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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

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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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Audience Member This movie has a powerful story and beautiful cinematography, but it gets bogged down by its slow pacing and lack of dialogue. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/10/24 Full Review Jarrod R This outstanding film was a feast for the senses. We are transported back to South America in the 1750s and experience both the promise of a community based on love and the basest tragedies of colonialism. Raw performances from some of the greatest actors and actors of a generation as well as supporting roles that match the intensity throughout. All of this paired with exquisite cinematography, which earned Chris Menges his second well deserved Academy Award at the 1987 Oscars. A film worthy of your time for the beauty and powerful messages. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/21/24 Full Review Beatrice B "Thus have we made the world... thus have I made it". Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/28/24 Full Review Jacob B While the pacing could've used some work, The Mission is otherwise a compelling based-on-true-events religious drama with terrific performances, amazing cinematography fully deserving of the Oscar the film won for it, Ennio Morricone's great score and quite a sad ending. Makes me wish that they showed this film to me when I was still in school. Could've obtained a greater appreciation for the film. Don't get me wrong, I still think this movie is really, really good but I think it would've stayed with me much more had it been a part of my obligatory education. Ah well, doesn't change the fact that perhaps some critics treated this film too harshly. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/25/24 Full Review Dick C It's a very inspirational motion picture, The Mission, 1986... Religion can transform people as well as tribes...such as Jesuit converts Robert De Niro from a brother killer into a Catholic...and those living in the Jungles into a group of Faithful... If we stop here, it's fine and findo...However our English Director, Roland Joffé does want to finish his Mission there... Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/21/23 Full Review Julio R Absolutely wonderful movie! From shocking to heartwarming to absolute heartbreaking, this movie leaves your soul strained to the core. A musical painting for the ears, Ennio Morricone is at his best! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/11/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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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
Enigma Productions, Warner Bros., 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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