The Tree of Life

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The Tree of Life

PG-13

Released May 27, 2011

2h 18m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

86%

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292 Reviews

60%

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50,000+ Ratings

In this highly philosophical film by acclaimed director Terrence Malick, young Jack (Hunter McCracken) is one of three brothers growing up as part of the O'Brien family in small-town Texas. Jack has a contentious relationship with his father (Brad Pitt), but gets along well with his beautiful mother (Jessica Chastain). As an adult, Jack (Sean Penn) struggles with his past and tries to make sense of his childhood, while also grappling with bigger existential issues.

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Critics Consensus

Terrence Malick's singularly deliberate style may prove unrewarding for some, but for patient viewers, Tree of Life is an emotional as well as visual treat.

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Adam Nayman

The Ringer

Malick's earnest pretentiousness surely invites derisive laughter. But it also withstands it, and like the ancient evergreen of its title, it towers benevolently over less ambitious movies...

Apr 6, 2020

Full Review

Amy Taubin

Film Comment Magazine

The Tree of Life in no way measured up.

Aug 27, 2019

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Ideally, you would bathe in a film like this without striving to decipher it. As it's a film about what we can't get our heads around, we are probably not meant to get our heads round it. But, even so, it is so audacious it will take your breath away.

Aug 31, 2018

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

The film is more kaleidoscopic than linear, filled with privileged moments of magic and terror, of remembered shards of treasured memories that have become idealized snapshot, and moments that are more textured evocations of emotions and anxieties.

Apr 26, 2025

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

There are two distinct films being made here and while the opening frames of The Tree of Life are some of the finest in memory, there’s little in the middle-to-late section of the film worth noting.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 10, 2023

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

You may not be able to pinpoint with words how it all comes together, but the beauty and power of Malick’s imagery and impressionistic approach to filmmaking convey another ponderous picture, the director’s most ambitious and lyrical work yet.

Rated: 4/4

Jun 7, 2023

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Steve Y

I sat down to watch this film in the hopes of being engaged, based on the director and cast. I couldn't get past the first twenty minutes of a combination of artfully shot slow-mo reaction scenes (reactions to something or other), and pretentious 2001 - style visual meditations.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

09/29/25

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Melissa V

The Tree of Life is less a film than a meditation—poetic, spiritual, and achingly human. Malick captures the sweep of existence and the intimacy of family in a way that feels less like storytelling and more like a testament to life itself. To the viewers who didn’t get it or thought it boring, have you never looked up at the stars?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/23/25

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Audience Member

Too slow, too pretentious, too boring.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/06/25

Full Review

Jonathan M

Awful film, despite the great actors in it

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/25/25

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Gareth v

An overly abstract and pretentious film that it is an utter mess due to the fact it has no clear plot. A dire slog to the credits, if you haven't turned it off well beforehand.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

08/10/25

Full Review

Susan T

Two hours of my life gone.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/13/25

Full Review

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Terrence Malick

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Mr. O'Brien

Sean Penn

Jack

Jessica Chastain

Mrs. O'Brien

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Synopsis

In this highly philosophical film by acclaimed director Terrence Malick, young Jack (Hunter McCracken) is one of three brothers growing up as part of the O'Brien family in small-town Texas. Jack has a contentious relationship with his father (Brad Pitt), but gets along well with his beautiful mother (Jessica Chastain). As an adult, Jack (Sean Penn) struggles with his past and tries to make sense of his childhood, while also grappling with bigger existential issues.

Director: Terrence Malick
Producer: Sarah Green, Bill Pohlad, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Grant Hill
Screenwriter: Terrence Malick
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: Cottonwood Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Some Thematic Material)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 27, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $13.3M
Runtime: 2h 18m

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