The Fog of War
Synopsis
Former corporate whiz kid Robert McNamara was the controversial Secretary of Defense in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, during the height of the Vietnam War. Augmented by archival footage and cabinet conversation recordings, Errol Morris gives the conflicted McNamara a platform on which he attempts to confront his and the U.S. government's actions in Southeast Asia in light of the horrors of modern warfare, the end of ideology and the punitive judgment of history.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Fog Of War
Type: Trailer • Published 2013-12-12
Top Cast
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Robert McNamara
Self
Errol Morris
Self (uncredited)
Fidel Castro
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Barry Goldwater
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
John F. Kennedy
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Nikita Khrushchev
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Curtis LeMay
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Richard Nixon
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Harry Reasoner
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Self (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Woodrow Wilson
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
Cannes
Festival / Special Debut
December 9, 2003
Wide Cinema Exhibition
November 14, 2023
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
Undisclosed
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$5M
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Errol Morris
- Original Score
- Philip Glass
- Original Title
- The Fog of War
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 47m
- Worldwide Gross
- $5M
- Production Studios
- SenArt Films, RadicalMedia, Sony Pictures Classics
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Errol Morris
Philip Glass
Peter Donahue, Robert Chappell
Doug Abel, Karen Schmeer, Chyld King
Jack Lechner, Errol Morris, Jon Kamen, Frank Scherma, Robert May
Department Leadership Roster
Philip Glass
Original Music Composer
Peter Donahue
Director of Photography
Errol Morris
Producer
Doug Abel
Editor
Karen Schmeer
Editor
Michael Williams
Producer
Chyld King
Editor
Julie Ahlberg
Producer
Errol Morris
Director
Robert Chappell
Director of Photography
Ted Bafaloukos
Production Design
Steve Hardy
Production Design
Robin Hobart
Visual Effects Supervisor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Fog of War.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Fog of War.
Documentaries
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Letterboxd's Top 250 Documentary Films
Letterboxd's official Top 250 documentary feature films, ranked by average member rating. Letterboxd 官方 Top 250 最佳纪录长片榜单： 根据平台用户的平均评分进行排序的纪录长片精选榜单。 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:36:46 UTC+8)*
Limelight Not Seen
War: World War II
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War: Vietnam War
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Fog of War
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Fog of War about?
Former corporate whiz kid Robert McNamara was the controversial Secretary of Defense in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, during the height of the Vietnam War. Augmented by archival footage and cabinet conversation recordings, Errol Morris gives the conflicted McNamara a platform on which he attempts to confront his and the U.S. government's actions in Southeast Asia in light of the horrors of modern warfare, the end of ideology and the punitive judgment of history.
Who directed The Fog of War?
The Fog of War was directed by Errol Morris.
Who stars in The Fog of War?
The principal cast of The Fog of War includes Robert McNamara, Errol Morris, Fidel Castro, Barry Goldwater, John F. Kennedy.
When was The Fog of War released and how long is it?
The Fog of War was released in 2003 with a total runtime of 1h 47m.
How much did The Fog of War make at the box office?
The Fog of War grossed $5M in worldwide ticket sales.
Who composed the musical score for The Fog of War?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Fog of War was composed by Philip Glass.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Fog of War?
The Fog of War holds official age classifications: US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).