The Unknown Known (2014)

The Unknown Known poster
Theatrical Performance
Domestic Box Office $275,658Details
Home Market Performance
Est. Domestic DVD Sales $433,614 Details
Est. Domestic Blu-ray Sales $74,530 Details
Total Est. Domestic Video Sales $508,144
Further financial details...

Synopsis

Errol Morris offers a portrait of Donald Rumsfeld, one of the key architects of the Iraq War, and a larger-than-life character who provoked equal levels of fury and adulation from the American public. Rather than conducting a conventional interview, Morris has Rumsfeld perform and expound on his “snowflakes,” tens of thousands of memos he composed as a congressman and as an advisor to four different presidents, twice as Secretary of Defense. These memos provide a window onto history—not history as it actually happened, but history as Rumsfeld wants us to see it.

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$64,315 (23.3% of total gross)
Legs:4.29 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Theater counts:18 opening theaters/80 max. theaters, 2.6 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $363,717

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 11,101-11,200) 11,118 $275,658
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 20,601-20,700) 20,675 $275,658
All Time Domestic Highest Grossing Limited Release Movies (Rank 3,201-3,300) 3,248 $275,658

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Watch Now On

Amazon VOD:Amazon
iTunes:iTunes, iTunes
Google Play:Google Play
Vudu:Vudu

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: April 2nd, 2014 (Limited) by RADiUS-TWC
Video Release: July 1st, 2014 by Anchor Bay Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some disturbing images and brief nudity.
(Rating bulletin 2294, 10/16/2013)
Running Time: 102 minutes
Comparisons: vs. The Fog of War
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Political, War, Directing Yourself, Iraq War, Afghanistan War, Vietnam War, Cold War, Terrorism
Source:Based on Real Life Events
Genre:Documentary
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Factual
Production/Financing Companies: Moxie Pictures, Participant Media, History Films, Sky Atlantic
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 11,101-11,200) 11,118 $275,658
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 10,601-10,700) 10,639 $363,717
All Time Domestic Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 10,101-10,200) 10,167 $275,658
Top 2014 Movies at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 201-300) 286 $275,658
All Time Domestic Highest Grossing Limited Release Movies (Rank 3,201-3,300) 3,248 $275,658
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office for Limited Release Movies (Rank 3,301-3,400) 3,357 $363,717
Top 2014 Limited Release Movies at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 101-200) 139 $275,658
All Time Domestic Box Office for Based on Real Life Events Movies (Rank 1,101-1,200) 1,120 $275,658
All Time Domestic Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 9,901-10,000) 9,911 $275,658
All Time Domestic Box Office for Factual Movies (Rank 501-600) 576 $275,658
All Time Domestic Box Office for Documentary Movies (Rank 501-600) 510 $275,658
All Time Domestic Box Office for PG-13 Movies (Rank 2,601-2,700) 2,691 $275,658
All Time Domestic Box Office for RADiUS-TWC Movies 11 $275,658

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Apr 4, 2014 40 $64,315   18 $3,573   $64,315 1
Apr 11, 2014 41 $63,835 -1% 80 $798   $152,198 2
Apr 18, 2014 46 $32,674 -49% 49 $667   $224,646 3
Apr 25, 2014 70 $8,419 -74% 22 $383   $254,068 4
May 2, 2014 76 $2,125 -75% 15 $142   $262,613 5
May 9, 2014 103 $634 -70% 6 $106   $265,457 6
May 16, 2014 90 $659 +4% 3 $220   $266,870 7
May 23, 2014 78 $1,153 +75% 5 $231   $268,670 8
May 30, 2014 90 $177 -85% 1 $177   $269,151 9
Jun 6, 2014 90 $1,269 +617% 3 $423   $271,175 10
Jun 13, 2014 106 $565 -55% 3 $188   $273,603 11
Jun 20, 2014 97 $480 -15% 2 $240   $275,658 12

Daily Box Office Performance

DateRankGross%YD%LWTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossDays
May 9, 2014 - $122     6 $20   $264,945 38
May 10, 2014 - $223 +83%   6 $37   $265,168 39
May 23, 2014 - $306     5 $61   $267,176 52
May 24, 2014 - $418 +37%   5 $84   $267,594 53
May 25, 2014 - $429 +3%   5 $86   $268,023 54
May 26, 2014 - $60 -86%   5 $12   $268,083 55

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Apr 4, 2014 39 $88,363   18 $4,909   $88,363 2
Apr 11, 2014 36 $103,609 +17% 80 $1,295   $191,972 3
Apr 18, 2014 41 $53,677 -48% 49 $1,095   $245,649 4
Apr 25, 2014 60 $14,839 -72% 22 $675   $260,488 5
May 2, 2014 83 $4,335 -71% 15 $289   $264,823 6
May 9, 2014 102 $1,388 -68% 6 $231   $266,211 7
May 16, 2014 83 $1,306 -6% 3 $435   $267,517 8
May 23, 2014 79 $1,457 +12% 5 $291   $268,974 9
May 30, 2014 86 $932 -36% 1 $932   $269,906 10
Jun 6, 2014 87 $3,132 +236% 3 $1,044   $273,038 11
Jun 13, 2014 95 $2,140 -32% 3 $713   $275,178 12

Full financial estimates for this film, including domestic and international box office, video sales, video rentals, TV and ancillary revenue are available through our research services. For more information, please contact us at research@the-numbers.com.

