--- title: "We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/we-steal-secrets-the-story-of-wikileaks/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/we-steal-secrets-the-story-of-wikileaks" critics_score: 71 critics_reviews: 17 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks (2013): what the critics said Critics' score 71 from 17 reviews: 11 positive, 5 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics find Alex Gibney’s documentary compelling and informative, praising his ability to make the complexities of WikiLeaks accessible without avoiding their moral grey areas. The strongest agreement concerns Manning: the reviews repeatedly identify the emotional turmoil and on-screen chat messages as the film’s most affecting material. Gibney’s interweaving of Manning’s story with Assange’s also earns praise, though enthusiasm for the investigative storytelling is broader than confidence in the film’s conclusions. Reservations centre on an unfinished story, uneven structure and an Assange portrait that leaves its subject elusive. Several broadly favourable reviews find the personal stories more satisfying than the political examination. The spread is substantial: Variety finds the central conflict dramatically weak while still singling out Manning as memorable. Slant Magazine offers the sharpest dissent, arguing that flashy graphics and superficial intrigue take the place of deeper political and psychological insight. ## IndieWire — Gabe Toro Rating A-. 22 May 2013. Toro considers the documentary vital and compelling despite its unfinished feel. He praises its clear-eyed focus on Bradley Manning and the deaths revealed in leaked military footage. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-provocative-doc-we-steal-secrets-the-story-of-wikileaks-is-essential-immediate-viewing-97721/) ## Los Angeles Times — Mark Olsen Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 23 May 2013. Olsen calls the documentary a gripping, ambitious major work. He praises how Gibney skillfully interweaves the stories of Assange and Manning, especially Manning’s emotional online chats. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-xpm-2013-may-23-la-et-mn-we-steal-secrets-review-wikileaks-julian-assange-20130524-story.html) ## Empire — Philip Wilding Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 4 June 2013. Wilding finds the documentary a dynamic, smart and fine examination of the WikiLeaks story. He particularly praises its heartbreaking portrayal of Bradley Manning and its willingness to tackle the story’s grey areas. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/steal-secrets-story-wikileaks-review/) ## Time Out — Trevor Johnston Rating 4/5. 8 July 2013. The review is strongly positive about the documentary. It praises Alex Gibney’s skill at unpicking complex issues through investigative filmmaking. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/we-steal-secrets-the-story-of-wikileaks) ## The AV Club — A.A. Dowd Rating B. 23 May 2013. Dowd finds the documentary informative but uneven, with Assange’s absence leaving it unbalanced. He praises its accessible overview and the human focus on Bradley Manning’s story. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/we-steal-secrets-the-story-of-wikileaks-1798176873) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Rating B. 24 May 2013. Edelstein finds the documentary enthralling and probing, with its personal story ultimately overtaking its political revelations. He praises Gibney’s interwoven account of Bradley Manning as especially affecting. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2013/05/movie-review-we-steal-secrets.html) ## Evening Standard — The Standard Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 12 July 2013. The Standard finds Gibney’s documentary an entertaining, thoughtful polemic and a useful introduction to WikiLeaks. It particularly praises the endearing moment of Assange dancing alone to disco music. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/we-steal-secrets-the-story-of-wikileaks-film-review-8705094.html) ## The Guardian — Jeremy Kay Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 23 January 2013. Festival review. Kay finds the documentary thoughtful but says it reveals little about Assange, its central mystery. He praises its poignant account of Bradley Manning’s story as its most memorable achievement. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jan/23/we-steal-secrets-wikileaks-review) ## Screen Daily — Anthony Kaufman Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 22 January 2013. Festival review. This is a review of Alex Gibney’s documentary, but the accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. The paywall also prevents identifying what the critic singles out for praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/we-steal-secrets-the-story-of-wikileaks/5050934.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page could not be accessed, so its verdict cannot be verified. No praise or complaint from the critic is available in the provided page text. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/24/movies/we-steal-secrets-a-documentary-on-wikileaks.html) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 28 January 2013. Festival review. Debruge finds the portrait feisty but dramatically lacking, with the WikiLeaks story’s central conflict failing to compel. He singles out Bradley Manning, whose conflicted character leaves the strongest impression. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/we-steal-secrets-the-story-of-wikileaks-1117949111/) ## Slant Magazine — Nick McCarthy Rating 1.5/4. 20 May 2013. McCarthy finds the documentary muddled and lacking perspective, with flashy presentation undermining its political aims. He criticizes its superficial intrigue and says it favors snazzy graphics over deeper insight into its subjects. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/we-steal-secrets-the-story-of-wikileaks/) ## Digital Spy — Emma Dibdin Rating 4/5. 9 July 2013. Dibdin finds the documentary breathlessly compelling but troubling and ultimately unresolved. She especially praises its psychological probing, including the moving portrayal of Bradley Manning. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a496505/we-steal-secrets-the-story-of-wikileaks-review/) ## HeyUGuys — Andrew Jones Rating 4/5. 8 July 2013. Jones calls the documentary shocking, informative, and important, though its storytelling embellishments make it an imperfect slog. He praises its fascinating material and candid interviews, while criticizing its sometimes awkward structure. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/we-steal-secrets-the-story-of-wikileaks/) ## Paste — Annlee Ellingson Rating 7.2. 30 May 2013. Ellingson finds the documentary fascinating and provocative, though its story feels unfinished and its focus too narrow. She singles out Manning’s on-screen chat messages as especially compelling and sympathetic. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/we-steal-secrets-the-story-of-wikileaks) ## Eye for Film — Robert Munro Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 24 June 2013. Munro finds that Gibney’s film mostly does justice to the people behind WikiLeaks, though Assange remains elusive. He singles out Chelsea Manning’s sacrifices and emotional turmoil as the story’s human heart. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/we-steal-secrets-the-story-of-wikileaks-2013-film-review-by-robert-munro) ## Den of Geek — Nick Horton Rating 3/5. 12 July 2013. Horton finds the documentary compelling and well made, but ultimately incomplete and frustratingly unbalanced. He praises its engaging account of WikiLeaks’ early history and its visually exciting storytelling. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/we-steal-secrets-the-story-of-wikileaks-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/we-steal-secrets-the-story-of-wikileaks.md