant Staehl
Director: Morten Tyldum
Written by: Graham Moore, Andrew Hodges