A Complete Unknown
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	James Mangold
Screenplay by	James Mangold Jay Cocks
Based on	Dylan Goes Electric! by Elijah Wald
Produced by	Fred Berger James Mangold Alex Heineman Bob Bookman Peter Jaysen Alan Gasmer Jeff Rosen Timothée Chalamet[1]
Starring	Timothée Chalamet Edward Norton Elle Fanning Monica Barbaro Boyd Holbrook Dan Fogler Norbert Leo Butz Scoot McNairy
Cinematography	Phedon Papamichael
Edited by	Andrew Buckland Scott Morris[2]
Production companies	TSG Entertainment Veritas Entertainment White Water[3] Range Media Partners[3][4] The Picture Company[3] Turnpike Films[1][3]
Distributed by	Searchlight Pictures[3]
Release dates	December 10, 2024 (2024-12-10) (Dolby Theatre) December 25, 2024 (2024-12-25) (United States)
Running time	141 minutes[5]
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$60–70 million[6]
Box office	$23.2 million[7]

A Complete Unknown is a 2024 American biographical musical drama film directed by James Mangold, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jay Cocks. Based on the 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric! by Elijah Wald, the film portrays Bob Dylan through his earliest folk music success until the momentous controversy over his use of electric instruments at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. Timothée Chalamet (who also produces) stars as Dylan, with Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook, Dan Fogler, Norbert Leo Butz, and Scoot McNairy in supporting roles. The film's title is derived from the chorus of Dylan's 1965 single "Like a Rolling Stone".

A Complete Unknown premiered at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on December 10, 2024, and was released in the United States by Searchlight Pictures on December 25, 2024. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with universal acclaim for Chalamet's performance. It was named one of the top ten films of 2024 by the American Film Institute and the National Board of Review, the latter of which also awarded Fanning the Best Supporting Actress prize.^[8] It received three nominations at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Actor for Chalamet and Best Supporting Actor for Norton.

In 1961, Bob Dylan moves to New York City, seeking to meet his recently hospitalized idol Woody Guthrie. Dylan meets Guthrie along with his close friend Pete Seeger in the hospital. Dylan performs a song he wrote for Guthrie, impressing the two folk musicians. Seeger invites Dylan to stay with his family, slowly ingratiating the newcomer into New York City's folk scene. Dylan meets Sylvie Russo at a concert, charming her with his contrarian opinions and tales of working at a carnival. The two begin a relationship and move in together.

Following a performance by Joan Baez, Seeger introduces Dylan at an open mic night attended by industry executives and manager Albert Grossman. Dylan flirts with Baez and impresses the crowd, prompting Grossman to take him on as a client on the spot. Dylan begins work on an album but is forced by his label to mostly record covers. The record's sales are poor, frustrating Dylan.

Before leaving on a lengthy school trip to Europe, Russo has an argument with Dylan. She is upset by his aloof nature and deliberate attempt to obscure his past from her. Despite this, she encourages him to push for recording his original music. While she is away, Dylan capitalizes on political and social unrest to build a following for his socially conscious songwriting. This draws Baez's attention, and the two begin an affair and artistic collaboration. Russo becomes suspicious in seeing Dylan's professional closeness with Baez and by 1965, Dylan and Russo have separated.

Having achieved stardom but not artistic freedom, Dylan laments that he is beholden to the expectations of the industry and the folk music community. A long-awaited tour with Baez ends in disaster; an argument over Dylan's ego, along with Baez's demands that they play his popular songs instead of new material, leads to Dylan walking off-stage mid-performance.

Dylan's desire to break free of expectations drives him to experiment with electric guitar and rock instruments. This is a controversial direction within the folk scene, who overwhelmingly prefer simple acoustic arrangements. Dylan pieces together his band and begins recording Highway 61 Revisited. Dylan's new direction is especially worrisome for the Newport Folk Festival planning committee, who have hired Dylan to headline the 1965 event but fear he may debut his divisive new sound.

