Life of Pi

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Life of Pi

PG

2012

2h 5m

Adventure

Drama

Fantasy

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

253 Reviews

84%

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100,000+ Ratings

After deciding to sell their zoo in India and move to Canada, Santosh and Gita Patel board a freighter with their sons and a few remaining animals. Tragedy strikes when a terrible storm sinks the ship, leaving the Patels' teenage son, Pi, as the only human survivor. However, Pi is not alone; a fearsome Bengal tiger has also found refuge aboard the lifeboat. As days turn into weeks and weeks drag into months, Pi and the tiger must learn to trust each other if both are to survive.

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Critics Consensus

A 3D adaptation of a supposedly "unfilmable" book, Ang Lee's Life of Pi achieves the near impossible -- it's an astonishing technical achievement that's also emotionally rewarding.

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Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

Mar 22, 2019

3.5/5

A boy, and a tiger, and a vast, endless ocean. Ang Lee makes a film out of material that seems almost unfilmable, and a lot of it is quite wondrous.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Sep 4, 2018

While you are bathing in all the beauty, you are waiting and waiting and waiting for this film to say something, yet when it finally does... it all just feels empty somehow.

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Nick Pinkerton

Sight & Sound

Jul 31, 2018

Lee shows his hero's imperilled position as a mixed blessing. By tottering on the ledge of his mortality, Pi gains a front-row seat on the miracles of creation... All this is, in a word, Awesome.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Jul 20, 2025

5/5

The gravity and weight of that experience, even as fictionally parable and symbolic in nature as "Life of Pi" intended, is treated very well by Lee and never comes across as cheesy or overwrought whatsoever.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Sep 21, 2022

4/4

A marvelous piece of visual poetry with insights that require contemplation long after the visual awe has subsided.

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Aug 23, 2022

3.5/5

The animation involved in bringing Richard Parker to life is something you just have to see. I was blown away.

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L Nguyn G

@Kev1n_L33 Sep 6, 2026

A wonderful story about survival, faith, and friendship. The film is truly outstanding in its storytelling. In my opinion, this is a work that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 5, 2026

Life of Pi = a *4* star movie

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Miguel A

@miguelito_13k Jul 22, 2026

Visually stunning and stays in your thoughts after it ends

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Muhammed U

@RT91286855 Jul 9, 2026

**Life of Pi** surprised me in the best way. I expected a simple survival movie, but it turned out to be so much deeper. The visuals are absolutely stunning, and the story keeps you hooked while making you think about faith, hope, and the different ways people see the truth. The relationship between Pi and Richard Parker is unforgettable, and the ending had me thinking long after the credits rolled. It's one of those movies that feels both beautiful and meaningful, and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for something a little different.

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Trinity M.

@Trinnnuh Jun 25, 2026

An amazing movie, one of my favorites. The story line is a 10/10 as well as the cinematography.

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Lol N

@RT97000902 Jun 24, 2026

This movie is a hard to rate one. Because while it is visually stunning. it's deeper meaning is hard to understand. it even took me three watches to get it and I'm still unsure if I understood it. But besides the psychological teachings the movie are amazing

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Ang Lee

Director

Suraj Sharma

Pi Patel

Irrfan Khan

Adult Pi Patel

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Synopsis

After deciding to sell their zoo in India and move to Canada, Santosh and Gita Patel board a freighter with their sons and a few remaining animals. Tragedy strikes when a terrible storm sinks the ship, leaving the Patels' teenage son, Pi, as the only human survivor. However, Pi is not alone; a fearsome Bengal tiger has also found refuge aboard the lifeboat. As days turn into weeks and weeks drag into months, Pi and the tiger must learn to trust each other if both are to survive.

Director: Ang Lee
Producer: Gil Netter, Ang Lee, David Womark
Screenwriter: David Magee
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Gil Netter, Haishang Films
Rating: PG (Peril|Emotional Thematic Content|Some Scary Action)
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 21, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 31, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $125.0M
Runtime: 2h 5m
Sound Mix: Dolby, SDDS, Datasat

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