Documentary Subject(s)

Donald Rumsfeld    Himself

Interviewee(s)

Errol Morris    Himself
Kenn Medeiros    Himself

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

Errol Morris    Director
Errol Morris    Producer
Amanda Branson Gill    Producer
Robert Fernandez    Producer
Molly Thompson    Executive Producer
Dirk Hoogstra    Executive Producer
Julian P. Hobbs    Executive Producer
Tom Quinn    Executive Producer
Jason Janego    Executive Producer
Josh Braun    Executive Producer

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for July 1st, 2014

June 30th, 2014

It is a terrible week on the home market. The biggest new release according to Amazon.com is Legend of Korra: Book Two, Spirits, which is coming out on DVD and DVD or Blu-ray. However, according to the people sending me a screener, it doesn't come out till the first week of August. The best release on this week's list is The Grand Budapest Hotel, but it came out last month and the Blu-ray arrived late. The best new release on this week's list, that I know is coming out this week, is The Lunchbox and the Blu-ray Combo Pack is the Pick of the Week. More...

Per Theater Chart: Under Over Everyone Else

April 8th, 2014

Under the Skin poster

Under the Skin opened surprisingly well with a per theater average of $33,289 in four theaters. This is the second best opening per theater average for any film released in 2014, well back of The Grand Budapest Hotel's record-breaking debut. The only other film in the $10,000 club was the overall box office leader, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which earned an average of $24,130 in nearly 4,000 theaters. More...

Limited Releases: Afflicting Limited Releases on the Public

April 4th, 2014

Alan Partridge poster

It is a busy week, not only in terms of quantity, but also quality. There are seven films earning 80% positive reviews or higher (at least when I checked last). Some of these, like Afflicted, probably won't find an audience in theaters, because it is just the wrong genre. Others, like The Unknown Known and Watermark, might do well for the genre, but won't find any real measure of mainstream success. On the other hand, Under the Skin and Alan Partridge might find audiences in theaters. More...


  1. Summary
  2. News
  3. Box Office
  4. International
  5. Video Sales
  6. Full Financials
  7. Cast & Crew
  8. Trailer

Synopsis

Errol Morris offers a portrait of Donald Rumsfeld, one of the key architects of the Iraq War, and a larger-than-life character who provoked equal levels of fury and adulation from the American public. Rather than conducting a conventional interview, Morris has Rumsfeld perform and expound on his “snowflakes,” tens of thousands of memos he composed as a congressman and as an advisor to four different presidents, twice as Secretary of Defense. These memos provide a window onto history—not history as it actually happened, but history as Rumsfeld wants us to see it.

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$64,315 (23.3% of total gross)
Legs:4.29 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Theater counts:18 opening theaters/80 max. theaters, 2.6 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $363,717

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 11,101-11,200) 11,118 $275,658
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 20,601-20,700) 20,675 $275,658
All Time Domestic Highest Grossing Limited Release Movies (Rank 3,201-3,300) 3,248 $275,658

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Watch Now On

Amazon VOD:Amazon
iTunes:iTunes, iTunes
Google Play:Google Play
Vudu:Vudu

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: April 2nd, 2014 (Limited) by RADiUS-TWC
Video Release: July 1st, 2014 by Anchor Bay Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some disturbing images and brief nudity.
(Rating bulletin 2294, 10/16/2013)
Running Time: 102 minutes
Comparisons: vs. The Fog of War
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Political, War, Directing Yourself, Iraq War, Afghanistan War, Vietnam War, Cold War, Terrorism
Source:Based on Real Life Events
Genre:Documentary
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Factual
Production/Financing Companies: Moxie Pictures, Participant Media, History Films, Sky Atlantic
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Documentary Subject(s)

Donald Rumsfeld    Himself

Interviewee(s)

Errol Morris    Himself
Kenn Medeiros    Himself

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

Errol Morris    Director
Errol Morris    Producer
Amanda Branson Gill    Producer
Robert Fernandez    Producer
Molly Thompson    Executive Producer
Dirk Hoogstra    Executive Producer
Julian P. Hobbs    Executive Producer
Tom Quinn    Executive Producer
Jason Janego    Executive Producer
Josh Braun    Executive Producer

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for July 1st, 2014

June 30th, 2014

It is a terrible week on the home market. The biggest new release according to Amazon.com is Legend of Korra: Book Two, Spirits, which is coming out on DVD and DVD or Blu-ray. However, according to the people sending me a screener, it doesn't come out till the first week of August. The best release on this week's list is The Grand Budapest Hotel, but it came out last month and the Blu-ray arrived late. The best new release on this week's list, that I know is coming out this week, is The Lunchbox and the Blu-ray Combo Pack is the Pick of the Week. More...

Per Theater Chart: Under Over Everyone Else

April 8th, 2014

Under the Skin poster

Under the Skin opened surprisingly well with a per theater average of $33,289 in four theaters. This is the second best opening per theater average for any film released in 2014, well back of The Grand Budapest Hotel's record-breaking debut. The only other film in the $10,000 club was the overall box office leader, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which earned an average of $24,130 in nearly 4,000 theaters. More...

Limited Releases: Afflicting Limited Releases on the Public

April 4th, 2014

Alan Partridge poster

It is a busy week, not only in terms of quantity, but also quality. There are seven films earning 80% positive reviews or higher (at least when I checked last). Some of these, like Afflicted, probably won't find an audience in theaters, because it is just the wrong genre. Others, like The Unknown Known and Watermark, might do well for the genre, but won't find any real measure of mainstream success. On the other hand, Under the Skin and Alan Partridge might find audiences in theaters. More...

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 11,101-11,200) 11,118 $275,658
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 10,601-10,700) 10,639 $363,717
All Time Domestic Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 10,101-10,200) 10,167 $275,658
Top 2014 Movies at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 201-300) 286 $275,658
All Time Domestic Highest Grossing Limited Release Movies (Rank 3,201-3,300) 3,248 $275,658
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office for Limited Release Movies (Rank 3,301-3,400) 3,357 $363,717
Top 2014 Limited Release Movies at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 101-200) 139 $275,658
All Time Domestic Box Office for Based on Real Life Events Movies (Rank 1,101-1,200) 1,120 $275,658
All Time Domestic Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 9,901-10,000) 9,911 $275,658
All Time Domestic Box Office for Factual Movies (Rank 501-600) 576 $275,658
All Time Domestic Box Office for Documentary Movies (Rank 501-600) 510 $275,658
All Time Domestic Box Office for PG-13 Movies (Rank 2,601-2,700) 2,691 $275,658
All Time Domestic Box Office for RADiUS-TWC Movies 11 $275,658

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Apr 4, 2014 40 $64,315   18 $3,573   $64,315 1
Apr 11, 2014 41 $63,835 -1% 80 $798   $152,198 2
Apr 18, 2014 46 $32,674 -49% 49 $667   $224,646 3
Apr 25, 2014 70 $8,419 -74% 22 $383   $254,068 4
May 2, 2014 76 $2,125 -75% 15 $142   $262,613 5
May 9, 2014 103 $634 -70% 6 $106   $265,457 6
May 16, 2014 90 $659 +4% 3 $220   $266,870 7
May 23, 2014 78 $1,153 +75% 5 $231   $268,670 8
May 30, 2014 90 $177 -85% 1 $177   $269,151 9
Jun 6, 2014 90 $1,269 +617% 3 $423   $271,175 10
Jun 13, 2014 106 $565 -55% 3 $188   $273,603 11
Jun 20, 2014 97 $480 -15% 2 $240   $275,658 12

Daily Box Office Performance

DateRankGross%YD%LWTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossDays
May 9, 2014 - $122     6 $20   $264,945 38
May 10, 2014 - $223 +83%   6 $37   $265,168 39
May 23, 2014 - $306     5 $61   $267,176 52
May 24, 2014 - $418 +37%   5 $84   $267,594 53
May 25, 2014 - $429 +3%   5 $86   $268,023 54
May 26, 2014 - $60 -86%   5 $12   $268,083 55

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Apr 4, 2014 39 $88,363   18 $4,909   $88,363 2
Apr 11, 2014 36 $103,609 +17% 80 $1,295   $191,972 3
Apr 18, 2014 41 $53,677 -48% 49 $1,095   $245,649 4
Apr 25, 2014 60 $14,839 -72% 22 $675   $260,488 5
May 2, 2014 83 $4,335 -71% 15 $289   $264,823 6
May 9, 2014 102 $1,388 -68% 6 $231   $266,211 7
May 16, 2014 83 $1,306 -6% 3 $435   $267,517 8
May 23, 2014 79 $1,457 +12% 5 $291   $268,974 9
May 30, 2014 86 $932 -36% 1 $932   $269,906 10
Jun 6, 2014 87 $3,132 +236% 3 $1,044   $273,038 11
Jun 13, 2014 95 $2,140 -32% 3 $713   $275,178 12

Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 20,601-20,700) 20,675 $275,658
All Time Worldwide Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 19,201-19,300) 19,211 $275,658
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Based on Real Life Events Movies (Rank 1,901-2,000) 1,920 $275,658
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 17,601-17,700) 17,630 $275,658
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Factual Movies (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,074 $275,658
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Documentary Movies (Rank 901-1,000) 912 $275,658
All Time Worldwide Box Office for PG-13 Movies (Rank 2,901-3,000) 2,926 $275,658
All Time Worldwide Box Office for RADiUS-TWC Movies 14 $275,658

Full financial estimates for this film, including domestic and international box office, video sales, video rentals, TV and ancillary revenue are available through our research services. For more information, please contact us at research@the-numbers.com.