Captain Fantastic

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2:31

Captain Fantastic

R

Released Jul 8, 2016

1h 59m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

226 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.

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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.

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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

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

Fantastic, indeed.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 28, 2016

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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

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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

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Courtney K

this was fantastic; i can't believe i haven't seen this before now. there's a lot of thoughtful emotion behind the story & everyone played their roles really well. would definitely recommend.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/24/25

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Kelstine V.

An indie star in a dark night where you grow to love and hate a father who is doing the most for his family along class struggle and potential utopia in the PNW.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/06/25

Full Review

Marta R

Absolutely amazing. A wonderful analogy of a family passing trough grief, showing the growth of every character. All of this while they make theirs life’s off grid with all the challenges that come with that.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/04/25

Full Review

Sporting Chance F

Favorite movie ever!! Viggo Mortensen is a fantastic actor and this movie checks all the boxes for everything. I love in a movie action. Heart adventure, nature, etc.., Watch this movie! You won't be sorry!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/02/25

Full Review

Audience Member

A wonderful blend of drama and comedy with a side of heartwarming

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/13/25

Full Review

Camila P

Bittersweet tale of an alternative family who struggles with themes like mental health, sense of belonging, and parenthood. Exceptional acting all around, and a great balance of comedy and drama. It gets all stars from me as a movie who makes you feel all the feelings and different from most family movie out there.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/05/25

Full Review

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Matt Ross

Director

Viggo Mortensen

Ben

Frank Langella

Jack

George MacKay

Bodevan

Samantha Isler

Kielyr

Annalise Basso

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Captain Fantastic: Trailer 1

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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

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