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Knowing (film)

Knowing is a 2009 science fiction thriller film directed and co-produced by Alex Proyas, starring Nicolas Cage.

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

Knowing is a 2009 science fiction thriller film directed and co-produced by Alex Proyas, starring Nicolas Cage. It follows a professor who discovers a coded document that appears to predict major disasters and a possible global catastrophe.

Plot

The story follows a professor who discovers a cryptic numerical document tied to a time capsule. He investigates as the numbers appear to predict historic disasters and future events, including an apparent global catastrophe.

Production

Knowing was directed and co-produced by Alex Proyas. The screenplay is credited to Ryne Douglas Pearson, Juliet Snowden, Stiles White, and Stuart Hazeldine.

Release and reception

The film premiered in the United States on March 20, 2009, and was later issued on DVD and Blu-ray. Reception was mixed to negative, with praise for performances and atmosphere and criticism of its ending and implausibilities.

Box office

Knowing earned approximately $186.5 million worldwide against a $50 million production budget. Home video sales added to its overall revenue.

Key facts

  • The film is stylized as KNOW1NG in some promotional material.
  • Its plot centers on a time-capsule document containing numbers that correspond to past and future disasters.
  • The film was released in the United States on March 20, 2009.
  • It grossed about $186.5 million worldwide against a $50 million production budget.
  • Reception was mixed to negative, with praise for performances and atmosphere and criticism of its ending and implausibilities.
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Canadian context

The film was distributed internationally and is part of mainstream Hollywood genre cinema commonly released in Canadian theatres and home video markets.

Frequently asked questions

What is Knowing about?
It is about a professor who uncovers a coded list of numbers that appears to predict major disasters, leading him to investigate an impending catastrophe.
Who directed Knowing?
Knowing was directed by Alex Proyas.
Who stars in Knowing?
The film stars Nicolas Cage, Rose Byrne, and Chandler Canterbury.
When was Knowing released?
It was released in the United States on March 20, 2009.
What genre is Knowing?
It is generally classified as a science fiction thriller, with disaster, mystery, and action elements.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowing_(film)
    Supports: Director, cast, release date, plot, box office, runtime, language, country, and reception overview
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Knowing-film
    Supports: Identification of Knowing as a 2009 film by Alex Proyas
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/knowing
    Supports: Synopsis, genre, release date, rating, distributor, and box office