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City of Ghosts

Name: City of Ghosts
Genre: War, Documentary
Released: 2017-07-14
Cast: Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, Hamoud, Hassan, Hussam, Naji Jerf

2017 | 90 min | War, Documentary

Saturday Specialearly rating

Why it’s a Saturday Special

Critics loved it (98% on Rotten Tomatoes), despite a box office flop. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for the curious and history buffs. If you loved 20 Days in Mariupol or For Sama, start here.
The mood: Intense, eye-opening.
The pace: Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 30 min.
What might put you off: Rated R: meant for adults.

With unprecedented access, this documentary follows the extraordinary journey of “Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently”—a group of anonymous citizen journalists who banded together after their homeland was overtaken by ISIS—as they risk their lives to stand up against one of the greatest evils in the world today.

How it earned its rating

CriticsVery strong
98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 86 on Metacritic
AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
AwardsSolid
Won 1 DGA Award: Directors Guild of America Awards: Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary. Also nominated for 1 BAFTA and 1 PGA Award. Plus 7 other awards.
Box office & staying powerWeak
$2 million worldwide
Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 9K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Matthew Heineman

Abu Bakr Al-BaghdadiSelf
HamoudSelf
HassanHamoud's brother
HussamSelf
Naji JerfSelf
MohamadSelf