The Shack

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The Shack

PG-13

Released Mar 3, 2017

2h 12m

Drama

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

20%

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71 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

After suffering a family tragedy, Mack Phillips spirals into a deep depression that causes him to question his innermost beliefs. Facing a crisis of faith, he receives a mysterious letter urging him to an abandoned shack in the Oregon wilderness. Despite his doubts, Mack journeys to the shack and encounters an enigmatic trio of strangers led by a woman named Papa. Through this meeting, Mack finds important truths that will transform his understanding of his tragedy and change his life forever.

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Critics Consensus

The Shack's undeniably worthy message is ill-served by a script that confuses spiritual uplift with melodramatic clichés and heavy-handed sermonizing.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

Perhaps there are Christians who will appreciate The Shack's Oprahfied universal heaven, wherein no bad deed goes punished. But it made us pine for the Book of Job God to spitefully hurl leviathans and behemoths.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 28, 2017

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Making a sincere film about religious faith is a tricky thing to pull off. And this folksy dose of misguided manipulation demonstrates many of the common pitfalls.

Rated: 1/5

Jun 11, 2017

Full Review

Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

Touchy-feely New Age therapy runs headlong into evangelical Christianity in The Shack.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 9, 2017

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Juan Pablo Russo

EscribiendoCine

The Shack attempts to offer a message of redemption, but it does so in such an explicit and moralistic manner that it ends up alienating any viewer who does not share the film's religious vision. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 2/10

Sep 11, 2024

Full Review

Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

Essentially a parable at its core, like the book, the film challenges traditional Christian viewpoints, notably in the visual interpretation of God.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 30, 2019

Full Review

Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

The Shack is as graceless as its monosyllabic title.

Rated: 1/5

Oct 5, 2019

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Darcie J

Every time I watch this movie I pick up more. Very awesome and worth watching multiple times.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/09/22

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Sparkle C

The poor ratings are so disappointing. So many people have their own selfish understanding of God and Heaven and what he/she should look like when in fact none of us will ever know until by his Grace we get to Heaven. I loved this movie. I’ve watched it at least 6 times and cried everytime. It gives me hope. It makes me feel good and I am grateful for it. I welcome anyone who watches it to let go of your stuck up thoughts and value the message the movie is giving us. God Bless you all.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/25

Full Review

Maria S

Watched it in 2025 for the first time. Couldn't believe I didn't hear about this film earlier. If I could give it a thousand stars I would. There are so many details to learn and it provides so much spiritual growth and healing. I loved it and can't even count how many tears I shed during this film

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/04/25

Full Review

John J

The critics got this wrong. This is a must see movie if you believe in God and his ability to heal people both spiritually and mentally. Most people can identify with the main character in the movie that has to deal with overwhelming emotions in the face of a tragedy. Either you trust God or you don't trust God.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/29/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Absolutely amazing pictured and played, was a great pleasure to watch, smile and cry in the same time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/19/24

Full Review

Fred n

Regardless of some so called critics views on this movie I really enjoyed watching this ...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/13/24

Full Review

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Stuart Hazeldine

Director

Sam Worthington

Mack Phillips

Octavia Spencer

Papa

Aviv Alush

Jesus

Radha Mitchell

Nan Phillips

Alice Braga

Sophia

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The Shack: Official Clip - Meeting the Trinity

2:14

The Shack: Official Clip - Laying Her to Rest

2:58

The Shack: Official Clip - A Garden of You

3:00

The Shack: Official Clip - Understanding Forgiveness

3:00

The Shack: Official Clip - The Murderer's Shack

2:57

The Shack: Official Clip - Drowning in Fear

2:00

The Shack: Official Clip - Revisiting the Shack

2:26

The Shack: Official Clip - Boat Flip

2:04

The Shack: Official Clip - Reconciling With My Father

3:00

The Shack: Official Clip - Send Your Kids to Hell

3:00

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The Shack: 'Keep Your Eyes On Me' Trailer

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The Shack: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

After suffering a family tragedy, Mack Phillips spirals into a deep depression that causes him to question his innermost beliefs. Facing a crisis of faith, he receives a mysterious letter urging him to an abandoned shack in the Oregon wilderness. Despite his doubts, Mack journeys to the shack and encounters an enigmatic trio of strangers led by a woman named Papa. Through this meeting, Mack finds important truths that will transform his understanding of his tragedy and change his life forever.

Director: Stuart Hazeldine
Producer: Gil Netter, Brad Cummings
Screenwriter: John Fusco, Andrew Lanham, Destin Daniel Cretton
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: TIK Films, Gil Netter, Summit Entertainment, Windblown Media
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Material|Some Violence)
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 3, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 16, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $57.2M
Runtime: 2h 12m

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