Is Snowden on Netflix| How to watch Snowden (2015) in the United States on Netflix in 2023?

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Snowden Netflix

Snowden is a 2016 historical drama film directed by Oliver Stone and written by Stone, Kieran Fitzgerald, and Anatoly Kucherena. It is based on the book The Snowden Files by Luke Harding and No Place to Hide by Glenn Greenwald.

 The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Edward Snowden, a computer intelligence contractor who leaked classified information from the National Security Agency (NSA) to the press in 2013.

We have created this detailed blog for eager streamers who want to stream Snowden on Netflix from the US. Read it to the end.

Is Snowden on Netflix?

Snowden is available on Netflix but in limited countries like Canada. If you reside in the United States or the UK, then you won’t find it in your Netflix library, and that is due to copyright issues.

However, you can watch Snowden on Netflix from anywhere with a reliable VPN.

How to watch Snowden on Netflix in 2023?

Snowden is available on Netflix but not internationally. Get ExpressVPN to change your IP address and watch Snowden in other countries.

Here are the steps you need to follow:

1- Get ExpressVPN to unblock Netflix (12+3 month special deal with a 30-day money-back guarantee)

2- Download the VPN app on your preferred device (ExpressVPN works on Android, iOS, Linux, and Windows)

3- Select a Canadian address from the country list

4- Now open Netflix.com on your browser or in the app

5- Search for Snowden on Netflix

6- Enjoy the movie

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Snowden –  Netflix Countries

Snowden is a well-made and suspenseful film that tells the story of a complex and controversial figure. The storyline of the movie created a big fanbase, making the audience curious about where they can watch Snowden online.

Our team of experts has checked several Netflix libraries and found the movie in the Netflix library of the following countries:

  • Canada
  • India
  • Philippines

Snowden – Release Date

The film was released in the United States on September 16, 2016, and generated a worldwide revenue of $37.3 million.

With a decent IMDb score of 7.3/10, the movie also won several awards, including the Satellite Award for Best Screenplay, Adapted.

If you like watching movies and TV shows, watch Notting Hill, Goblin Slayer, Kamisama Kiss, War of the Worlds, and Dolphin Tale on Netflix.

Snowden – Official Trailer

Snowden – What to Expect from the Movie?

Snowden tells the true story of Edward Snowden, a young IT professional working for the NSA who becomes dismayed by the agency’s wide-ranging surveillance activities.

Exposing the Watchmen

 In 2013, the 29-year-old Snowden leaked classified information from the NSA to journalists, revealing the existence of global surveillance programs run by the NSA in cooperation with telecom companies and European governments.

Expose NSA Secrets

The film alternates between flashbacks showing Snowden’s time working for the CIA and NSA and the dramatic events in 2013 when he meets with journalists in Hong Kong to hand over top secret documents. We see a young Snowden who is injured during Army training but is eager to serve his country. He impresses his bosses with his computer skills and begins working undercover for the CIA before being hired by the NSA.

Blowing the Whistle

As Snowden’s access to information grows, so do his concerns over the NSA’s data collection systems that spy on American citizens. After bringing his worries to his superiors, Snowden becomes disillusioned and makes contact with journalists and attorneys.

Snowden works with The Guardian’s Glenn Greenwald and Ewen MacAskill in Hong Kong to vet the documents. The revelations caused an international uproar over privacy rights.

Snowden’s Sacrifice for Government Transparency

With the U.S. government charging him with espionage and trying to extradite him, Snowden becomes stranded in Moscow’s airport while applying for asylum. Despite separation from his girlfriend Lindsay Mills, Snowden remains hopeful he can someday return home when the government reconsiders the value of his revelations regarding freedom and privacy. 

The film aims to portray Snowden in complex light – as a patriot, whistleblower, and fugitive who sacrificed everything to expose questionable government surveillance.

The Cast of Snowden

The famous 2016 film Snowden included a great cast that brought Edward Snowden’s prominent story to life. The main movie cast includes:

  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as the titular NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Gordon-Levitt is best known for roles in Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, 500 Days of Summer, and the TV show 3rd Rock from the Sun. His uncanny resemblance and commitment to capturing Snowden’s mannerisms earned wide praise.
  • Shailene Woodley plays Snowden’s girlfriend, Lindsay Mills. Woodley shot to fame as the lead in The Fault in Our Stars. She’s also starred in The Spectacular Now, the Divergent series, Big Little Lies, and recently, The Mauritanian.
  • Oscar-winner Melissa Leo portrays documentary filmmaker Laura Poitras, who helped reveal Snowden’s leaked info to the public. Leo is renowned for The Fighter and won Best Supporting Actress for 2010’s The Fighter.
  • Zachary Quinto of Star Trek and Heroes fame plays journalist Glenn Greenwald, who met Snowden in Hong Kong. Nicolas Cage also has an uncredited cameo as a documentarian modeling Poitras.

Can I Watch Snowden with a Free VPN?

