The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers

"The Most Dangerous Man in America" is the story of what happens when a former Pentagon insider, armed only with his conscience, steadfast determination, and a file cabinet full of classified documents, decides to challenge an "Imperial" Presidency-answerable to neither Congress, the press, nor the people-in order to help end the Vietnam War. In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg shook America to its foundations when he smuggled a top-secret Pentagon study to the New York Times that showed how five Presidents consistently lied to the American people about the Vietnam War that was killing millions and tearing America apart. President Nixon's National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger called Ellsberg "the most dangerous man in America," who "had to be stopped at all costs." But Ellsberg wasn't stopped. Facing 115 years in prison on espionage and conspiracy charges, he fought back. Ensuing events surrounding the so-called Pentagon Papers led directly to Watergate and the downfall of President Nixon, and hastened the end of the Vietnam War. Ellsberg's relentless telling of truth to power, which exposed the secret deeds of an "Imperial Presidency," inspired Americans of all walks of life to forever question the previously-unchallenged pronouncements of its leaders. "The Most Dangerous Man in America" tells the inside story, for the first time on film, of this pivotal event that changed history and transformed our nation's political discourse. It is told largely by the players of that dramatic episode-Ellsberg, his colleagues, family and critics; Pentagon Papers authors and government officials; Vietnam veterans and anti-war activists; Watergate principals, attorneys and the journalists who both covered the story and were an integral part of it; and finally-through White House audiotapes-President Nixon and his inner circle of advisors.

Grosses

Domestic (100%)
$453,993
Summary Details
DistributorFirst Run
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Opening$1,114
1 theaters
Running Time1 hr 32 min
GenresDocumentary
In Release337 days/48 weeks
Widest Release12 theaters
DateRankWeekly %± LW TheatersChange AvgTo DateWeek
Jan 29-Feb 450$39,062-1-$39,062$39,0621
Feb 5-1189$2,108-94.6%1-$2,108$41,1702
Feb 12-1847$38,554+1,728.9%6+5$6,425$79,2123
Feb 19-2548$62,804+62.9%10+4$6,280$142,5284
Feb 26-Mar 456$40,020-36.3%9-1$4,446$181,6045
Mar 5-1154$36,943-7.7%12+3$3,078$219,2406
Mar 12-1859$27,624-25.2%10-2$2,762$247,1157
Mar 19-2557$30,245+9.5%11+1$2,749$277,3608
Mar 26-Apr 162$25,483-15.7%11-$2,316$302,8439
Apr 2-854$30,152+18.3%11-$2,741$332,90510
Apr 9-1561$28,172-6.6%10-1$2,817$360,66311
Apr 16-2272$17,666-37.3%7-3$2,523$377,89012
Apr 23-2966$19,614+11%11+4$1,783$398,44613
Apr 30-May 672$17,775-9.4%9-2$1,975$416,22214
May 7-1373$12,270-31%9-$1,363$428,49215
May 14-2090$4,052-67%4-5$1,013$432,54416
May 21-2778$9,128+125.3%5+1$1,825$441,67217
May 28-Jun 380$6,212-31.9%5-$1,242$447,88418
Jun 4-10116$1,349-78.3%3-2$449$449,23319
Jun 11-17106$2,072+53.6%3-$690$451,30520
Jun 18-24105$1,688-18.5%3-$562$452,99321
Jul 9-15115$343-1-$343$453,33624
Jul 23-29108$324-1-$324$453,66026
Jul 30-Aug 5111$333+2.8%1-$333$453,99327