# Nightcrawler

> 2014 film by Dan Gilroy

**Wikidata**: [Q15154975](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15154975)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightcrawler_(film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/nightcrawler

## Summary
Nightcrawler is a 2014 neo-noir thriller film written and directed by Dan Gilroy, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as a young man who becomes obsessed with documenting violent crimes for a local news station. Praised for its dark portrayal of ambition and media ethics, the film grossed over $50 million worldwide and received critical acclaim, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

## Key Facts
- **Release Dates**: Premiered at the 2014 Telluride Film Festival (August 31, 2014); released in the U.S. on October 31, 2014, and in the UK on November 28, 2014.
- **Director/Writer**: Dan Gilroy (debut feature film).
- **Cast**: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Riz Ahmed, and Bill Paxton.
- **Genre**: Neo-noir, thriller, drama.
- **Production Company**: Bold Films.
- **Runtime**: 117 minutes.
- **Box Office**: $50.3 million (worldwide).
- **Awards**: Nominated for Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay (2015); won National Board of Review Award for Best Screenplay.
- **Critical Reception**: 95% Rotten Tomatoes score (Certified Fresh); 76/100 Metacritic score.
- **IMDb ID**: tt2872718.
- **Wikipedia Title**: "Nightcrawler (film)".
- **Country of Origin**: United States.
- **Language**: English.
- **Budget**: $8.5 million.

## FAQs
**Who created Nightcrawler?**  
Nightcrawler was written and directed by Dan Gilroy in his feature film debut. It stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, and Riz Ahmed.

**What themes does the film explore?**  
The film examines the ethics of media sensationalism, the dangers of unchecked ambition, and the psychological effects of obsession with violence and tragedy.

**How was Nightcrawler received by critics and audiences?**  
The film holds a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with praise for Gyllenhaal’s performance and Gilroy’s screenplay. It grossed over $50 million worldwide on an $8.5 million budget, making it a commercial success.

**What awards and nominations did it receive?**  
Nightcrawler was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay (2015) and won the National Board of Review Award for Best Screenplay, among other accolades.

**Is Nightcrawler part of a franchise?**  
No, it is a standalone film. However, its success established Dan Gilroy as a prominent screenwriter and director in the thriller genre.

## Why It Matters
Nightcrawler is significant for its unflinching critique of media ethics and the voyeuristic nature of modern journalism. It launched Dan Gilroy’s career as a filmmaker and solidified Jake Gyllenhaal’s reputation for intense, morally complex performances. The film’s exploration of themes like ambition, exploitation, and the commodification of violence resonated with audiences and critics, cementing its status as a contemporary neo-noir classic. Its commercial success and awards recognition underscore its cultural impact, reflecting broader societal concerns about the media’s role in perpetuating harm.

## Notable For
- **Critical Acclaim**: 95% Rotten Tomatoes score and Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
- **Cultural Impact**: Sparked debates about media ethics and the glorification of violence in news reporting.
- **Career Milestone**: Launched director Dan Gilroy’s career and showcased Jake Gyllenhaal’s versatility as an actor.
- **Box Office Success**: Grossed over six times its production budget, proving the viability of mid-budget thrillers.
- **Festival Premieres**: Debuted at the Telluride Film Festival and screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.
- **Genre Influence**: Revitalized the neo-noir genre with its modern, morally ambiguous storytelling.

## Body

### Production and Release
- **Director/Writer**: Dan Gilroy made his feature film debut with *Nightcrawler*, drawing inspiration from his own experiences living in Los Angeles and observing local news crews.
- **Cast**: Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Lou Bloom, a unemployed young man who becomes a freelance crime journalist. Rene Russo, Riz Ahmed, and Bill Paxton co-star.
- **Filming Locations**: Primarily shot in Los Angeles, California, with scenes filmed in neighborhoods like Van Nuys and Downtown LA.
- **Release Strategy**: Opened in limited release in the U.S. on October 31, 2014, expanding to wide release on November 14, 2014.

