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The Current War (2017) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Current War (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 108 mins · English
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Directed by
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
Starring
Michael Yates, Tom Sweet, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Michael Shannon, Nicholas Hoult

Power changes everything Electricity titans Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse compete to create a sustainable system and market it to the American people.

Drama History Cast, crew & box office
On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like The Current War
  8. 8 Every angle
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5 main characters · contains spoilers

The Current War Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Current War (2017), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Thomas Edison (Benedict Cumberbatch)

    A driven and visionary inventor focused on electric innovation, Edison is passionate about making life better through technology. His stubbornness and commitment to his beliefs often put him at odds with competitors and colleagues. His personal struggles, especially with his wife’s illness and loss, add depth to his character.

    • 🎩 Inventor
    • 💼 Entrepreneur
    • 🧠 Visionary

  • Marguerite Westinghouse (Katherine Waterston)

    As Westinghouse’s supportive wife, Marguerite is shown managing family and social expectations amid the chaos of technological rivalry. She represents stability and moral integrity, advocating for Western Union’s vision and stability.

    • 👩‍👧‍👦 Supportive
    • 👗 Noble
    • 💡 Moral compass

  • George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon)

    A pragmatic and competitive engineer, Westinghouse is determined to create a more efficient electrical system using alternating current. His rivalry with Edison is driven by innovation and business strategy, and he aims to bring electricity to the masses while maintaining integrity.

    • 🧑‍🔧 Engineer
    • 💼 Rival
    • ⚖️ Innovator

  • Tesla (Nicholas Hoult)

    A brilliant but underappreciated inventor, Tesla is eager to prove the superiority of AC power with his innovative motor designs. His character embodies genius with a touch of eccentricity, seeking recognition and validation for his inventions.

    • 🧠 Genius
    • 🌟 Eccentric
    • 🔋 Innovator

  • Samuel Insull (Tom Holland)

    Edison's dedicated secretary and assistant, Samuel is practical, ambitious, and a key supporter of Edison’s vision. He is involved in planning and business strategies, often navigating corporate politics.

    • 💼 Assistant
    • 📈 Strategist
    • 💪 Loyal

Last updated: August 05, 2025 at 06:53

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Setting

Where and When Does The Current War Take Place?

The setting of The Current War (2017): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

1880s to 1890s

The film is set during the late 19th century, a pivotal period in technological advancement and industrialization. This era saw the emergence of electric power, the first electric lighting systems, and major corporate rivalries. It was a time of rapid innovation, scientific experimentation, and fierce commercial competition, especially between Edison and Westinghouse.

Location

New York City, Manhattan, Westinghouse mansion, Chicago World's Fair

The movie takes place primarily in late 19th-century New York City, an era of rapid industrial growth and technological innovation. Manhattan serves as the hub for Edison Electric's operations and showcases the transition to electric power. The Chicago World's Fair highlights the prominence of World's Expositions as showcases for new technology, particularly electricity, symbolizing progress and competition.

  • 🏙️ Urban
  • 🎡 Expo
  • 🏢 Industrial

Last updated: August 05, 2025 at 06:53

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3 major themes

The Current War Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Current War (2017) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Innovation

    The movie revolves around groundbreaking technological inventions such as the lightbulb, phonograph, and electrical systems. It highlights the drive for progress and how perseverance and ingenuity can transform society. The theme stresses the importance of invention in shaping the future and the competitive nature of innovation.

  • Competition

    The film captures the fierce rivalry between Edison and Westinghouse over whose electrical system would dominate. This competition extends beyond technology to political influence, business interests, and personal reputation. It demonstrates how rivalry can accelerate progress but also lead to ethical dilemmas.

  • Loss and Sacrifice

    Edison endures personal loss with the death of his wife Mary, which deeply affects him. The movie explores sacrifices made in the pursuit of progress, illustrating how ambition can come at a personal toll. It also depicts the moral complexities of inventions like the electric chair.

