Walk the Line

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1:49

Walk the Line

PG-13

Released Nov 18, 2005

2h 16m

Biography

History

Drama

Music

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

208 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

The rise of country music legend Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix) begins with his days as a boy growing up on the family farm, where he struggles under the scorn of his father (Robert Patrick). As the years pass, Cash ends up in Memphis, Tenn., with his wife, Vivian (Ginnifer Goodwin), and breaks into the music scene after finding his trademark sound. While on tour, Cash meets the love of his life, singer June Carter (Reese Witherspoon), but Cash's volatile lifestyle threatens to keep them apart.

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Critics Consensus

Superior acting and authentic crooning capture the emotional subtleties of the legend of Johnny Cash with a freshness that is a pleasure to watch.

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Wendy Ide

Times (UK)

Johnny Cash gets the biopic treatment in this superior portrait of the man, his music, the demons he battled and the love that saved him.

Jul 28, 2022

Full Review

Namrata Joshi

Outlook

The film boasts of extremely competent performances, particularly the extraordinary Phoenix. As for Witherspoon, with her nasal twang and perky persona, she is sweet and sassy...

Rated: 3/4

Jan 10, 2019

Full Review

Zadie Smith

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Walk the Line -- although conspicuously well acted -- is really no different from previous efforts, and that's a good thing. It shares the charm of the (musical biopic) genre.

Jan 16, 2018

Full Review

Nadia Dalimonte

Next Best Picture

“Walk the Line” may not be reinventing the wheel, but the film holds up incredibly well in the unique talents of remarkable performers who maintain Mangold’s vision.

Rated: 7/10

Dec 13, 2024

Full Review

David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

This is not a malicious or embarrassing work; the viewer simply feels that Mangold has not genuinely tackled a single one of the complex and potentially rich problems bound up with the lives of Cash and Carter.

Jul 9, 2020

Full Review

Rachel Wagner

rachelsreviews.net

I love this movie so much.

Rated: 9/10

Feb 28, 2019

Full Review

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Richard S

Brilliant acting, great music, and a compelling plot. I liked this biopic much more than the more recent A Complete Unknown.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/25

Full Review

Garrett B

Solid biography with good performances

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/17/25

Full Review

Francisco S

They should stop making these pop artist movies. They are all the same, drugs, ignorance, and misfortunes... Ray, Elvis, Mercury, Elton.... At least this one had a happy ending.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

Full Review

Russell R

Wondering why he didn’t sing ring of fire that’s all thanks xo

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/20/24

Full Review

Aidan M

Well written, well acted, singing was good, a biopic showing the life of an icon, where redemption is important, along with forgiveness.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/06/24

Full Review

Gigsy V

It feels lived-in; the chemistry between Joaquin and Reese is off the charts and the individual performances they both put in are stellar. The little vignettes of Cash’s life genuinely feel amazing to behold and made me want to know more about him and made me feel super-connected to the music.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/24

Full Review

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James Mangold

Director

Joaquin Phoenix

Johnny Cash

Reese Witherspoon

June Carter

Ginnifer Goodwin

Vivian Cash

Robert Patrick

Ray Cash

Dallas Roberts

Sam Phillips

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Walk the Line: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

The rise of country music legend Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix) begins with his days as a boy growing up on the family farm, where he struggles under the scorn of his father (Robert Patrick). As the years pass, Cash ends up in Memphis, Tenn., with his wife, Vivian (Ginnifer Goodwin), and breaks into the music scene after finding his trademark sound. While on tour, Cash meets the love of his life, singer June Carter (Reese Witherspoon), but Cash's volatile lifestyle threatens to keep them apart.

Director: James Mangold
Producer: Cathy Konrad, James Keach
Screenwriter: James Mangold, Gill Dennis
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Konrad Pictures, Catfish Productions, Fox 2000 Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Some Language|Depiction of Drug Dependency|Thematic Material)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama, Music, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 18, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 18, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $119.5M
Runtime: 2h 16m
Sound Mix: Surround

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