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Kon-Tiki

Play trailer Poster for Kon-Tiki PG-13 2013 1h 58m Adventure Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 81 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 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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Kon-Tiki

Kon-Tiki

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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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Critics Reviews

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Bilge Ebiri Spirituality & Health 03/25/2020
Although the film is replete with suspense, it's often at its best when playing the characters on the raft off one another. Go to Full Review
Mark Kermode Observer (UK) 12/21/2014
4/5
Considering we all know the outcome, the levels of tension remain impressive, while an atmosphere of melancholy tempers even the most triumphant moments. Go to Full Review
Geoffrey Macnab Independent (UK) 12/19/2014
3/5
It is beautifully shot and has the same fierce intelligence about it that you find in its producer's other epic "quest" movies. Go to Full Review
Joe Lipsett Murder Made Fiction Podcast - Bloody Disgusting Jul 8
3.5/5
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. Go to Full Review
Lucía Roitbarg EscribiendoCine 11/13/2023
8/10
Unlike other films about rafts that shipwreck in the middle of the ocean, nothing in this film is accidental. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Cory Woodroof Nashville Scene 09/09/2021
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. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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BJ M @HotMovieStar 4d Epic adventure film. Exciting to watch. I appreciated the history included. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 27 Success in 1 hour and 58 minutes!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for A Disturbing Violent Sequence!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $1,500,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Javier G Jun 21 Inspiring adventure, with a historical touch. Loved it See more Jan 13 Amazing movie about survival and never giving up on your beliefs. great acting, Great cinematography, great story Everything outstanding!!!! See more Andreas K 11/11/2023 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. See more Nawt W 09/27/2023 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. See more Read all reviews
Kon-Tiki

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Movie Info

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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