The Current War: Director's Cut

The Current War: Director's Cut

Year: 2019

Runtime: 108 min

Language: English

Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon

Echo Score: 64

Budget: $30M

BiographyDramaHistory

A fierce rivalry erupts between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse as they vie to power America. Edison's direct current (DC) system faces a challenge from Westinghouse's alternating current (AC) technology, with the brilliance of Nikola Tesla driving the innovation. Their escalating competition sparks a dramatic corporate feud, forever changing the landscape of industry and the path to success.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Current War: Director's Cut yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – The Current War: Director's Cut (2019)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Current War: Director's Cut (2019). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1880s

Taking place in the 1880s, this period marks the dawn of electrical innovation and fierce competition in the United States. It saw major advances in technology as inventors fought for dominance in the electrical market. The decade was characterized by pivotal inventions that changed societal norms about energy consumption and the role of electricity in daily life.

Location

New Jersey, Manhattan, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Niagara Falls, United States

The movie is set across various significant locations in the United States during the electrical revolution. New Jersey serves as Edison's base where he develops his inventions, while Manhattan is pivotal for his electrification efforts and the lighting of the NYSE. Pittsburgh is introduced as the home of Westinghouse, where crucial developments and competitions take place. Chicago, known for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, becomes the battleground for Edison's and Westinghouse's competing technologies.

🏙️ Cities ⚡ Power 📍 Locations

Last Updated: February 02, 2025 at 08:45

Main Characters – The Current War: Director's Cut (2019)

Meet the key characters of The Current War: Director's Cut (2019), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Thomas Alva Edison (Benedict Cumberbatch)

Edison is portrayed as a determined and driven inventor, fiercely guarding his patents and ideas. His commitment to his vision of electricity as a way to improve lives is overshadowed by his refusal to adapt to new technologies. Edison's pride and ambition lead him to engage in ruthless business tactics against his rivals, making him a complex figure used to both admiration and criticism.

⚡ Innovator 📜 Inventor 💪 Ambitious

George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon)

Westinghouse is depicted as a shrewd businessman and visionary who believes in the potential of Alternating Current. Unlike Edison, he is willing to collaborate and innovate. Westinghouse faces significant challenges, both personally and professionally, but his persistence and willingness to take risks ultimately define his legacy in the electrical industry.

💡 Visionary 🔌 Businessman 👥 Collaborator

Nikola Tesla (Nicholas Hoult)

Tesla is portrayed as a brilliant and idealistic inventor who seeks to change the world with his innovations. His strong belief in AC technology puts him at odds with Edison, leading to his eventual departure from Edison's team. Tesla's quest for funding and recognition reflects the struggles faced by many inventors who remain unsung in the shadow of more prominent figures.

🌪️ Genius 🌌 Idealist 🛠️ Inventor

Last Updated: February 02, 2025 at 08:45

Major Themes – The Current War: Director's Cut (2019)

Explore the central themes of The Current War: Director's Cut (2019), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚔️ Competition

A central theme of the film is the fierce rivalry between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse as they battle for supremacy in the electrical landscape. The competition between Direct Current (DC) and Alternating Current (AC) not only represents a technological clash but also contrasts their personal philosophies and business ethics. This rivalry showcases the lengths to which innovators will go to protect their inventions and influence the future of power generation.

💔 Tragedy

The film also explores themes of personal and financial tragedy experienced by both Edison and Westinghouse. Edison's wife's death and Westinghouse's friend dying in an electrical accident reflect the personal toll of their pursuit of innovation. These tragedies humanize the figures and give depth to their motivations, highlighting the cost of their relentless ambitions.

💡 Innovation

At its core, the movie is a tribute to innovation and the quest for progress in the face of adversity. It illustrates the groundbreaking inventions that laid the foundation for modern electricity and showcases the creativity and perseverance of inventors like Edison, Tesla, and Westinghouse. The film emphasizes the duality of innovation—its potential for progress and the ethical implications that arise.

Last Updated: February 02, 2025 at 08:45

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about bitter rivalries like in The Current War: Director's Cut

Stories of fierce personal and intellectual competition that reshape society.If you were fascinated by the high-stakes battle between Edison and Westinghouse, explore more movies like The Current War: Director's Cut. These films capture similar historical dramas and biographical stories where intense personal and corporate rivalries drive technological or societal progress, often with a bittersweet cost.

competitivehigh-stakesdramatichistoricaldriventenseintellectual

Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow a clear, escalating conflict between two opposing figures or factions, moving from personal disagreement to public and corporate warfare. The journey explores ambition, pride, and the ethical lines crossed in pursuit of victory, often culminating in a victory that feels pyrrhic for at least one side.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a tense, dramatic tone driven by high-stakes intellectual and corporate competition. They feature a steady pace that methodically builds the rivalry, medium-to-high emotional weight from personal sacrifices, and a bittersweet or complex ending that acknowledges the cost of progress.

Movies about the tragic cost of genius like in The Current War: Director's Cut

Explores the heavy personal price paid for groundbreaking innovation.For viewers moved by the personal tragedies of Edison and the fate of Nikola Tesla, this section finds movies similar to The Current War: Director's Cut. These films focus on genius figures in historical dramas and biographies, where the pursuit of progress comes with a heavy emotional and personal toll, creating a bittersweet viewing experience.

tragicdramatichistoricalmelancholicintrospectivedrivenbittersweet

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern follows a brilliant individual or group whose drive for innovation leads to professional triumph but personal ruin, loss, or isolation. The story balances the excitement of discovery with the melancholy of what is sacrificed along the way, often ending with a mixed sense of achievement and regret.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on the melancholy and tragedy intertwined with scientific or artistic breakthroughs. They carry a medium emotional weight, a steady, reflective pacing, and a consistently bittersweet tone that acknowledges victory is never without its casualties.

Unlock the Full Story of The Current War: Director's Cut

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Current War: Director's Cut in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Current War: Director's Cut is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Current War: Director's Cut Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Current War: Director's Cut, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Current War: Director's Cut Summary

The Current War: Director's Cut Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Current War: Director's Cut with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Current War: Director's Cut Timeline

The Current War: Director's Cut Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Current War: Director's Cut that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Current War: Director's Cut Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Current War: Director's Cut

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Current War: Director's Cut: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Current War: Director's Cut