PG-13

The Imitation Game

The true enigma was the man who cracked the code.

2014 • 113 min • History · Drama · Thriller · War

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Synopsis

Based on the real life story of legendary cryptanalyst Alan Turing, the film portrays the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain's top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II.

Our family guide

Best from age 14

Movie Knight Score

18260 reviews

75 Reviewers · 4 · 60%
80 Audience · 18256 · 40%

Set during World War II, this biographical drama follows brilliant mathematician Alan Turing and his team as they race to break the seemingly unbreakable Enigma code, a feat that significantly aids the Allied war effort. The film also explores Turing's personal struggles, including the challenges he faced due to his homosexuality in a prejudiced society.

Violence & peril: 3/10
Language: 3/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 2/10
Romance & sensuality: 2/10
Scary moments: 4/10

Heads up

Historical prejudice against gay people
Brief scenes of wartime tension
Depiction of chemical castration consequences

What it models well

Perseverance and ingenuity
Importance of teamwork
Sacrifice for the greater good
Standing up for what is right

Talk about it after

The impact of war on individuals and society
Historical discrimination against LGBTQ+ people
The ethics of secrecy and national security
The power of intellectual pursuit

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The Imitation Game. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

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Top billed cast

Director: Morten Tyldum • Crew: Graham Moore

Trailers & clips

Film Facts from The Imitation Game starring Benedict Cumberbatch

Breaking the Enigma Code

Benedict Cumberbatch Interview | On playing Alan Turing

Graham Moore winning Best Adapted Screenplay for "The Imitation Game"

Academy Conversations: The Imitation Game

TV Spot #2

Celebrating Alan Turing - Google Talk

Alan's "Useless Machine"

Reviewer notes

Recommended
<em>'The Imitation Game'</em> is fascinating stuff. I watched 2001's <em>'Enigma'</em> almost five years ago and do remember liking it, though I found it a bit too pedestrian (at least early on). This 2014 release does a greater job at telling the story of Alan Turing & Co. Firstly, this did a particularly great job in terms of casting. Benedict Cumberbatch (and Alex Lawther) are terrific as the aforementioned.…
r96sk, TMDB Community

Recommended
Whilst I did enjoy this telling of the wartime efforts of the British code-breakers at Bletchley Park, I think I prefer Sir Derek Jacobi's 1996 interpretation of the achievements of Alan Turing, the brilliant mathematician who led a team of enigmatic individuals who broke the Nazi "Enigma" code. Benedict Cumberbatch is really just reprising his BBC "Sherlock" characterisation - even down to the pensive hand gestures.…
CinemaSerf, TMDB Community

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
Benedict Cumberbatch is fantastic in this movie. I really dug this. Love movies set during WWII and this one encapsulates it brilliantly. Felt they did the story justice while also having an underlying message on acceptance. **Score:** _90%_ **Verdict:** _Excellent_
Nathan, TMDB Community

Not recommendedTrusted family reviewers
The first time I saw this movie, I loved it. It made me want to learn more about Alan Turing, but the more I learned, the more I realised how inaccurate this movie is.…
Aaaidan, TMDB Community