In 1986, producers Lawrence Gordon and Joel Silver acquired film rights to Watchmen for 20th Century Fox. After author Alan Moore declined to write a screenplay based on his story, Fox enlisted screenwriter Sam Hamm. Hamm rewrote Watchmens complicated ending, making a "more manageable" conclusion involving an assassination and a time paradox. Fox put the project into turnaround in 1991, and the project was moved to Warner Bros. Pictures, where Terry Gilliam was attached to direct and Charles McKeown to rewrite the script. Gilliam and Silver were only able to raise $25 million for the film (a quarter of the necessary budget) because their previous films had gone overbudget. Gilliam eventually left Watchmen, describing the comic as "unfilmable", and Warner Bros. dropped the project.
Movie's ratings
Production
News
- Christopher Nolan says Zack Snyder's 'Watchmen' was "ahead of its time" NME December 1, 2023
- Christopher Nolan Is Apparently A Big Fan Of Zack Snyder's 'Watchmen' UPROXX November 29, 2023
- So Can We Watch "Watchmen" Now? Alan Moore Has Us Confused Bleeding Cool News September 14, 2023
- Patrick Wilson Says ‘Watchmen’ Was ‘Ahead of the Curve’: It Was ‘So Dark’ and Allowed ‘The Avengers’ to ‘Go So Light’ Variety July 17, 2023
- Alan Moore rips into "embarrassing" 'Watchmen' TV adaptation NME October 19, 2022
All news
Soundtrack
Watchmen (Music from the Motion Picture)
Different stars
- 1 My Chemical RomanceDesolation Row 2:59
- 2 Nat "King" ColeUnforgettable 3:27
- 3 Bob DylanThe Times They Are a-Changin' 3:13
- 4 Simon & GarfunkelThe Sound of Silence 3:06
- 5 Janis JoplinMe and Bobby McGee 4:30
- 6 KC and the Sunshine BandI'm Your Boogie Man 4:02
- 7 Billie HolidayYou're My Thrill 3:22
- 8 The Philip Glass EnsemblePruit Igoe & Prophecies 8:36
- 9 Leonard CohenHallelujah 4:36
- 10 Jimi HendrixAll Along the Watchtower 4:00
- 11 Budapest Symphony OrchestraRide of the Valkyries 5:20
- 12 Nina SimonePirate Jenny (Live) 6:39
Watchmen
(2009)20
| Country | |
| Runtime | 2 hr 42 min |
| Budget | $130 000 000 |
| Premiere: World | $185 382 813 February 23, 2009 |
| USA | $107 509 799 |
| Other countries | $77 873 014 |
| Box Office – Budget | $55 382 813 |
| Premiere: USA | $107 509 799 March 6, 2009 |
| first day | $24 515 772 |
| first weekend | $55 214 334 |
| Digital: World | December 31, 2010 |
| Parental Advisory | Frightening & Intense Scenes, Profanity, Violence & Gore, ... |
| |
| Production Companies | |
| Also Known As | Watchmen: The IMAX Experience United States |
Description
In a version of 1985 where superheroes exist, the murder of a colleague sends active vigilante Rorschach on the trail of a conspiracy that will change the course of history.Сast and Crew
Director
Camera
Author
Composer
Videos Stills Posters Filming Promo Screenshots Covers Concept
Overview
The comic book series Watchmen is a groundbreaking work in the graphic novel genre, created by writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons. It was originally published by DC Comics in 1986 and 1987 as a 12-issue limited series.Creators
- Writer: Alan Moore
- Artist: Dave Gibbons
- Colorist: John Higgins
Plot and Themes
Watchmen is set in an alternate history where superheroes emerged in the 1940s and 1960s, helping the United States win the Vietnam War. The story is set in 1985, during the height of the Cold War, and follows a group of retired superheroes as they investigate the murder of one of their own, uncovering a complex conspiracy with global implications. The comic explores themes of power, morality, and the nature of heroism, often deconstructing the traditional superhero archetype. It is known for its intricate narrative structure, deep character development, and philosophical depth.Film Adaptation
The 2009 film adaptation of Watchmen, directed by Zack Snyder, is noted for its visual fidelity to the original comic. The film closely follows the plot and visual style of the graphic novel, with some changes and omissions due to the constraints of the film medium. While the film captures much of the comic's tone and themes, certain elements, such as the ending, were altered, leading to mixed reactions from fans and critics regarding its faithfulness to the source material.Production
Sign up and you will see here
friends impressions of the movie.
