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Cast Away

Play trailer 1:58 Poster for Cast Away PG-13 Released Dec 22, 2000 2h 23m Drama Adventure Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 156 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Obsessively punctual FedEx executive Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) is en route to an assignment in Malaysia when his plane crashes over the Pacific Ocean during a storm. The sole survivor of the flight, Chuck washes ashore on a deserted island. When his efforts to sail away and contact help fail, Chuck learns how to survive on the island, where he remains for years, accompanied by only his handmade volleyball friend, Wilson. Will Chuck ever return to civilization and reunite with his loved ones?
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Cast Away

Cast Away

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Critics Consensus

Flawed but fascinating, Cast Away offers an intelligent script, some of Robert Zemeckis' most mature directing, and a showcase performance from Tom Hanks.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media Tom Hanks' powerful, brutal and mature story. Rated: 3/5 Dec 22, 2010 Full Review Geoff Andrew Time Out Though Hanks comes across as blandly as ever, at least his solid performance shows he's up to carrying half a movie on his own, and Zemeckis' direction is at first as busily efficient as the protagonist. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Peter Rainer New York Magazine/Vulture Hanks's Everyman quality has never been more aptly utilized: He's the perfect stand-in for all of us who never made it to Eagle Scout. Sep 26, 2002 Full Review Robin Holabird Robin Holabird Hanks earned a well-deserved best actor Oscar nomination, carrying much of the action without talking to anyone but himself for a Wilson volleyball he finds in a washed-ashore Fed-X box. Aug 11, 2021 Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Tom Hanks is the perfect actor for the role. Rated: 4/5 Dec 22, 2020 Full Review Michael Kleinschrodt Times-Picayune "Cast Away" is an exceptionally well-crafted exploration of the survival of the human spirit. It's a movie unafraid to consider the full complexity of life. May 30, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Shaun R One the great films. A couple of scenes in this movie take it from being great to another level of brilliance. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/16/25 Full Review Stephen C Success in 2 hours and 23 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Intense Action Sequences and Disturbing Images!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/14/25 Full Review Carlos H Cast Away is, without a doubt, one of the most tense, emotional and sad films I have ever seen. When I was little, I remember this film always being shown and talked about on television, but I only got to watch it in 2025: and I don't regret taking so long. After all, my taste in cinema as a child was limited to Disney and superhero films, and Cast Away is not the kind of film for this age group. The story touches on deep themes, such as perseverance, loneliness, loss and sacrifice. The direction is excellent, and the film's photography is a character in itself: I simply loved the way the director, Robert Zemeckis, filmed the island here. It is, at the same time, a lost paradise and, little by little, the destruction of the character played by Tom Hanks, whose talent needs no introduction. What is impressive is not only Hanks' talent and performance, but also the extreme physical change that he certainly had to undergo to accompany the degradation of his character: at the beginning of the film, his character, Chuck, is a strong, robust man, with a leadership position at FedEx, something that is very well presented in the opening scene of the film, in which we follow the character in Russia (once again, Robert Zemeckis captures the best angles of the city to compose the scenes). The scene of the plane hitting the water, followed by Chuck drifting, adrift, in the middle of the vastness of the sea, with its violent waves, is frightening. In fact, this film has frightening scenes for those who, like me, are simultaneously curious and afraid of the sea. Thalassophobia, that's what they call it, right? The relationship between Chuck and Wilson, a soccer ball that was on the plane that crashed and whose package drifted to the sands of the island, is sad and beautiful. And what can we say about that ending? I really felt bad about Chuck's ending, but at the same time, I can't blame Kelly for moving on. After all, it was four long years since Chuck was presumed dead. The reunion between the two is deeply sad, and Chuck's final scene had a special meaning for me: after wandering the sea for so long and being on the brink of death, the roads that surrounded him symbolized the many solid paths he could follow. Without a doubt, Cast Away is a masterpiece that deserves to be seen and applauded. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/27/25 Full Review Alejandro E If the main idea was to make a modern version of Robinson Crusoe, the effort turned out quite well. Although there is not much action in the plot, one as a viewer cannot be captivated by the main character and his efforts to survive in the face of nature. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/24/25 Full Review Paul S This movie was so much fun to watch, and despite its simple story, it did an amazing job of keeping you hooked from beginning to end. I definitely recommend it for adventure fans! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/15/25 Full Review Audience Member movie was great. Vincent deserves an interview for telling us what really happened at the island Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/06/25 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Obsessively punctual FedEx executive Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) is en route to an assignment in Malaysia when his plane crashes over the Pacific Ocean during a storm. The sole survivor of the flight, Chuck washes ashore on a deserted island. When his efforts to sail away and contact help fail, Chuck learns how to survive on the island, where he remains for years, accompanied by only his handmade volleyball friend, Wilson. Will Chuck ever return to civilization and reunite with his loved ones?
Director
Robert Zemeckis
Producer
Steven Boyd, Jack Rapke, Steve Starkey, Robert Zemeckis, Tom Hanks
Screenwriter
William Broyles Jr.
Distributor
DreamWorks SKG
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox, Playtone Productions, DreamWorks SKG, ImageMovers
Rating
PG-13 (Intense Action Sequences|Disturbing Images)
Genre
Drama, Adventure, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 22, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$233.6M
Runtime
2h 23m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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