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John Carter

Play trailer Poster for John Carter PG-13 Released Mar 9, 2012 2h 12m Sci-Fi Action Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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52% Tomatometer 236 Reviews 60% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
When Civil War veteran John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) mysteriously awakes on the surface of Mars -- also called Barsoom -- he little expects the adventure that awaits him. Carter reluctantly becomes embroiled in an epic conflict among the red planet's inhabitants, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). As Barsoom is poised on the brink of collapse, war-weary Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that everyone's fate is in his hands.
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John Carter

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Critics Consensus

While John Carter looks terrific and delivers its share of pulpy thrills, it also suffers from uneven pacing and occasionally incomprehensible plotting and characterization.

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Critics Reviews

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J. Hoberman ARTINFO.com For the most part, the first "live action" feature by Andrew Stanton, is graphically splendiferous and enjoyably nonsensical. Feb 25, 2019 Full Review Matt Singer ScreenCrush Isn't the disaster some industry observers predicted, but it's not the high-gloss masterpiece some of us hoped for either. Rated: 5/10 Apr 5, 2012 Full Review David Denby The New Yorker A mess. Mar 26, 2012 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand John rides a rhino into battle, fights great white apes in the arena, and leaps great distances like Superman in the early, original comic books. Sep 22, 2024 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review It’s watchable and, at times, an enjoyable film, just not wowing or immediately satisfying in the way so many of Burroughs’ readers had hoped it would be. Rated: 2.5/4 Feb 22, 2023 Full Review David Bax Battleship Pretension John Carter is a good summer movie in March but, with the exception of that one fleeting segment, it's not a great movie at any time of year. Mar 16, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Diego P It's a good movie that although at times feels boring, it is well made, to the point that in the scene where he fights and remembers how he buried his wife, it did move me, but it made two mistakes, the first and most serious was the name of the movie and the promotion, 'John Carter' is a bad title, if it had been called Barsoom or Princess of Mars it would have sold more, I say it is the mother of Star Trek and Star Wars but no and therein lies the second problem, they did not promote it, I did not know that it was released until almost three years later and I liked the books. That says a lot. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/18/25 Full Review Mitch B The fish out of water story is good and I love the atmosphere and found John Carter's advice to his nephew, Ned, to be wise and moving. It's my favorite scene. Not a bad movie at all. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/01/25 Full Review John W A great cast. A classic Sci-fi story. Not perfect, but a good movie and worth a watch. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/15/25 Full Review Alessandro A I didn't expect much but I loved it. Many interesting ideas combined with an excellent CGI. Not predictable and enjoyable. I can only recommend it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/03/25 Full Review Pinkajax This movie was phenomenal, especially if you knew any its history. The story was originally written in 1911 by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The book, of course, was better as all books usually are. Only because it was longer and more detailed. The Wright Brothers had only recently flown for the first time. This movie could not be made back in the 20's, 30's, 40's or even 50's. Flash Gordon was new 1955-56. It was real " hokey". They decided to wait to make the movie. The 60's & 70's were Star Trek. Again special effects just weren't there yet. Then all the Star Wars came out and special effects and make were getting better. Then movies like Avatar were coming on yhe scene and make-up and special effects were finally where the movie could come alive but hardly anyone was aware of the books and stories behind the Burroughs' Mars series. Nor were people even giving it a chance. I loved the movie and seen it several times...bought the dvd and enjoyed it some more. I wish they could have done a series of movies following the Mars novels with John Carter and Thuvia, Princess of Barsoom. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/08/25 Full Review Adam P I love this film and would have loved to see more! A must watch film! A great story that is fun for everyone. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/15/25 Full Review Read all reviews
John Carter

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Cast & Crew

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Andrew Stanton

Director

Taylor Kitsch

John Carter

Lynn Collins

Princess Dejah Thoris

Willem Dafoe

Tars Tarkas

Samantha Morton

Sola

Ciarán Hinds

Tardos Mors

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John Carter

Woola in "John Carter." Lynn Collins as Dejah Thoris in "John Carter." (L-R) Willem Dafoe as Tars Tarkas and Taylor Kitsch as John Carter in "John Carter." A scene from "John Carter." Taylor Kitsch as John Carter in "John Carter." (L-R) Tars Tarkas and Taylor Kitsch as John Carter in "John Carter." A scene from "John Carter." Lynn Collins as Dejah Thoris and Taylor Kitsch as John Carter in "John Carter." A scene from "John Carter." A scene from "John Carter." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When Civil War veteran John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) mysteriously awakes on the surface of Mars -- also called Barsoom -- he little expects the adventure that awaits him. Carter reluctantly becomes embroiled in an epic conflict among the red planet's inhabitants, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). As Barsoom is poised on the brink of collapse, war-weary Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that everyone's fate is in his hands.
Director
Andrew Stanton
Producer
Jim Morris, Colin Wilson, Lindsey Collins
Screenwriter
Andrew Stanton, Mark Andrews, Michael Chabon
Distributor
Walt Disney
Production Co
Walt Disney Studios
Rating
PG-13 (Intense Sequences of Violence|Intense Sequences of Action)
Genre
Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 9, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$73.1M
Runtime
2h 12m
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