Captain Fantastic

Play trailer

2:31

Captain Fantastic

R

Released Jul 8, 2016

1h 59m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

228 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Ben Cash (Viggo Mortensen), his wife Leslie and their six children live deep in the wilderness of Washington state. Isolated from society, Ben and Leslie devote their existence to raising their kids -- educating them to think critically, training them to be physically fit and athletic, guiding them in the wild without technology and demonstrating the beauty of co-existing with nature. When Leslie dies suddenly, Ben must take his sheltered offspring into the outside world for the first time.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Captain Fantastic's thought-provoking themes -- and an absorbing starring turn from Viggo Mortensen -- add up to an above-average family drama with unexpected twists.

Read Critics Reviews

Karen Han

CutPrintFilm

While the spirit of the movie is admirable, the constant tirades by the Cash family against typical society grow repetitive and lose their impact as a result, even as a device to show the difficulties in processing grief.

Rated: 5/10

Dec 8, 2017

Full Review

Tara Brady

Irish Times

Fantastic, indeed.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 28, 2016

Full Review

Danny Leigh

Financial Times

There are many tonal plates being spun here; the lack of a deafening crash is impressive. It comes down, you suspect, to the film's embrace of its own contradictions.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 28, 2016

Full Review

JD Duran

InSession Film

Captain Fantastic thrives on comedy that knows when to peek its head and when to let drama and emotion carry the audience. Alex Somers score provocatively amplifies each of those elements...

Rated: A

Aug 19, 2024

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... a road movie, a family drama, a tale of loss, and a loving portrait of an alternative family that is prepared to face everything but the modern world.

Sep 8, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Matt Ross’s story of this off-the-grid family clashing with the outside world naturally has its funny moments. But it’s also a film filled with genuine feeling.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 19, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Pip S

Very beautiful and sweet movie. A not so irrational but certainly not realistic father and his beautiful family in a different learning life clashing with society.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/23/25

Full Review

Zachary L

Such a good movie! Might be difficult for you if you believe in confirming with social norms for conformance's sake. A beautiful ode to alternative lifestyle

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/28/24

Full Review

Eric R

Probably one of the best films to come out within the last decade! Grossly under-rated thought piece that makes you question the spectrum off off-grid living versus modernity, socialization, parenting, family dynamics, and what makes a person live a successful life. Pacing is excellent with a well balanced mix of smart comedy and heartfelt emotion as a nontraditional family navigates the challenging terrain of life, love and loss. Who knew Matt Ross was such a genius, because this film is proof of it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/20/24

Full Review

BHASKAR S

It was simply Fantastic

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/10/24

Full Review

Marcos Vinicius S

Belíssimos dilemas ideológicos, humor no ponto certo, drama bem construído e excelentes atuações! O que o filme se propõe a fazer ele executa com maestria, a sensação de “coração aquecido” ao final do filme é aconchegante. Poderia ter extraído um pouquinho mais de drama entre as relações do ex sogro e o nosso protagonista. Gostaria de ter visto mais dos desafios diários da mudança de vida da família. No geral eu adorei cada minuto.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/02/24

Full Review

Devin D

I truly beautiful and eye opening movie that leaves you begging for it not to end .

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/26/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Matt Ross

Director

Viggo Mortensen

Ben

Frank Langella

Jack

George MacKay

Bodevan

Samantha Isler

Kielyr

Annalise Basso

Vespyr

Wish I Was Here

45%

59%

Wish I Was Here

Watchlist

The Comedian

24%

28%

The Comedian

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Comedian

20th Century Women

88%

74%

20th Century Women

Watchlist

TRAILER

for 20th Century Women

The Tribes of Palos Verdes

68%

57%

The Tribes of Palos Verdes

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Tribes of Palos Verdes

While We're Young

84%

51%

While We're Young

Watchlist

TRAILER

for While We're Young

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Captain Fantastic, Ernest & Celestine, and More on Netflix and Amazon Prime This Week

Oscar Winners 2017: Full List

Conversations with the 2017 Oscar Nominees

Captain Fantastic: Trailer 1

2:31

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Ben Cash (Viggo Mortensen), his wife Leslie and their six children live deep in the wilderness of Washington state. Isolated from society, Ben and Leslie devote their existence to raising their kids -- educating them to think critically, training them to be physically fit and athletic, guiding them in the wild without technology and demonstrating the beauty of co-existing with nature. When Leslie dies suddenly, Ben must take his sheltered offspring into the outside world for the first time.

Director: Matt Ross
Producer: Lynette Howell Taylor, Jamie Patricof, Shivani Rawat, Monica Levinson
Screenwriter: Matt Ross
Distributor: Bleecker Street Media
Production Co: Electric City Entertainment
Rating: R (Language|Brief Graphic Nudity)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 8, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 11, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.9M
Runtime: 1h 59m

Most Popular at Home Now