Cybersecurity professionals strongly caution against free VPNs for their lack of security and limited usefulness compared to paid services. Free VPNs utilize weak encryption vulnerable to hacking and restrict data usage, commonly to just 500MB per month – insufficient for most browsing.

Instead, experts endorse affordable premium VPNs, like ExpressVPN, to provide robust privacy protections. Users gain military-grade encryption and unlimited access for secure, unconstrained internet use for a small monthly fee.

In short, paid VPNs’ vital security mechanisms and unlimited data make the modest cost worthwhile. Opting for a reputable paid VPN is prudent to safeguard your information and enjoy limitless internet access. The benefits of paid services make them the most secure option.

We have tried the world’s leading premium VPN service, ExpressVPN, to watch Top Gun: Maverick on Netflix, and it worked flawlessly.

Why is ExpressVPN the best to watch Snowden on Netflix?

Our testing showed ExpressVPN provides incredibly fast speeds, even on standard 100Mbps networks. We recorded download speeds of up to 91Mbps and upload speeds of 84Mbps, allowing smooth streaming and continuous access to restricted content. Their high-powered servers let you access different Netflix libraries internationally with ease.

One ExpressVPN account permits simultaneous use on up to 5 devices, making sharing straightforward. They offer apps for major platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and gaming systems. Their Lightway protocol ensures fast speeds with strong encryption for private browsing, which allows us to stream The Shawshank Redemption on Netflix securely and without any interruption.

ExpressVPN is discounted 49% to just $6.67/month for 15 months, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee for risk-free testing. Their 24/7 customer support is prompt and helpful. ExpressVPN is a fantastic global choice for private, seamless internet access with its unmatched speeds, discounted pricing, and excellent service.

What else can you watch on Netflix?

Netflix has some of the best movies in its content library, such as The Truman Show. Other than that, you can watch the following recommended titles:

Snowden – FAQs

Yes, Snowden is actually based on a true story. The movie follows the real events of Edward Snowden's life. He was an NSA contractor who leaked classified government information to the media back in 2013. The movie mostly sticks close to the facts and some might even say that adapts the real events a little too well. After the movie's release, the ex-director of NSA complained that the movie made Edward Snowden a hero, even though what he did was illegal.

Snowden (2016) is a well-received film by Oliver Stone. Some of the critics have even claimed that Snowden is the best movie Oliver Stone in this 21st century.

Snowden received an official R rating from the MPAA. This age rating indicates that the movie is not suitable for viewers under the age of 18. This is due to the fact that the movie features strong language and brief instances of sexual content and nudity.

Unfortunately, no. Hulu does not offer Snowden in its content library in the US. This might be because the streaming service couldn't secure the official streaming rights of the movie.

However, you can still stream Snowden in the US. Subscribe to ExpressVPN and change your IP address to watch Snowden on Netflix in the US.

You won't find Snowden on Netflix in the US because of content licensing issues. And unfortunately, the streaming service hasn't made any announcements for its release either. This means Snowden is not coming to Netflix US any time soon.

Does this mean you will have to wait for its release in the US? No. All you need to do is connect to a Canadian server and access the Canadian library of Netflix, where Snowden is streaming. ExpressVPN will allow you unrestricted access to Snowden along with a wide range of Canadian content on Netflix from the US.

Filming for Snowden commenced on February 16, 2015, in Munich, Germany. Subsequently, shooting took place in Washington, D.C., in early April, and the crew moved on to Hawaii, where filming occurred from April 15 to April 18.

Interestingly, the house used for filming was situated on the very same street where Edward Snowden had resided. Towards the end of April, reports from Hong Kong indicated that production crews had initiated filming at The Mira Hong Kong, followed by outdoor scenes shot in some historic buildings in Kwa Wan. The filming schedule was extended until mid-May, with additional exterior footage captured in Tokyo.

It's worth noting that the decision to primarily film outside of the United States was influenced by concerns about potential interference from the National Security Agency (NSA). In the words of director Oliver Stone, "We felt like we were at risk here. We didn't know what the NSA might do, so we ended up in Munich, which was a beautiful experience."

Snowden officially earned $21.6 million in the United States and Canada, while it brought in around $15.7 million in various other countries. This cumulative global box office revenue amounted to $37.3 million. It's worth noting that this total fell just shy of the film's production budget, which stood at $40 million.

Richard Roeper awarded the film a three-star rating out of four, expressing that "Snowden excels in moments when it portrays Edward alongside the three journalists within the confines of that tense hotel room, grappling with their predicament. Additionally, the film shines when it delves into the sequence of events that ultimately drove him to reveal actions that unveiled alarming governmental practices and potentially posed significant security risks.

Wrap Up

Snowden is highly recommended to anyone interested in the story of Edward Snowden, the NSA’s mass surveillance programs, or the debate about privacy and security in the digital age.

We have tested ExpressVPN to change our Netflix regions, and it worked perfectly. Therefore, we highly recommend it to all our readers.

Written by Jessica Lynch

With over a decade in entertainment writing, Jessica Lynch expertly navigates film, TV, and streaming content. Her insightful writing tips and guides are loved by industry peers and audiences.