Subtitle Zero Dark Thirty < Official — METHOD >

: The term is a play on the 24-hour military clock. "Zero" refers to the hours before 10 a.m. (starting with 0), "Dark" denotes the nighttime or pre-dawn hours, and "Thirty" indicates 30 minutes past the hour.

The title of the 2012 film serves as both a literal reference to a specific military time and a metaphor for the secrecy surrounding the hunt for Osama bin Laden. Military Definition and Origins subtitle Zero Dark Thirty

: Military operations often begin during this window to utilize the cover of darkness and the element of surprise. Significance to the Film : The term is a play on the 24-hour military clock