Plot Summary

Dirty Wars (2013) Plot Summary Explained

Name: Dirty Wars
Genre: Drama, Documentary
Released: 2013-06-07
Duration: 87 min
Cast: Jeremy Scahill

Release, runtime and language: 2013 · 87 min · English; #25,652
Directed by: Rick Rowley
Starring: Jeremy Scahill

This documentary-drama follows investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill as he explores the covert operations of the Joint Special Operations Command. Through his research, he uncovers the disturbing realities of these missions, which are designed to leave no trace and operate outside the bounds of conventional warfare. The film sheds light on the secretive nature of JSOC and the far-reaching consequences of its actions.

Drama Documentary Cast, crew & box office

On this page (5)

1 Where to watch
2 What happens: full plot
3 The book behind the movie
4 Movies like Dirty Wars
5 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Dirty Wars (2013)

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The book behind the movie

Dirty Wars

by Jeremy Scahill

Richard Rowley's documentary accompanies Scahill's investigation rather than functioning as a conventional dramatization. It follows his reporting journey through night-raid sites, Washington interviews, Yemen, JSOC's growth, and the deaths of Anwar al-Awlaki and Abdulrahman al-Awlaki, using the reporter's search as a visual line through material developed for the book. The 680-page volume contains substantially more history, sourcing, institutional detail, geography, and cases than a feature can hold. This relation is recorded as partial because the film translates selected findings and Scahill's investigative process to documentary form while the book remains the comprehensive argument, not a screenplay narrative reproduced on camera.

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Movies Like Dirty Wars

Similar movies to Dirty Wars: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Taxi to the Dark Side

2008

Green Zone

2010

Shadow World

2016

Citizenfour

2014

The Invisible War

2012

Occupation: Dreamland

2005

Redacted

2007

Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers

2006

WMD: Weapons of Mass Deception

2004

All Governments Lie: Truth, Deception, and the Spirit of I.F. Stone

2016

Drone

2015

Dirty Angels

2024

Every angle

Dirty Wars (2013) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Dirty Wars in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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