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Hanna

Hanna is a 2011 action thriller film directed by Joe Wright.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Hanna is a 2011 action thriller film directed by Joe Wright. It stars Saoirse Ronan as a teenage girl raised in isolation in northern Finland and trained by her father to be an assassin, with Cate Blanchett as a CIA agent pursuing them. The film was widely distributed internationally, including in Canadian markets.

Premise

The film follows Hanna, a teenager raised in isolation and trained for combat and survival by her father. She is sent on a mission across Europe while being tracked by a CIA agent.

Cast and production

Joe Wright directed the film, with Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, and Cate Blanchett in principal roles. The screenplay is credited to Seth Lochhead and David Farr, and the music was composed by The Chemical Brothers.

Release

Hanna was released in 2011, with sources indicating an April release in North America and a May release in Europe.

Reception and classification

The film is commonly described as an action thriller, and some listings classify it as PG-13 in the United States.

Key facts

  • The film was directed by Joe Wright and released in 2011.
  • Saoirse Ronan plays the title character, a girl trained as an assassin by her father.
  • Cate Blanchett plays a senior CIA agent who pursues Hanna and her father.
  • The score was written by The Chemical Brothers.
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Canadian context

Hanna was widely distributed internationally, including in Canadian theatrical and home-entertainment markets, and it is relevant to Canadian readers as a notable English-language action thriller with a prominent Canadian-box-office and genre-audience presence.

Frequently asked questions

What is Hanna?
Hanna is a 2011 action thriller film directed by Joe Wright.
Who stars in Hanna?
The film stars Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, and Cate Blanchett.
What is Hanna about?
It follows a girl raised in the wilderness and trained as an assassin who is pursued by a CIA agent.
Who composed the music for Hanna?
The score was written by The Chemical Brothers.
When was Hanna released?
Sources place its release in 2011, with North American release in April and European release in May.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanna_(film)
    Supports: Director, basic premise, principal cast, and soundtrack credit.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0993842/
    Supports: Plot premise and cast summary.
  3. Wikipedia (Turkish) — https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanna_(film)
    Supports: 2011 release timing in North America and Europe.
  4. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/hanna
    Supports: Runtime, MPAA rating, and plot details.
  5. Film Forum — https://filmforum.org/film/hanna-women-in-action
    Supports: Starring cast and approximate running time.
  6. Focus Features — https://www.focusfeatures.com/hanna
    Supports: Official synopsis, release date, genre, and cast.