Movies like Snowden

Zero Dark Thirty's detailed chronicling of the decade-long hunt for Osama bin Laden by an elite team of intelligence and military operatives parallels Snowden's in-depth look at the intelligence community. Both movies present the tension between national security and ethical boundaries.

The Post, directed by Steven Spielberg, stars Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks in a powerful tale about the publication of the Pentagon Papers. Much like Snowden, this film centers on the conflict between government confidentiality and the public's right to know, making it compelling for similar reasons.

The Fifth Estate dramatizes the rise and fall of WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange. Those fascinated by the themes of government transparency and the ethical dilemmas of whistleblowing in Snowden will likely be engrossed by Assange's complex story.

Fair Game is based on the true story of Valerie Plame, a covert CIA officer whose identity was leaked by the White House to discredit her husband's criticism of the Iraq war. The movie explores similar themes of political power, the manipulation of truth, and personal sacrifice seen in Snowden.

Closed Circuit is a British-American political thriller that delves into the world of government surveillance as two lawyers uncover a conspiracy while defending a terrorism suspect. Much like Snowden, it offers an intense look at privacy, government overreach, and the compromises made in the name of security.