The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film)
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Name	The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	David Fincher
Producer	Scott Rudin, Ceán Chaffin, Eric Kopeloff
Screenplay	Steven Zaillian
Based on	The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Starring	Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgård, Robin Wright
Music	Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
Cinematography	Jeff Cronenweth
Editing	Kirk Baxter
Studio	Columbia Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions, Double Feature Films
Distributor	Sony Pictures Releasing
Released	December 21, 2011 (United States)
Runtime	158 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$90–100 million
Gross	$232 million

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film) is an American mystery thriller directed by David Fincher and adapted by Steven Zaillian from the novel by Stieg Larsson. The film stars Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist and Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander in a story about a decades-old disappearance on the remote estate of the wealthy Vanger family. Produced by Scott Rudin and released by Sony Pictures Releasing, the film features a score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross and cinematography by Jeff Cronenweth.

Plot

In 2007, investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist is convicted after a libel case involving Henrik Vanger, a retired executive of Vanger Corporation, hires Blomkvist to investigate the 1966 disappearance of Harriet Vanger from the family's island estate, Hedeby Island. Blomkvist enlists the assistance of hacker Lisbeth Salander, a ward of the Swedish state with a contested guardianship overseen by attorney Nils Bjurman, to access archival records, corporate documents, and private diaries kept by members of the Vanger clan including Martin Vanger and Gottfried Vanger. Their inquiry uncovers a pattern of sexual violence and murders linked to Nazi-era activities and a chain of victims across Stockholm and rural Sweden, leading to confrontations with Erika Berger and international figures, a revelation of family secrets, and a violent resolution involving Martin Vanger and the island's legacy. The investigation uses surveillance, forensic analysis, and computer hacking to connect historical crimes to contemporary perpetrators and to expose institutional corruption involving journalists and businessmen.

Cast

- Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist, an editor of the magazine Millennium. - Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander, a computer hacker and private investigator. - Christopher Plummer as Henrik Vanger, former CEO of Vanger Corporation. - Stellan Skarsgård as Dirch Frode, legal counsel to the Vanger family. - Robin Wright as Erika Berger, editor at Millennium magazine. - Joely Richardson as Cecilia Vanger. - Yorick van Wageningen as Martin Vanger. - Goran Visnjic as Gustaf Morell. - Sven-Bertil Taube as Holger Palmgren. - Supporting cast includes actors connected to Hollywood, Stockholm Film Festival alumni, and European performers from Sweden and Denmark.

Production

Development began after Scott Rudin acquired rights from the estate of Stieg Larsson, with David Fincher attached following work on Zodiac and The Social Network. Steven Zaillian adapted Larsson's novel, translating Swedish settings such as Stockholm and Hedeby Island into a Hollywood production filmed primarily in studios and on location in Stockholm and Uppsala. Rooney Mara underwent physical transformation and worked with fight choreographers associated with Malkovich and Cirque du Soleil veterans; Daniel Craig prepared with investigative research tying into his work on Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. Jeff Cronenweth used high-contrast digital cinematography influenced by Michael Mann and Alfred Hitchcock. Post-production involved editors Kirk Baxter and a visual effects team that collaborated with houses experienced on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Inception.

Release and box office

Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing, the film premiered at the 2011 holiday season, with a wide release on December 21, 2011 in the United States and subsequent launches in United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Sweden. With a production budget reported between $90–100 million, it grossed approximately $232 million worldwide against competition from films released during the 2011 holiday season including titles from Warner Bros., Disney, and Paramount Pictures. The film's marketing campaign featured trailers presented during broadcast events and festival screenings at venues associated with Telluride Film Festival and AFI Fest.

Reception

Critical response was mixed to positive: reviewers praised David Fincher's direction, the performances of Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig, and the atmospheric production design referencing Nordic noir and the literary Millennium trilogy, while some critics noted the film's length and graphic content. The film appeared on year-end lists from critics associated with publications in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, and Variety. It generated discourse around adaptations of Stieg Larsson's work, comparisons to the original 2009 Swedish film adaptation directed by Niels Arden Oplev, and discussions in film circles such as Cahiers du Cinéma and Empire magazine about depicting violence and journalistic ethics.

Music

The score was composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, collaborators known for work on The Social Network, which won an Academy Award. The soundtrack blends electronic textures and ambient industrial elements, drawing influence from Nine Inch Nails's aesthetic and previous soundtracks by Hans Zimmer and Clint Mansell. A lead song, performed by Loreen in promotional contexts and remixes by producers linked to Skrillex-era electronic music, accompanied marketing efforts.

Accolades

The film received multiple nominations from organizations including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and the Golden Globe Awards circuit, particularly highlighting Rooney Mara's performance and the film's technical achievements in cinematography and editing. It earned awards from critics' groups such as the National Board of Review and nominations at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and Critics' Choice Awards.

Category:2011 films Category:Films directed by David Fincher Category:Films scored by Trent Reznor Category:Films scored by Atticus Ross