Friends comments and ratings
I’m watching it for the fourth time. Now Ultimate uncut version. With a cartoon inside. Suitability
One of the best serious comics in history, it’s a pity that Marvel is not capable of this.
A break with genre templates: instead of a typical superhero action film, there is a dark philosophical film with flashbacks, slow-motion narration and alternative history.
The latest film about superheroes, which does not have the typical templates and signs of the comic book film genre. This is my opinion about the film "Watchmen", I recommend you read it. Health, goodness and good cinema to everyone!
I don’t really care how "canonical" or "genre-valuable" it is. I watch movies and don’t read comics. I was bored. Beautiful (+1), but boring. I might as well spend 3.5 hours walking around the Museum of Modern Art, trying to grasp the author’s intent on beautiful canvases.
I rewatched it and now I like it even more! Zack Snyder made an incredible movie.
I watched it for the first time, straight to the maximum, for 3.5 hours. I didn’t notice anything "supernatural". But for 2009, before the line from the Marvel machine gun, it’s an excellent super-hero movie in every way, with the necessary [R]ating. +1 point for the animated story.
I watched the director’s cut. A brilliant adaptation and one of the best comic book movies ever made. Excellent characters with different, complex personalities, appropriate, well-staged action, an attractive atmosphere and, indeed, a complex, masterfully written plot.
Iconic scenes follow each other from beginning to end, Snyder’s vision here is impeccably calibrated, the soundtrack was chosen by the Lord God himself – real hypnosis for all 150-plus minutes. Best Comic Book Movie
A very cruel, dark, long and not typical film about super heroes with an interesting plot thought out to the smallest detail. I remember Rorschach the most. Jackie Earle Haley did a great job!
Without false modesty, we can say that Zack Snyder’s Watchmen is one of the best creations in the world of cinema in recent years. Cool action scenes, excellent cinematography, well-thought-out characters that fit perfectly into the atmosphere of a cruel and going to hell world.
Zack Snyder is handsome. I conveyed almost 100% of the entire story from the comic (I read everything in two days, there is something to compare with). Good soundtrack, tweaked the ending a bit, but fans should be satisfied. I would like a continuation, because there are "Prologues", there is more than enough work…
I don’t know why, but the film hooked me. It has everything: from cool animation to erotic scenes and thoughts about the great. Gorgeous.
Not my genre, couldn’t watch it to the end, tried with difficulty to catch the plot, but all to no avail.
Snyder’s monumental film, in which there is the USSR, Nixon and Doctor Manhattan. Instead of the usual popcorn superheroes, ordinary people in tights, and instead of saving the world – a dark neo-noir detective story, in which, accompanied by an excellent soundtrack, you have to choose between the bad and the terrible
I’m not surprised the film failed at the box office. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t even get through half of it…
Snyder’s blatantly vulgar approach is evident over the years, but the core characters are still great and well-crafted, and the story is even more relevant. The movie has aged worse than I’d like, but it’s still worth a lot.
I rewatched it (and this time it was the director’s cut). Powerful and unconventional. This is a truly exceptional case for DC.
An excellent film based on the graphic novel of the same name by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. The film represents an alternative universe of the 80s where, at the height of the Cold War, a group of former superheroes are investigating a possible conspiracy against them, however…
Add a short review
280 characters