Last updated: August 05, 2025 at 06:53

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Character & theme questions

The Current War Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Current War (2017): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is The Current War set?

The movie primarily takes place in late 19th-century New York City, particularly Manhattan, which serves as the hub for Edison Electric's operations. Key scenes also occur at the Chicago World's Fair, where major technological demonstrations took place.

  • setting
  • new york
  • manhattan
  • chicago world's fair
  • locations
Q2

When does The Current War take place?

The film is set during the 1880s to 1890s, a pivotal era of rapid industrialization and technological advancement in America. This period saw the emergence of electric power, the first electric lighting systems, and fierce corporate rivalries over how electricity would be distributed.

  • time period
  • 1880s
  • 1890s
  • late 19th century
  • historical era
Q3

What role does innovation play in The Current War?

Innovation is central to the film, which revolves around groundbreaking technological inventions like the lightbulb and electrical systems. The movie highlights how perseverance and ingenuity can transform society, emphasizing that the race to develop sustainable electric power shaped the future of modern life.

  • innovation
  • technology
  • invention
  • lightbulb
  • electrical systems
Q4

What is the rivalry between Edison and Westinghouse about?

The rivalry centers on competing electrical systems: Edison championed Direct Current (DC), while Westinghouse backed Alternating Current (AC). This technical disagreement evolved into a fierce business, political, and personal battle over which system would power America's homes and industries.

  • edison
  • westinghouse
  • dc vs ac
  • alternating current
  • direct current
  • rivalry
Q5

What personal sacrifices does Edison face in the movie?

Edison endures significant personal loss when his wife Mary becomes ill and dies, which deeply affects him. The film explores how ambition and the pursuit of progress come at a personal toll, showing the emotional weight behind the scientific competition.

  • edison
  • marry edison
  • loss
  • death
  • sacrifice
  • personal sacrifice
Q6

Who is George Westinghouse in The Current War?

George Westinghouse, played by Michael Shannon, is a pragmatic engineer who advocates for Alternating Current technology. He is determined to create a more efficient electrical system and bring electricity to the masses while maintaining integrity. His rivalry with Edison drives much of the film's tension.

  • george westinghouse
  • michael shannon
  • alternating current
  • engineer
Q7

What is Tesla's role in The Current War?

Nikola Tesla, played by Nicholas Hoult, appears as a brilliant but underappreciated inventor who believes in the superiority of AC power. His innovative motor designs represent the cutting edge of electrical technology, and he seeks recognition and validation for his contributions to the AC system.

  • tesla
  • nicholas hoult
  • nikola tesla
  • inventor
  • ac power
  • motor
Q8

Who is Samuel Insull in The Current War?

Samuel Insull, played by Tom Holland, is Edison's dedicated secretary and assistant. He is practical, ambitious, and a key supporter of Edison's vision, often navigating corporate politics while helping plan and execute business strategies for Edison Electric.

  • samuel insull
  • tom holland
  • secretary
  • assistant
  • edison electric
Q9

Who is Marguerite Westinghouse in The Current War?

Marguerite Westinghouse, played by Katherine Waterston, is George Westinghouse's wife who represents stability and moral integrity amidst the technological rivalry. She manages family and social expectations while advocating for her husband's vision and maintaining the household during tumultuous times.

  • marguerite westinghouse
  • katherine waterston
  • wife
  • supportive role
  • family
Q10

What is the significance of the Chicago World's Fair in The Current War?

The Chicago World's Fair serves as a pivotal showcase for new technology, particularly electricity, symbolizing progress and competition. It highlights how World's Expositions were used to demonstrate technological superiority, and the fair becomes a critical battleground for both Edison and Westinghouse to prove their systems.

  • chicago world's fair
  • exposition
  • fair
  • competition
  • demonstration
Q11

What are the main themes explored in The Current War?

