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The Mission

Play trailer Poster for The Mission PG Released Oct 31, 1986 2h 8m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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63% Tomatometer 30 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Jesuit priest Father Gabriel (Jeremy Irons) enters the Guarani lands in South America with the purpose of converting the natives to Christianity. He soon builds a mission, where he is joined by Rodrigo Mendoza (Robert De Niro), a reformed slave trader seeking redemption. When a treaty transfers the land from Spain to Portugal, the Portuguese government wants to capture the natives for slave labor. Mendoza and Gabriel resolve to defend the mission, but disagree on how to accomplish the task.
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The Mission

The Mission

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Critics Consensus

The Mission is a well-meaning epic given delicate heft by its sumptuous visuals and a standout score by Ennio Morricone, but its staid presentation never stirs an emotional investment in its characters.

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Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety The two principal actors, Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons, work hard to animate their parts. But there is little to do. The Mission is probably the first film in which De Niro gives a bland, uninteresting performance. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Steven D. Greydanus Decent Films Rated: A- Oct 29, 2008 Full Review Derek Adams Time Out The Mission manages to be both magnificent and curiously uninvolving, a buddy movie played in soutanes. Feb 9, 2006 Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia It has a certain density in the aesthetics that illustrate the traditions of an indigenous culture in a state of resistance, but unfortunately, its narrative lacks hook when it shows its predictable conflict over colonialism. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 6/10 Nov 13, 2024 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Even with lulls, it’s impossible to disregard the music, which is not only a factor of communication between the disparate peoples (and a point of humanization), but also a stirring, striking link between major components of the story. Rated: 7/10 Jul 20, 2024 Full Review Blake Howard One Heat Minute “De Niro is such an intuitive and impulsive performer, and what I think Roland Joffé gets out of him in this performance ... is restraining those impulses and … fury.” Rated: 3.5/4 Feb 13, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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bob c Up there with the very best. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/17/25 Full Review Chris W This is a Masterpiece of art. Another example of the fact that far too many professional critics have agendas that are controlled by their desperation for money and to please their paymasters. This brilliant film captures the tragedy that was, and far too often is. If I were still teaching, this would be in a film studies class. It needs to be viewed. Globally. Be kind. Always. Out lies and evil. Always. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/01/25 Full Review Richard W A very good, wellcast movie Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/01/25 Full Review Frans B Reality often shocks, illustrated here in striking fashion. How a "noble" cause turns evil, the intentions behind real intentions, all intriguing. Epic movie with equally epic settings and cast. Absolutely one of those "must see more than once" movies. Morricone just adds to the whole greatness Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/21/25 Full Review Barbara B If you take in all the sensory material, the story, & the main characters’ performances…..its memorable and definitely a re-watchable. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/15/25 Full Review Audience Member This is how you make a movie about a historical event. Knowing about the effort put in to make it accurate combined with the release date makes it even more impressive. Goddamn damn god Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/10/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Mission

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Cast & Crew

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Roland Joffé

Director

Robert De Niro

Rodrigo Mendoza

Jeremy Irons

Gabriel

Ray McAnally

Altamirano

Liam Neeson

Fielding

Aidan Quinn

Felipe

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The Mission

The Mission (1986) The Mission (1986) The Mission (1986) The Mission (1986) The Mission (1986) The Mission (1986) The Mission (1986) Gabriel (JEREMY IRONS) leads a group of frightened natives in Warner Bros. Pictures' epic THE MISSION. Rodrigo Mendoza (ROBERT DENIRO) in Warner Bros. Pictures' epic THE MISSION. Rodrigo Mendoza (ROBERT DENIRO), Fielding (LIAM NEESON), Sebastian (DANIEL BERRIGAN), Gabriel (JEREMY IRONS), and ROLF GRAY as a young Jesuit converse with the natives in THE MISSION. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Jesuit priest Father Gabriel (Jeremy Irons) enters the Guarani lands in South America with the purpose of converting the natives to Christianity. He soon builds a mission, where he is joined by Rodrigo Mendoza (Robert De Niro), a reformed slave trader seeking redemption. When a treaty transfers the land from Spain to Portugal, the Portuguese government wants to capture the natives for slave labor. Mendoza and Gabriel resolve to defend the mission, but disagree on how to accomplish the task.
Director
Roland Joffé
Producer
Fernando Ghia, David Puttnam
Screenwriter
Robert Bolt
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Warner Bros., Enigma Productions, Goldcrest Films Ltd.
Rating
PG
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 31, 1986, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 7, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$17.2M
Runtime
2h 8m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
70mm, Scope (2.35:1)
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