Dylan invites Russo along to the festival. She accepts, but upon watching a duet ("It Ain't Me Babe") between him and Baez, becomes upset and leaves. The committee attempts to influence Dylan to not go electric, eventually resorting to an impassioned plea from Seeger, who reminds Dylan that his own life's work is on the line. An intoxicated Johnny Cash encourages Dylan to play the electric show, and Dylan goes through with his plan. The crowd's reaction is vitriolic, throwing both invective and physical objects at the band. The committee, including Seeger, attempts to cut the sound but is thwarted by Grossman and Seeger's wife Toshi. Dylan is reluctant to play an acoustic encore, but does so after Cash requests one.

The next morning, on his way out from Newport, Baez catches Dylan and remarks that he "won", that he finally got the freedom from everyone else that he wanted. Dylan visits Guthrie one last time before leaving town on his motorcycle.

It was announced in January 2020 that James Mangold would be writing and directing a biopic about Bob Dylan, specifically centered on the controversy surrounding his switch to electric guitars, with Timothée Chalamet cast as Dylan. At this time, the film was referred to as Going Electric.^[15] By October, cinematographer Phedon Papamichael stated that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic had put the project into doubt.^[16] Nevertheless, Chalamet learned to play the guitar and harmonica and spent time researching Dylan during the pandemic, visiting the former homes of Dylan in New York City and consulting director Joel Coen during this time.^[17][18] Mangold had also met with Dylan about the film and stated that he annotated the script while also providing notes to Chalamet.^[19] In an October 2023 interview, Chalamet stated he was working with the same team of vocal and movement coaches that worked with Austin Butler for his performance in Elvis (2022).^[20]

In November 2022, Chalamet stated he was still attached to the film and actively preparing for it, the project having gained momentum again after stalling.^[21] In February 2023, the film was officially titled A Complete Unknown and it was stated that Mangold would begin work on the project following his obligations to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.^[22] Monica Barbaro would enter final negotiations to portray Joan Baez in April.^[23] In May, Elle Fanning was cast to play Sylvie Russo,^[24] a character based on Suze Rotolo,^[25] with Mangold announcing Benedict Cumberbatch would be portraying Pete Seeger in the film.^[26] Barbaro would also be confirmed for her role, beginning singing and guitar lessons to prepare.^[27] Mangold would state in July that the film was not necessarily focused on being a Dylan biopic, but an ensemble drama in the vein of Robert Altman. Boyd Holbrook and Nick Offerman would also join the cast in that time.^[19] In October, P. J. Byrne was noted as being amongst the cast.^[28] Holbrook appeared as Johnny Cash, whose life story had previously been told by Mangold in Walk the Line with Joaquin Phoenix on the role; Mangold admitted he included Cash due to realizing the role model and the cautionary tale he and his band provided to Dylan as he worked on the script, choosing to cast Holbrook due to their past collaborations and feeling the film could reveal another side of Cash's life as his biopic of him focused on his origin story.^[29] In January 2024, Edward Norton was revealed to portray the role of Seeger, replacing Cumberbatch who left due to scheduling issues.^[30] Additional casting was announced in March.^[1]

In April 2023, Mangold stated that principal photography would likely begin in August 2023 in New York City and Montreal,^[31] but filming was postponed in July due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.^[32] By early 2024, filming was scheduled to begin in late March 2024, and was expected to occur throughout New Jersey, with scenes set in New York City being filmed in Jersey City.^[33][34] Filming began on March 16.^[35] Production wrapped by late June 2024.^[36][25][37] Edward Norton said that during the three months of principal photography, Chalamet was "relentless" in staying immersed in his role as Dylan, not having contact with friends or visitors on set.^[38] Chalamet would often be referred to as "Bob" on set by Mangold and was listed as "Bob Dylan" on the set call sheet.^[38][39]

According to producer Fred Berger, Chalamet sings 40 Dylan songs in the film while also playing guitars and harmonicas. All performances were recorded live while filming; Barbaro, Norton, and Holbrook sang and played their own instruments.^[40] Sound engineer Tod Maitland revealed that recording was done with period-appropriate microphones and instruments and without the use of earpieces.^[40] Recording for the film ocurred at The Village and Sunset Sound in Los Angeles.^[41] The music production team had access to almost 16 hours of unreleased Dylan recordings and old Columbia Records notes, which included lists of vintage microphones the artist used. The team collaborated with Gibson who lent them archival guitars and made recreations, including two custom J-50's.^[41]

