Kon-Tiki

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Kon-Tiki

PG-13

Released Apr 26, 2013

1h 58m

Adventure

Drama

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Popcornmeter

83%

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81 Reviews

77%

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10,000+ Ratings

Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl (Pål Sverre Hagen) suspects that the South Sea Islands were originally colonized by South Americans. In 1947 despite his fear of water and inability to swim, Heyerdahl decides to prove his theory. He and five companions set sail from Peru on a balsa-wood raft built from an ancient design. Their only modern equipment is a radio, and they must navigate using the stars and ocean currents. After three exhausting months at sea, they achieve their goal.

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Critics Consensus

A well-crafted retelling of an epic true story, Kon Tiki is a throwback to old-school adventure filmmaking that's exciting and entertaining in spite of its by-the-book plotting.

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Bilge Ebiri

Spirituality & Health

Although the film is replete with suspense, it's often at its best when playing the characters on the raft off one another.

Mar 25, 2020

Full Review

Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Considering we all know the outcome, the levels of tension remain impressive, while an atmosphere of melancholy tempers even the most triumphant moments.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 21, 2014

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Geoffrey Macnab

Independent (UK)

It is beautifully shot and has the same fierce intelligence about it that you find in its producer's other epic "quest" movies.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 19, 2014

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Joe Lipsett

Murder Made Fiction Podcast - Bloody Disgusting

The historical recreation of the infamous 101 day Kon-Tiki journey wisely jettisons the racism that inspired the original trip, focusing instead on the sense of adventure and isolation among the six men crossing the ocean on an open raft.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 8, 2025

Full Review

Lucía Roitbarg

EscribiendoCine

Unlike other films about rafts that shipwreck in the middle of the ocean, nothing in this film is accidental. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 8/10

Nov 13, 2023

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Cory Woodroof

Nashville Scene

Somewhat akin to the similarly sea-bound Life of Pi, Kon-Tiki's visual splendor stems from the film's painterly art direction and lush cinematography.

Sep 9, 2021

Full Review

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Javier G

Inspiring adventure, with a historical touch. Loved it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/21/25

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Audience Member

Amazing movie about survival and never giving up on your beliefs. great acting, Great cinematography, great story Everything outstanding!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/13/25

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Andreas K

A superbly filmed reconstruction of Thor Heyerdahl's expedition. Even though the actual voyage at sea is surprisingly short in the film, he manages to embed the story in great pictures and the Norwegian actors, who you don't know from every Hollywood movie, let the characters come to likeable life.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/11/23

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Nawt W

Even with an inspiring subject at hand, the creators could not figure out how to make the plot seem thrilling without adding a boatload of forced and overly dramatized conflicts that seemed as artificial as that CGI crab stowaway on the raft. Granted, low-grade CGI can be forgiven, seeing as there are some instances of it actually looking favorable, like the shark attacks. On the other hand, the low points, which almost by the numbers imitate Hollywood shlock, where the crew must come together at the end of this second act of ours and "HAVE SOME GODDAMN FAITH," are so distasteful it stings. None of the characters, aside from Thor and Watzinger, are memorable in the slightest outside of their roles on the raft. Watzinger is notable for all the wrong reasons since the script decided to make him the christened infidel and the odd one out who needs some goddamn faith, which he obviously obtains at the end. Thor's tenuous relationship with his wife also seemed overly trite until he actually read her letter. That part definitely elevates his entire character and gives his obsession more gravity, for his adventuring feats don't give him an advantage in all other aspects of life.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/29/23

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Megan e

This was surprisingly good and a decent adaptation of the book! Good performances, and a good reminder of the adventures and advancements made since the 40's.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/10/23

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Audience Member

The worst 01 hour: and 58 minutes in ****ing *****y Norwegian!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

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Joachim Rønning

Director

Espen Sandberg

Director

Pål Sverre Hagen

Thor Heyerdahl

Anders Baasmo Christiansen

Herman Watzinger

Gustaf Skarsgård

Bengt Danielsson

Odd Magnus Williamson

Erik Hesselberg

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Synopsis

Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl (Pål Sverre Hagen) suspects that the South Sea Islands were originally colonized by South Americans. In 1947 despite his fear of water and inability to swim, Heyerdahl decides to prove his theory. He and five companions set sail from Peru on a balsa-wood raft built from an ancient design. Their only modern equipment is a radio, and they must navigate using the stars and ocean currents. After three exhausting months at sea, they achieve their goal.

Director: Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg
Producer: Aage Aaberge, Jeremy Thomas
Screenwriter: Petter Skavlan
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Recorded Picture Company (RPC), Film i Väst, DCM Productions, Nordisk Film
Rating: PG-13 (A Disturbing Violent Sequence)
Genre: Adventure, Drama
Original Language: Norwegian
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 26, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 14, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.5M
Runtime: 1h 58m

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