Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

The Mission

Play trailer Poster for The Mission PG-13 2023 1h 43m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
94% Tomatometer 52 Reviews 62% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
In 2018, a shocking event made headlines around the world: a young American missionary, John Chau, was killed by arrows while attempting to contact one of the world’s most isolated Indigenous peoples on remote North Sentinel Island. THE MISSION uncovers the gripping story beyond the headlines. Through exclusive interviews and with unprecedented access to Chau’s secret plans, personal diaries, and video archives, THE MISSION examines the mythology of exploration that inspired him, the evangelical community that supported his quest, and reveals his own father’s heartbreak as Chau’s youthful thirst for adventure became a fatal obsession.
Watch on Disney+ Stream Now

Where to Watch

The Mission

The Mission

What to Know

Critics Consensus

The Mission's compassionate and nuanced approach to retelling a real-life tragedy makes this an engrossing exploration of the intersection between delusion and faith.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Randy Myers San Jose Mercury News 11/08/2023
3.5/4
In Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moore’s thorough, thought-provoking documentary, questions arise about the role that Chau’s unwavering resolve to introduce the teachings of Christ to Indigenous people living off the North Sentinel Island played in his demise. Go to Full Review
Amy Nicholson FilmWeek (LAist) 11/01/2023
This is a marvelous documentary. Absolutely marvelous. Go to Full Review
Mark Jenkins Washington Post 10/24/2023
3/4
The film expands into a debate on the ethics of missionary Christianity. Go to Full Review
Calum Cooper In Their Own League 07/19/2024
4/5
Giving voice to Chau’s personal diary on top of its animated and live action hybridisation further enhances our connection to the man, thus making the exploration of his convictions and flaws all the more heartfelt. Go to Full Review
Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube) 01/08/2024
A documentary that doesn't tell the viewer how to feel just tells the story and let's us decide Go to Full Review
Sarah Boslaugh TheArtsStl 01/04/2024
7/10
...takes you into the strange world that led up to [Chau's] fateful encounter, including a a bro-tastic evangelical culture that frames such missions as righteous adventures. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Simon R Apr 25 Too slow (could have been 45-60 mins) the talking heads aren't introduced with captions, leaving you guessing. Cartoon reenactments are lovely quality though. See more 11/12/2024 The true story of his sacrifice is a beautiful reminder of grace and forgiveness. The man who killed him came to know the Lord Jesus, he went around preaching the Good News himself with the martyr son, who also forgave him. See more Fong Kok Hoong F 06/21/2024 Interposed interviews with narrations with pastel animated sequences and social media footage, this documentary expounds the aspiration and ambition of John Allen Chau, the American evangelical Christian missionary slain by Sentinelese, a tribe in voluntary isolation at North Sentinel Island on his undertaking to convert them to Christianity and proceeds to delve deeper into heavier discussions of malformed religious romanticism and atheism. See more 04/07/2024 Excellent look at the insanity of fundamentalist fanatics and the consequences of “missionary” work. Leave people alone! See more Alec B 03/04/2024 Its less of a pop psychological examination than it is an indictment of a particular worldview, which is fair given that the death of this young man was so utterly pointless. See more Dan R 03/03/2024 2023's 'The Mission's is a troubling look at what happens when the lines between faith and delusion are severely blurred. SYNOPSIS: '26-year-old American missionary John Chau was killed as he attempted to make contact with an Indigenous group off the coast of India, one of the last communities on the planet still living in isolation.' This is an exceptional documentary which asks so many questions on what's right and wrong, what's morally correct and whether religion can ultimately lead to brain washing and the ultimate sacrifice. Chau's unwavering resolve to introduce the teachings of Christ to the indigenous people of Sentinel Island in the end costs him his life. But was he really there by choice? The film becomes a larger debate on the ethics of the missionary work of parts of the Christian church, and diverts too much away from Chau's story. In reality, this story could've been told in 60 minutes but the directors decide to add a lot of historical waffle. For me it's a story of obsession, devotion and delusion. But it's also about the loss suffered by Chau's family and their grieving may never be allowed to end. 8/10 See more Read all reviews
The Mission

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
Beyond Utopia 100% 99% Beyond Utopia Watchlist The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari 83% 85% The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari Watchlist TRAILER for The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari The Alpinist 93% 97% The Alpinist Watchlist TRAILER for The Alpinist Blink 89% 82% Blink Watchlist TRAILER for Blink Wild Life 91% 74% Wild Life Watchlist TRAILER for Wild Life Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis In 2018, a shocking event made headlines around the world: a young American missionary, John Chau, was killed by arrows while attempting to contact one of the world’s most isolated Indigenous peoples on remote North Sentinel Island. THE MISSION uncovers the gripping story beyond the headlines. Through exclusive interviews and with unprecedented access to Chau’s secret plans, personal diaries, and video archives, THE MISSION examines the mythology of exploration that inspired him, the evangelical community that supported his quest, and reveals his own father’s heartbreak as Chau’s youthful thirst for adventure became a fatal obsession.
Director
Amanda McBaine, Jesse Moss
Producer
Simon Chinn, Jonathan Chinn
Distributor
National Geographic Documentary Films
Production Co
Lightbox, Mile End Films
Rating
PG-13 (Some Violent Content|Sexual References|Full Nudity|Thematic Elements)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 13, 2023, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA)
$57.0K
Runtime
1h 43m
Most Popular at Home Now