The soundtrack album for A Complete Unknown was released on December 20, 2024, through Columbia Records.^[42] It is scheduled for release on physical formats in 2025; a vinyl edition featuring 16 tracks is scheduled for release on January 24, while the CD with 23 tracks is scheduled for February 28.^[43][44] Two songs from the soundtrack were released on December 4, 2024: "Like a Rolling Stone" by Chalamet and "Girl from the North Country" by Chalamet and Barbaro.^[45] "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" has been confirmed as a track on the album, which also includes performances from Norton and Holbrook.^[43] The album's track listing also includes "Highway 61 Revisited", "Mr. Tambourine Man", "I Was Young When I Left Home", "Subterranean Homesick Blues", and "The Times They Are a-Changin'".^[43] The film additionally features a performance of "Song to Woody".^[10]

In July 2024, a teaser trailer was released.^[46][47] The official trailer was released in October.^[48] The film premiered at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on December 10, 2024.^[49] It was released in the United States on December 25, 2024, and is scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom on January 17, 2025.^[50][51]

To promote the film, Levi's announced a capsule collection inspired by Dylan, who often wore the brand's garments during the period reflected in the film.^[52] Costume designer Arianne Phillips worked with design director Paul O'Neill on the research, and sourcing of Levi's pieces, to recreate the original outfits worn by Dylan.^[53] Guitar company Gibson, from where Dylan sourced most of his instruments, also announced a collection inspired by guitars placed in the movie.^[54]

In the United States and Canada, A Complete Unknown was released alongside Nosferatu, Babygirl, and The Fire Inside, and is projected to gross around $15 million from 2,835 theaters in its five-day opening weekend.^[6] The film made $7.2 million on its first day, including $1.4 million from Christmas Eve previews, and then $4.4 million on its second day.^[55]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 79% of 185 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.4/10. The website's consensus reads: "Charged up by Timothée Chalamet's electric performance, this ballad of Bob Dylan might not get under the enigmatic artist's skin but will make you feel like you've spent time in his company."^[56] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 73 out of 100, based on 50 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.^[57] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while those surveyed by PostTrak gave it a 93% overall positive score, with 76% saying they would "definitely recommend" it.^[55]

In a review for RogerEbert.com, Brian Tallerico awarded the film 3-1/2 out of 4 stars.^[58] He praised the "solid performances, unshowy direction, and organic editing". Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian similarly praised the performances and gave the film 5 out of 5 stars, calling Chalamet "hypnotic" as Dylan.^[59] Writing for The Wall Street Journal, Kyle Smith also applauded Chalamet's ability to capture different facets of Dylan's personality, including the songwriter's "supercilious air" and his creative genius. Smith especially liked the duet of the song "It Ain't Me Babe" between Monica Barbaro (as Joan Baez) and Chalamet, describing it "as spectacular".^[60]

In a mixed review, John Nugent of Empire gave the film 3 out of 5 stars. While he praised the performances, Nugent disliked that the movie "plays it safe" and "struggles to find something fresh to say".^[61] A negative review from Richard Brody of The New Yorker viewed the movie as a hollow representation of Dylan's career, writing: "The movie offers answers that range from empty to artificial, leaving out the practicalities and manipulating dates and names in order to center the drama on a small number of personalities".^[62] In another negative review for The Forward, Seth Rogovoy expresses dislike for the film as a "conventional Hollywood biopic", criticizing the direction as a "mainstream route", "offering a superficial, simplified gloss on this remarkable story", as well as criticizing the historical inaccuracy and contrasting the film's approach with documentary films such as Dont Look Back in capturing Dylan's persona.^[63]

• I'm Not There, a 2007 experimental biopic inspired by the life of Bob Dylan, directed by Todd Haynes.
• No Direction Home, a 2005 documentary film about Bob Dylan, his emergence in Greenwich Village's 1960s folk scene, and his transition to electric music, directed by Martin Scorsese.

• A Complete Unknown at IMDb