The Road

Play trailer

The Road

R

2009

1h 50m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Sci-Fi

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

216 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

America is a grim, gray shadow of itself after a catastrophe. A man (Viggo Mortensen) and his young son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) wander through this post-apocalyptic world, trying to keep the dream of civilization alive. They journey toward the sea, surviving as best they can on what they can scavenge, and try to avoid roving gangs of savage humans who will turn them into slaves, or worse.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

The Road's commitment to Cormac McCarthy's dark vision may prove too unyielding for some, but the film benefits from hauntingly powerful performances from Viggo Mortensen and Kodi McPhee.

Read Critics Reviews

Shadow and Act Staff

Shadow and Act

I still recommend The Road; just keep in mind that this is Cormac McCarthy's post-apocalyptic tale, not Richard Matheson's.

Sep 13, 2022

Full Review

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

I cannot say how faithful this is but, having read other McCarthy books, would say the novel probably repaid your attention with its astonishing prose. This, though, puts you through the wringer, but doesn't repay you in any way.

Aug 30, 2018

Full Review

Ed Koch

The Atlantic

It wasn't fascinating at all. The movie looked like it cost $500 to make, excluding actors' salaries, which were worth another $500.

Jan 16, 2018

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Bleak and grim are understatements. It's hard to come away liking a movie with this little innocence or hope.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 28, 2025

Full Review

Michael Leader

Den of Geek

While The Road is not without its impressive aspects, it has not efficiently pulled taut the slack created by the loss of McCarthy’s commanding prose. And so, it is hard to avoid the sense that it needn’t have been made at all.

Rated: 3/5

May 7, 2024

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Plan to see it twice—once to familiarize yourself with its unconventional, non-commercial method of storytelling, and a second time that allows you to submerge into the material, to appreciate how stunningly composed it is.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 30, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Madam D

This is not the usual action dystopian film. The love between father & son is the main focus. With all the excellent acting, even with the minor characters, it is intense & hopeful.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/23/25

Full Review

Dylan B.

If I could give this movie a lower score I would. You wait for the entire movie for something to happen and it never does. What a disappointment. This movie is what I compare all movies to if they’re bad. Was this movie as bad as the road?

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/19/25

Full Review

BJ F

It’s okay but I think the ending sucked!

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/08/25

Full Review

Spike D

How can a film that outwardly possesses so little hope manage to give so much of it to you?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/07/25

Full Review

Jonathan B

Contrived and dumb. Shame on Vigo and CT for doing this movie.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/16/25

Full Review

Gareth v

A grim but emotionally resonant post-apocalyptic tale that stays with you long after watching.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/11/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

John Hillcoat

Director

Viggo Mortensen

The Man

Kodi Smit-McPhee

The Boy

Charlize Theron

Wife

Robert Duvall

Old Man

Guy Pearce

The Veteran

View more videos

Cloud Atlas

65%

66%

Cloud Atlas

Watchlist

Ex Machina

92%

86%

Ex Machina

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Ex Machina

The Astronaut's Wife

14%

33%

The Astronaut's Wife

Watchlist

Cube

61%

76%

Cube

Watchlist

Anna

32%

38%

Anna

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Rank Charlize Theron’s 10 Best Movies

Captain America: Civil War and The Conjuring 2 Available to Stream This Week

Weekly Ketchup: Video Game Adaptation The Last of Us Announced

View more photos

Synopsis

America is a grim, gray shadow of itself after a catastrophe. A man (Viggo Mortensen) and his young son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) wander through this post-apocalyptic world, trying to keep the dream of civilization alive. They journey toward the sea, surviving as best they can on what they can scavenge, and try to avoid roving gangs of savage humans who will turn them into slaves, or worse.

Director: John Hillcoat
Producer: Paula Mae Schwartz, Steve Schwartz, Nick Wechsler
Screenwriter: Joe Penhall
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Dimension Films, Chockstone Pictures, 2929 Productions
Rating: R (Language|Disturbing Images|Some Violence)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 18, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.1M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

Most Popular at Home Now