### Critical and Commercial Performance
- **Box Office**: Earned $50.3 million worldwide, with $32.4 million in the U.S. and $17.9 million internationally.
- **Critical Scores**: 95% Rotten Tomatoes score (based on 242 reviews) and 76/100 Metacritic score (based on 40 critics).
- **Awards**: Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay (2015), won the National Board of Review Award for Best Screenplay, and received nominations from the Writers Guild of America and the Independent Spirit Awards.

### Themes and Legacy
- **Media Critique**: The film portrays the unethical lengths local news stations go to for ratings, reflecting real-world issues in journalism.
- **Character Study**: Lou Bloom’s transformation from outsider to ruthless entrepreneur serves as a commentary on capitalism and moral decay.
- **Cultural References**: Frequently cited in discussions about media sensationalism and the psychological effects of trauma voyeurism.
- **Influence**: Inspired subsequent thrillers like *Nightcrawler*’s spiritual successor, *Velvet Buzzsaw* (2019), also directed by Gilroy.

### Technical Specifications
- **Runtime**: 117 minutes (1 hour 57 minutes).
- **Aspect Ratio**: 2.39:1.
- **Sound Mix**: Datasat, Dolby Digital.
- **Color**: Color film with a distinctive neon-lit aesthetic to emphasize Los Angeles’ nocturnal atmosphere.

### Related Entities
- **Genre**: Part of the neo-noir, thriller, and drama genres, sharing themes with films like *Taxi Driver* (1976) and *Network* (1976).
- **Awards**: Recognized by the National Board of Review and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
- **Production Company**: Produced by Bold Films, known for financing mid-budget films like *Whiplash* (2014) and *The Invitation* (2015).

### Historical Context
- **2014 Film Landscape**: Released during a year marked by critically acclaimed films like *Birdman* and *Boyhood*, contributing to a resurgence of original screenplays in Hollywood.
- **Societal Relevance**: Coincided with public debates about police brutality and media representation, amplifying its thematic resonance.

## References

1. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
2. The Movie Database
3. [Nightcrawler. Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/nightcrawler)
4. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2872718/releaseinfo)
5. [Source](http://nmhh.hu/dokumentum/166259/premierfilmek_forgalmi_adatai_2014.xlsx)
6. [Source](http://nmhh.hu/dokumentum/198182/terjesztett_filmalkotasok_art_filmek_nyilvantartasa.xlsx)
7. [Source](http://www.sfi.se/sv/svensk-filmdatabas/Item/?type=MOVIE&itemid=80053)
8. [Source](http://www.dfi.dk/faktaomfilm/film/da/90991.aspx?id=90991)
9. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2872718/releaseinfo/)
10. Google Knowledge Graph
11. Nightcrawler
12. BBC Things
13. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2872718/parentalguide)
14. [Source](http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=nightcrawlers.htm)
15. [Source](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl291997185/)
16. [Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt2872718/)
17. Kinopoisk
18. [Source](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/nightcrawler-2014)
19. Entertainment Identifier Registry
20. [Source](http://www.kijkwijzer.nl/index.php?id=26&i=231974)
21. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/nightcrawler/)
22. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/nightcrawler-sbs-versie/)
23. [Source](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=222858.html)
24. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
25. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/140840)
26. Online-Filmdatenbank
27. [Source](http://www.mecd.gob.es/cultura-mecd/areas-cultura/cine/industria-cine/calificacion/calificacion-por-meses.html)
28. [Source](http://cnc.abt.ro/registru/index.aspx?pageID=3&filmID=14758)
29. [Source](http://www.rtc.gob.mx/NuevoSitio/cine_clasif_35mm.php?cd=242)
30. Bechdel Test Movie List
31. mymovies.it
32. IMDb
33. Danish Film Database
34. Kanopy
35. [Nightcrawler (2014) MBTI Personality Type - Movies](https://www.personality-database.com/profile?pid=2&cid=8&sub_cat_id=548)
36. TheTVDB
37. Trakt.tv
38. FilmVandaag.nl