Lost Horizon

Released Mar 2, 1937

2h 12m

Adventure

List

93%

Tomatometer

14 Reviews

82%

Audience Score

5,000+ Ratings

Based on a novel by James Hilton, this fantastical drama follows a group of plane-crash survivors who have landed in the mythical Shangri-La, a valley hidden deep within the mountains of the Himalayas. Rescued by followers of the High Llama (Sam Jaffe), the outsiders grow to love the remote paradise, but British writer and diplomat Robert Conway (Ronald Colman), suspecting that the crash was no accident, begins to investigate, leading to a surprising revelation.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Mar 20

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Rent Lost Horizon on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

Great directors are perhaps best understood by their failures, and such is the case with "Lost Horizon.

Jan 4, 2018

Full Review

Leslie Combemale

Cinema Siren

This is a movie that shows Ronald Coleman at his very best.

Jul 25, 2019

Full Review

Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

A very handsome, often exciting, and occasionally preposterous film. With Ronald Colman. Young people will enjoy the adventure sequences, which are superb.

Jul 22, 2019

Full Review

James Plath

Family Home Theater

A thought-provoking drama that's worth watching if for no other reason than to be aware of this culturally significant film. It did, after all, give us the name 'Shangri-La,' which has since become synonymous with a utopian paradise on earth.

Rated: B

Jan 16, 2018

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Capra's most challenging film is both naive and pleasantly uplifting.

Rated: B

Jan 23, 2013

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Boasting great production values, Frank Capra's film is still one of the most cherished fables made during the Depression era.

Rated: B+

Mar 13, 2011

Full Review

Read all reviews

Alec B

This might be the worst of Capra's most well known films. Even his sappiest stuff is never this dull or naïve.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

Dave S

Based on James Hilton's novel, Lost Horizon has an interesting premise – survivors of a plane crash in an uncharted region of the Himalayas find refuge in the bucolic utopia of Shangra-La, a land nestled deep in a valley where nobody ages and everybody lives in blissful peace. Directed by Frank Capra, it feels like a bit of a departure for him from a story perspective, but if you give it time, you'll start to detect bits and pieces of his trademark corniness. As interesting as it is at times, Lost Horizon can't seem to avoid tripping over itself – from the seemingly ever-present score to the overstated theatrical performances to the absurdity of the final journey, it often feels like it's just a bit too much.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/28/23

Full Review

Matthew B

It is easy to see how James Hilton's book, Lost Horizon, was adapted for movie in the 1930s. In an uncertain period of history that lay between two world wars, here was a film with a vision of brotherly love and peace. At a time of dark Depression, audiences could visit a world free from financial worries with plenty for all. Also what could be better than a place where people experience prolonged youthfulness and good health instead of disease and premature death? The plot of all Utopia tales is usually static, since it is hard to generate drama in a place where everything is nearly perfect. The viewer must instead concentrate on enjoying the ambience of Shangri-La – the agreeable sound of choirs and wind instruments attached to the legs of pigeons, the beautiful environment and the awe-inspiring sets on which the action is filmed. Lost Horizon is a highly successful movie. It provides a gentle and idealised fantasy that allows the viewer to escape reality and find a world that represents the best that mankind is capable of achieving, if only for a couple of hours. I wrote a longer appreciation of Lost Horizon on my blog page if you would like to read more: https://themoviescreenscene.wordpress.com/2017/11/23/lost-horizon-1937/

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/27/23

Full Review

j f

Serious bummer that parts of film have been lost and badly damaged. Holla to everybody that tracked it down and restored what’s left. It's really really good!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/21/23

Full Review

BadUncleIke

If I was on a flight to Mars this is one of the movies I would bring with me. Why are humans not any better than we are? Is a Utopia even possible? Things to ponder while watching a well made classic movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/24/23

Full Review

william k

Big budget over-the-top fantasy, still entertaining after all these years despite the naive utopism.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Frank Capra

Director

Ronald Colman

Robert Conway

Jane Wyatt

Sondra

Sam Jaffe

High Lama

John Howard

George Conway

Edward Everett Horton

Alexander P. Lovett

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

100%

82%

Only Angels Have Wings

80%

55%

The Devil at 4 O'Clock

100%

39%

King Solomon's Mines

86%

75%

The Bedford Incident

93%

74%

Gunga Din

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Based on a novel by James Hilton, this fantastical drama follows a group of plane-crash survivors who have landed in the mythical Shangri-La, a valley hidden deep within the mountains of the Himalayas. Rescued by followers of the High Llama (Sam Jaffe), the outsiders grow to love the remote paradise, but British writer and diplomat Robert Conway (Ronald Colman), suspecting that the crash was no accident, begins to investigate, leading to a surprising revelation.

Director: Frank Capra
Producer: Harry Cohn
Screenwriter: James Hilton, Robert Riskin, Sidney Buchman
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre: Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 2, 1937, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2010
Runtime: 2h 12m
Sound Mix: Mono

Most Popular at Home Now