# J. Edgar (2011) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/j-edgar-2011/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-25

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 53% |
| Critic Score | 43% |
| Audience Score | 42% |
| Metascore | 59/100 |
| Letterboxd | 2.8/5 |
| IMDb | 6.5/10 |
| Director | Clint Eastwood |
| Genres | Drama, Crime, History |
| Runtime | 137 min |

## Quick answer

J. Edgar (2011) earns a 53% Celluloid Score — Not Recommended. Eastwood’s Hoover biopic — DiCaprio under heavy makeup as the FBI’s secretive founding director. Metascore 59/100. Directed by Clint Eastwood.

## Critics consensus

Eastwood’s Hoover biopic — DiCaprio under heavy makeup as the FBI’s secretive founding director.

## Synopsis

As the face of law enforcement in the United States for almost 50 years, J. Edgar Hoover was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, his career, and his life.

## Cast

Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Josh Lucas, Josh Hamilton, Judi Dench, Geoff Pierson, Gunner Wright, Dermot Mulroney, Kaitlyn Dever

## Common questions

**Is J. Edgar worth watching?**
J. Edgar holds a 53% Celluloid Score. Eastwood’s Hoover biopic — DiCaprio under heavy makeup as the FBI’s secretive founding director.

**What is J. Edgar about?**
As the face of law enforcement in the United States for almost 50 years, J. Edgar Hoover was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, his career, and his life.

**Who directed J. Edgar?**
J. Edgar (2011) was directed by Clint Eastwood.

**What is the Celluloid Score of J. Edgar?**
53% — the average of five public sources: critics 43%, audience 42%, Metascore 59/100, Letterboxd 2.8/5, and IMDb 6.5/10.

**Where can I watch J. Edgar?**
Streaming availability varies by region — see the J. Edgar page for current options.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

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