Into the Wild
Into the Wild Image
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Metascore
73 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 38 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.2 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 232 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Catherine Keener, Emile Hirsch, Vince Vaughn
  • Summary: Freshly graduated from college and with a promising future ahead, 22-year-old Christopher McCandless chose instead to walk out of his privileged life and into the wild in search of adventure. What happened to him on the way transformed this young wanderer into an enduring symbol for countless people. Was Christopher McCandless a heroic adventurer or a naïve idealist, a rebellious 1990s Thoreau or another lost American son, a fearless risk-taker or a tragic figure who wrestled with the precarious balance between man and nature? (Paramount Vantage)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 38
  3. Negative: 0 out of 38
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    100
    Spellbinding.
  2. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: William Arnold
    100
    Penn's direction is amazingly sharp and intuitive, full of masterful touches that give an epic dimension and scope to the parable.
  3. Empire
    Reviewed by: Dan Jolin
    80
    With the whole of America as his backdrop, Penn pulls off his most ambitious movie yet. The result is a beautiful and thought-provoking road movie.
  4. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Sura Wood
    60
    Penn opts for epic proportions and clutters his narrative with gimmicks. For the most part, it works. What's missing is the perspective and insight that would illuminated the inner dimensions of a driven young man who is preachy and downright irritating.

See all 38 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 90 out of 116
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 116
  3. Negative: 19 out of 116
  1. bone
    10
    The film repects the true story as expressed in Jon Krakauer's book. I can't overstate how good Emile Hirsch is as the lead. Every supporting actor plays their part to near perfection. Sean Penn is as good a director as he is an actor. The music goes really well with the film.… Expand
  2. Trev29
    8
    The movies is expressed beautifully. It leaves you thinking about so many things of life. It is inspiring on every level. A rare piece of cinema that strikes you so much.… Expand
  3. unhotG
    7
    The unbalanced perspective works against the movie even though it was compelling to watch. A deeper view of a complex personality is possible in a movie form, just watch 'Grizzly Man' by W. Hertzog. My view is summed up by this: Alaskan Park Ranger Peter Christian wrote: … Expand
  4. Tss5078
    4
    It was critically acclaimed, full of stars, and Academy nominated, but Into The Wild wasn't for me. The film is based on the true story of Christopher McCandless, a young man in search of true freedom. A recent college graduate, inspired by naturalist literature, McCandless decided to travel to Alaska and live off the land. The film follows his journey, from college graduation and is an amazing story. Emile Hirsch gives an unbelievable performance as McCandless but was snubbed by the Academy. I suspect it was for the same reason I didn't like the film, it is unbelievably slow. The story and cast are amazing, but everything is so sedentary and precise, that you can barely sit through the thing! Some three hour plus films, don't feel anywhere near that long, that's how you know they're great. On the other hand, Into The Wild easily feels much longer than three hours and unfortunately doesn't do the story justice.… Expand

See all 116 User Reviews

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