<P> Dunkirk is a 2017 war film written, co-produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan that portrays the Dunkirk evacuation of the Second World War . Its ensemble cast includes Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn - Carney, Jack Lowden, Harry Styles, Aneurin Barnard, James D'Arcy, Barry Keoghan, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, and Tom Hardy . Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, the film is a co-production between the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and the Netherlands . </P> <P> Nolan wrote the script, which looks at the evacuation from three perspectives--land, sea, and air--with deliberately little dialogue, intending to create suspense through visuals and music . Filming began in May 2016 in Dunkirk, France, and ended that September in Los Angeles, where post-production commenced . Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema shot the film on IMAX 65 mm and 65 mm large format film stock . Dunkirk makes extensive use of practical effects such as employing thousands of extras, and using boats that had participated in the real evacuation, as well as era - appropriate planes . </P> <P> The film premiered on 13 July 2017 at Odeon Leicester Square in London, England, and was released in the United Kingdom and the United States on 21 July in IMAX, 70 mm and 35 mm film formats . It has grossed over $508 million worldwide, making it the highest - grossing World War II film of all time . The film has received critical acclaim for its screenplay, direction, and cinematography, with some critics describing it as Nolan's best to date, as well as one of the greatest war films ever made . </P> <P> Three different perspectives with overlapping time periods--one week on land, one day at sea, and one hour in the air--create a non-linear narrative . </P>

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