Blackout (2013): cast, story & where to watch
2013 · Film · ★ 6.6
Released in 2013, Blackout is a drama film directed by Ben Chanan, running about 71 minutes. “Drama documentary exploring the effects of a devastating cyber-attack on Britain's national electricity grid, combining fictional scenes with footage recorded during real blackouts” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Feature-length 'What-If' drama exploring the effects of a devastating cyber-attack on Britain's national electricity grid. Based on expert advice and meticulous research, Blackout combines real user-generated footage, alongside fictional scenes, CCTV archive and news reports to build a terrifyingly realistic account of Britain being plunged into darkness. The film plots the days following a nationwide power cut, as experienced by a cast of ordinary characters struggling to feed and protect themselves and their families. These eyewitness accounts reveal the disastrous impact of a prolonged blackout on hospitals, law and order, transport, and our food and water supplies. The programme casts members of the public from user-generated footage, weaving real-life archive with scripted drama to tell the story of how Britain could descend into chaos and anarchy without power.
Who’s in it. Blackout stars Jemima Abey as Karen, Faraz Ayub as Neighbour, Theo Barklem-Biggs as Karl and Michelle Bonnard as Nurse Gabby, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.6/10, Blackout has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In GB you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Blackout page.
If you liked it. Fans of Blackout tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Blackout (2013)?
- In GB, Blackout is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Blackout worth watching?
- Blackout holds an audience score of 6.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Blackout?
- Blackout stars Jemima Abey, Faraz Ayub, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Michelle Bonnard and Janie Booth.
- When was Blackout released?
- Blackout was released in 2013, with a runtime of about 71 minutes.