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‘A Complete Unknown’ Final Runtime Revealed (Exclusive)

We can exclusively report the final runtime of A Complete Unknown starring Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Nick Offerman and more.

‘A Complete Unknown’ Final Runtime Revealed (Exclusive)
A Complete Unknown / Image Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

What Is ‘A Complete Unknown’ About?

In the early 1960s, 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. Forming his most intimate relationships during his rise to fame, he grows restless with the folk movement, making a controversial choice that reverberates worldwide.

A Complete Unknown is a biographical drama directed by James Mangold, centered around the early career of iconic musician Bob Dylan. Set in the vibrant New York music scene of the 1960s, the film follows 19-year-old Dylan, played by Timothée Chalamet, as he rises from an unknown folk singer in Minnesota to international stardom. The story captures key moments of his early career, including his transformation from a folk musician to a groundbreaking rock and roll artist, culminating in his electrifying performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.

The film explores Dylan’s journey through the music industry, his relationships with other musicians, and the cultural revolution he helped spark. The cast includes Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo and Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, bringing to life the significant figures who influenced Dylan’s career and personal life.

Chalamet’s portrayal of Dylan is complimented by a supporting cast of talented actors like Boyd Holbrook, Scoot McNairy, and Dan Fogler who help paint a vivid picture of the cultural and artistic upheavals of the time. The film is also said to be delving into the social tensions of the 1960s, providing a deeper look into the life and struggles of one of music’s most enigmatic figures​ and how he was affected by the problems of the time.

‘A Complete Unknown’ Final Runtime Revealed (Exclusive)
A Complete Unknown / Image Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

How Long Is ‘A Complete Unknown’?

We can exclusively report that the final runtime of ‘A Complete Unknown’ is 2 hours and 15 minutes, which is about as expected for this type of film and the story that they have to tell – covering a whole person’s life isn’t going to be quick, especially when that person is Bob Dylan. With it also being a showcase for Chalamet, it makes sense that this movie is going to need a long runtime in order to portray a full range of him and tell the story of Dylan.

The feature will be director James Mangold’s 12th feature and his first time collaborating with Timothée Chalamet, though his third time working with Boyd Holbrook. This also isn’t Mangold’s first musical biopic, as he previously made the Johnny Cash movie Walk The Line, which starred Joaquin Phoenix. Walk The Line boasted a similar runtime, coming in at 2 hours 16 minutes, only a minute longer than A Complete Unknown. It would seem then that Mangold has found a sweet spot for the length of his biopics and how much time he needs to delve into the stories of these individuals. 

‘A Complete Unknown’ Final Runtime Revealed (Exclusive)
A Complete Unknown / Image Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

The story of Bob Dylan will arrive in cinemas on Christmas Day, December 25th, in the United States followed by a release in the United Kingdom on January 17th and in Australia on January 23rd.

Thanks for reading our A Complete Unknown runtime exclusive. For more news like this, make sure to check out our exclusives and news here.

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Lewis is based in the UK and writes about films and awards at Feature First.