A Complete Unknown: release date, reviews & what to know

Edward Norton and Timothee Chalamet in A Complete Unknown (Image credit: Macall Polay/Searchlight Pictures)

The latest music icon to get the biopic treatment is none other than Bob Dylan, who is the focus of the 2024 new movie A Complete Unknown. Strapping on the guitar and filling the big shoes of Dylan is one of Hollywood's most prolific young talents, Timothée Chalamet, which only adds to the potential excitement for this one.

This is not the first time that Dylan's career has been depicted on screen. Director Todd Haynes gave a unique look into the life and work of Dylan with his 2007 movie I'm Not There, which saw many actors play a version of Dylan, including Cate Blanchett. A Complete Unknown looks to be more of a traditional biopic, from a director who knows a thing or two about making good ones.

Find out more about A Complete Unknown's release, who else stars in it and get a look at the first footage from the movie all in one place right here.

A Complete Unknown release date

A Complete Unknown is releasing wide exclusively in movie theaters on Christmas Day, December 25 in the US.

However, some movie fans are going to get early access to IMAX screenings of the movie, as AMC, Cinemark, Cineplex and Regal cinemas are going to have a one-day special screening on December 18 in the following cities: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Montreal (QC), Nashville, New York, Phoenix, Toronto (ON), San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle and Washington, DC.

UK audiences will get it a few weeks later on January 17, 2025.

A Complete Unknown cast

Timothée Chalamet continues his climb up Hollywood's A-list, as the young actor is set to play Dylan in A Complete Unknown. Chalamet showed he had some singing chops having starred in Wonka in 2023, but he also appears to do a very good job of mimicking Dylan's signature voice in the first trailer for the movie (check it out below). In an already big year for Chalamet (having starred in Dune: Part Two), could he snag his second Oscar nomination (the first came for Call Me By Your Name)?

Chalamet is not alone in the movie, as Elle Fanning (The Great, The Girl from Plainville) co-stars as Slyvie Russo, Edward Norton (Glass Onion, Fight Club) plays Pete Seeger, Monica Barbaro (Top Gun: Maverick, FUBAR) portrays Joan Baez, Boyd Holbrook (The Bikeriders, Justified: City Primeval) stars as Johnny Cash, Dan Fogler (Eric, The Offer) plays Albert Grossman, Norbet Leo Butz (The Exorcist: Believer, Justified: City Primeval) portrays Alan Lomax and Scoot McNairy (Speak No Evil, Argo) stars as Woody Guthrie.

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A Complete Unknown plot

James Mangold and Jay Cocks wrote the screenplay for A Complete Unknown, here is the official synopsis for the movie:

"Set in the influential New York music scene of the early 60s, A Complete Unknown follows 19-year-old Minnesota musician Bob Dylan's meteoric rise as a folk singer to concert halls and the top of the charts — his songs and mystique becoming a worldwide sensation — culminating in his groundbreaking electric rock and roll performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.”

A Complete Unknown trailer

Watch the official teaser trailer for A Complete Unknown right here:

A COMPLETE UNKNOWN | Official Teaser | Searchlight Pictures - YouTube

Watch On

And now the official trailer for A Complete Unknown is online, featuring Chalamet singing a number of Dylan's classic tunes:

A COMPLETE UNKNOWN | Official Trailer | Searchlight Pictures - YouTube

Watch On

A Complete Unknown reviews

Read What to Watch's A Complete Unknown review to find out why we are so high on Chalament's performance and James Mangold's crafting of this biopic. As for overall sentiment on the movie, as of December 10 A Complete Unknown has a "Fresh" rating of 75% on Rotten Tomatoes.

A Complete Unknown awards

Here's a look at the major awards and nominations that A Complete Unknown has earned:

Golden Globes

Best Motion Picture Drama (nominee)
Best Actor Drama — Timothee Chalamet (nominee)
Best Supporting Actor — Edward Norton (nominee)

Boston Society of Film Critics

Best Actor — Timothee Chalamet (winner)
Best Supporting Actor — Edward Norton (winner)

Critics Choice Awards

Best Picture (nominee)
Best Actor — Timothee Chalamet (nominee)
Best Supporting Actor — Edward Norton (nominee)

National Board of Review

Best Supporting Actress — Elle Fanning (winner)
Top 10 Film

James Mangold movies

James Mangold and Timothee Chalamet behind the scenes of A Complete Unknown (Image credit: Macall Polay/Searchlight Pictures)

A Hollywood veteran of 30 years, James Mangold is directing A Complete Unknown (in addition to co-writing the screenplay). He has experience with the music biopic genre, having directed 2005's Walk the Line about Johnny Cash, but he has a number of other well-known credits to his name. Take a look at his feature-directing resume right here: