The Invisible War (2012)
92%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
11 wins & 14 nominations total
The Invisible War is a vital and frank expose on sexual assault in the U.S. military, shot by master filmmaker Kirby Dick (This Film is Not Yet Rated).
The Invisible War is a documentary that will make you want to scream, cry, and punch a wall all at the same time. It’s infuriating to see how the US military has failed to protect its own soldiers from sexual assault and rape, and how the victims are often blamed and punished instead of the perpetrators. But despite the heavy subject matter, the film is a must-watch for anyone who cares about justice and human rights. Kirby Dick’s direction is straightforward and effective, and the survivors who share their stories are incredibly brave and inspiring. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s an important one.
Production Company(ies)
Warner Bros., Hawk Films, Peregrine
Distributor
Cinedigm
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2012
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.78 : 1
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Runtime:1h 35m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States, France
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 22, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 20, 2012
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, sexual assault, U.S military, Kirby Dick, Tanner King Barklow, Amy Ziering, Douglas Blush, English, 2012, limited release, Cinedigm, Amy Ziering, Kirby Dick, Kori Cioca, Ariana Klay, Elle Helmer, Hannah Sewell, reviewed by Charlotte O’Sullivan, Mark Kermode, Geoffrey Macnab, Peter Bradshaw, Nigel Andrews, David Edelstein, Jordan M Smith, Ben Nicholson, Steve Erickson, Sr Rose Pacatte, Stefan Pape, Ken McIntyre, 99% Tomatometer, 72 reviews, 84% audience score, $19.6K box office, MPAA rating, sexual violence, military culture, women in the military, PTSD, suicide, corruption, justice, advocacy, human rights, social justice, feminism, war, trauma, survivors, victims, military justice system, sexual harassment, assault prevention, military recruitment, military propaganda, military training, military leadership, military accountability, military cover-up, military hierarchy, military power dynamics, military trauma, military mental health, military culture shift, military reform, military accountability, military justice reform, military sexual trauma, military sexual trauma coordinator, military sexual trauma treatment, military sexual trauma counseling, military sexual trauma compensation, military sexual trauma hotline, military sexual trauma support, military sexual trauma resources, military sexual trauma awareness, military sexual trauma education, military sexual trauma prevention, military sexual trauma response, military sexual trauma policy, military sexual trauma legislation, military sexual trauma statistics, military sexual trauma research, military sexual trauma advocacy, military sexual trauma activism, military sexual trauma survivors, military sexual trauma victims, military sexual trauma allies, military sexual trauma community, military sexual trauma healing, military sexual trauma recovery, military sexual trauma resilience, military sexual trauma empowerment, military sexual trauma solidarity, military sexual trauma awareness month, military sexual trauma awareness day, military sexual trauma awareness week, military sexual trauma awareness campaign, military sexual trauma awareness ribbon, military sexual trauma awareness pin, military sexual trauma awareness bracelet, military sexual trauma awareness t-shirt, military sexual trauma awareness merchandise
Worldwide gross: $71,968
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $92,783
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,033
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 10,118
US/Canada gross: $71,968
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $92,783
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,672
US/Canada opening weekend: $16,500
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $21,272
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,494
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Kirby Dick – Director, Writer
Kori Cioca – Self
Ariana Klay – Self
Elle Helmer – Self
Hannah Sewell – Self
Director(s)
Kirby Dick
Writer(s)
Kirby Dick, Amy Ziering, Douglas Blush
Producer(s)
Tanner King Barklow, Amy Ziering
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
11 wins & 14 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (72) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (71) | Rotten (1)
The Invisible War is as compelling as Silence in the House of God, Alex Gibney’s study of abusive Catholic priests.
March 14, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Kirby Dick’s typically insightful and compassionate documentary presents a harrowing picture of an epidemic of sexual assault and rape within the US military.
March 9, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Mark Kermode
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The film works both as advocacy and as a very moving study of women (and one or two men) whose idealism and patriotism have been utterly shattered.
March 7, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
Geoffrey Macnab
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
What calibre of male personnel is the military attracting? And how will this dysfunction affect its relations with foreign civilian populations? It is a grim picture.
March 6, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Tears are not hard evidence, but they are hard to resist as anecdotal testimony.
March 6, 2014
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
I can hardly wait to see which closet Dick will throw open next.
January 7, 2013
David Edelstein
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
Not just an important film, but one produced at the top of its creators’ craft. It’s a doc of rich emotion and high stakes that, thanks to its intrepid subjects, has a real chance to make a difference in the lives of future US soldiers.
February 9, 2020
Jordan M. Smith
IONCINEMA.com
Although The Invisible War hardly breaks the mould in its execution, it makes for compelling — if appalling — viewing.
March 8, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Ben Nicholson
CineVue
“The Invisible War” is infuriating, but in a positive way.
February 22, 2018
Steve Erickson
Gay City News
This is a horrifying situation.
August 9, 2017
Sr. Rose Pacatte
National Catholic Reporter
Where this picture is truly triumphant, is within the significance of its very existence. This film simply needs to have been made, and it needs to be seen.
March 10, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Stefan Pape
HeyUGuys
Directed with straightforward economy, The Invisible War sheds much-needed light on a very dark secret.
March 10, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Ken McIntyre
Total Film…
Plot
The Invisible War is a documentary that explores the issue of sexual assault within the U.S. military.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Fresh Kernels critics consensus for The Invisible War is a “vital and frank expose on sexual assault in the U.S. military, shot by master filmmaker Kirby Dick (This Film is Not Yet Rated).”
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