Into the Wild

Play trailer

2:25

Into the Wild

R

2007

2h 27m

Biography

Drama

Adventure

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

199 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

A top student and athlete leaves his middle-class life to venture into Alaska, only to meet people who will eventually shape his values and life.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

With his sturdy cast and confident direction, Sean Penn has turned a complex work of non-fiction like Into the Wild into an accessible and poignant character study.

Read Critics Reviews

David Fear

Blender

Anyone who’s read Jon Krakauer’s best-selling nonfiction account knows the details, but actually seeing McCandless’s travels is still thrilling. Yet... are we supposed to salute this foray into the wild or shake our heads at the sheer idiocy?

Sep 8, 2023

Full Review

Tim Robey

Sight & Sound

Even Penn's more indulgent flourishes seem to enhance the film's keen feeling.

Jul 6, 2010

Full Review

Amy Nicholson

I.E. Weekly

Penn's main idea about going native is making eye contact with a deer.

Rated: C

Feb 22, 2008

Full Review

JD Duran

InSession Film

This is perhaps the best performance of Emile Hirsch’s career and he does a really great job of bringing this character to life.

Rated: A

Aug 16, 2024

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Shot by cinematographer Eric Gautier, Penn’s film is beautifully realized, with full attention to the sublime beauty that Chris loves and respects.

Rated: 3.5/4

Mar 8, 2024

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Into the Wild is especially memorable in the manner in which it offers no absolutes.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 21, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Dorottya P

Beautiful movie and great acting by Emile. I really liked the cinematography too. I felt truly touched by the caracters we met throughout the plot. It’s the type of movie that stays with you for a long time. Definitely recommend watching it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/11/25

Full Review

Andres04 C

A convintional story with a powerful meaning.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/21/25

Full Review

Jeff S.

Told the tale perfectly.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/14/25

Full Review

Mike V

Insane kid. Needed help but father too insane himself to recognize it. Rich kid gives away big money to get away from the madness. At least Kerouac had a decent plan to survive while escaping the madness. This was a waste.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/14/25

Full Review

Giovanni P

This is the kind of movie that will stay with you for a long time. Perfect casting, amazing cinematography, great editing and the scenery is spectacular. Very few films of capture the vastness and spirit of America the way this one does. But at the heart of the story is a young man searching for himself. and what he ends up finding is heartbreaking. A beautiful story well told.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/14/25

Full Review

Ben S

Everyone has felt the sensation to pack up and leave everything behind, but few actually do it. This is a raw look at what that looks like. The soul-crushing lows, and the breath-taking highs. As always, when you ride that wave there are consequences. Important film and story.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/05/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Sean Penn

Director

Emile Hirsch

Christopher McCandless

Marcia Gay Harden

Billie McCandless

William Hurt

Walt McCandless

Jena Malone

Carine McCandless

Catherine Keener

Jan Burres

Wild

88%

75%

Wild

Watchlist

Black Snake Moan

66%

69%

Black Snake Moan

Watchlist

I'm Not There

76%

69%

I'm Not There

Watchlist

Talk to Me

82%

77%

Talk to Me

Watchlist

Factory Girl

21%

60%

Factory Girl

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Into the Wild: Trailer 1

2:25

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

A top student and athlete leaves his middle-class life to venture into Alaska, only to meet people who will eventually shape his values and life.

Director: Sean Penn
Producer: Sean Penn, Art Linson, Bill Pohlad
Screenwriter: Sean Penn
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: River Road, Paramount Vantage, Art Linson Productions
Rating: R (Some Nudity|Language)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 21, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $18.4M
Runtime: 2h 27m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

Most Popular at Home Now