The film explores three core themes: Innovation (the drive to transform society through technology), Competition (the fierce rivalry between Edison and Westinghouse that accelerates progress but raises ethical questions), and Loss and Sacrifice (the personal toll of ambition, including Edison's grief over his wife's death).

  • themes
  • innovation
  • competition
  • loss
  • sacrifice
  • ambition
Q12

Why was the AC vs DC competition so important historically?

The AC vs DC battle was fundamentally about how electricity would be distributed across America. DC could only travel short distances efficiently, while AC could travel much farther, making it practical for widespread power distribution. The winner would essentially control the future of modern infrastructure.

  • ac dc competition
  • electricity distribution
  • power grid
  • infrastructure
  • historical significance

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Current War, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Current War tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

History-Changing Rivalries like The Current War

High-stakes true stories of brilliant minds clashing over a future they are inventing. If you liked the tense conflict between Edison and Westinghouse in The Current War, explore more movies about foundational rivalries. These films depict true stories of brilliant minds clashing over inventions and ideas that would ultimately define the modern world.

  • competitive
  • driven
  • historic
  • gripping
  • thought-provoking
  • somber
  • Tone: tense, driven, reflective
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These films typically follow a historical, fact-based conflict between two or more key figures with competing visions. The plot is built around legal disputes, public demonstrations, and corporate maneuvering, culminating in a legacy that is often bittersweet, with one vision winning out but the personal costs being high.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their focus on real-world rivalries that spurred technological or scientific revolutions. They share a tense tone driven by intellectual conflict, a steady pace that builds to a historical climax, and a thematic exploration of the human cost of innovation.

The Current War movie poster

The Current War

2017
Pirates of Silicon Valley movie poster

Pirates of Silicon Valley

1999
The Cut movie poster

The Cut

2015
Black Gold movie poster

Black Gold

2011
The Duellists movie poster

The Duellists

1978
Inherit the Wind movie poster

Inherit the Wind

1960
King Richard and the Crusaders movie poster

King Richard and the Crusaders

1954
Blood Feud movie poster

Blood Feud

1000

Movies about the Cost of Ambition like The Current War

Stories where grand achievements are shadowed by profound personal loss and sacrifice. If the bittersweet ending and themes of personal loss in The Current War resonated with you, discover similar films. These stories show the heavy price of ambition, where professional triumphs are intertwined with grief, ethical dilemmas, and personal sacrifices.

  • melancholic
  • reflective
  • somber
  • driven
  • gripping
  • emotional
  • Tone: bittersweet, melancholic, reflective
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a protagonist driven by a powerful goal. As they climb towards success, the story interweaves scenes of professional triumph with moments of personal failure or tragedy, such as the loss of a loved one or the erosion of morals. The ending acknowledges the achievement but is colored by the sacrifices made.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their central theme: the trade-off between professional success and personal well-being. They share a melancholic, reflective mood, a medium emotional weight, and a bittersweet conclusion that leaves the audience contemplating the true price of greatness.

Winner Take All movie poster

Winner Take All

1932
Resurrecting the Champ movie poster

Resurrecting the Champ

2007
Victory movie poster

Victory

2009
And The Oscar Goes To… movie poster

And The Oscar Goes To…

2019
Playoff movie poster

Playoff

2011
Stars Over Broadway movie poster

Stars Over Broadway

1935
Aborto movie poster

Aborto

2013
The Root of All Evil movie poster

The Root of All Evil

1947

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The Current War: Director's Cut movie poster

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The World’s Greatest Fair movie poster

The World’s Greatest Fair

2004
War and Remembrance movie poster

War and Remembrance

1000
The Middleton Family at the New York World’s Fair movie poster

The Middleton Family at the New York World’s Fair

1939
The Civil War movie poster

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The World of Tomorrow movie poster

The World of Tomorrow

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Einstein and Eddington movie poster

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Every angle

The Current War (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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

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