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The Mission

Play trailer Poster for The Mission PG 1986 2h 8m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
63% Tomatometer 30 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Jesuit priest Father Gabriel enters the Guaraní lands in South America with the purpose of converting the natives to Christianity. He soon builds a mission, where he is joined by Rodrigo Mendoza, a reformed slave trader seeking redemption. When a treaty transfers the land from Spain to Portugal, the Portuguese government wants to capture the natives for slave labor. Mendoza and Gabriel resolve to defend the mission, but disagree on how to accomplish the task.
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The Mission

The Mission

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Critics Consensus

The Mission is a well-meaning epic given delicate heft by its sumptuous visuals and a standout score by Ennio Morricone, but its staid presentation never stirs an emotional investment in its characters.

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Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety Mar 26, 2009
The two principal actors, Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons, work hard to animate their parts. But there is little to do. The Mission is probably the first film in which De Niro gives a bland, uninteresting performance. Go to Full Review Derek Adams Time Out Feb 9, 2006
The Mission manages to be both magnificent and curiously uninvolving, a buddy movie played in soutanes. Go to Full Review Vincent Canby New York Times May 20, 2003
A singularly lumpy sort of movie. Go to Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia Nov 13, 2024
6/10
It has a certain density in the aesthetics that illustrate the traditions of an indigenous culture in a state of resistance, but unfortunately, its narrative lacks hook when it shows its predictable conflict over colonialism. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Jul 20, 2024
7/10
Even with lulls, it’s impossible to disregard the music, which is not only a factor of communication between the disparate peoples (and a point of humanization), but also a stirring, striking link between major components of the story. Go to Full Review Blake Howard One Heat Minute Feb 13, 2023
3.5/4
“De Niro is such an intuitive and impulsive performer, and what I think Roland Joffé gets out of him in this performance ... is restraining those impulses and … fury.” Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad Sep 19, 2026 The Mission = a *4* star Movie! See more Jasmine W @jasniquejewels Aug 31, 2026 another history film staple. See more Johannes S @RT64416087 Jul 31, 2026 Powerful and thoughtprovoking movie. Mendoza's last glimpses are a perfect ending arc. Truly heartbreaking to watch and understand, how repugnant the treatment of colonizers towards local peoples was. See more Joe L @Joelut Feb 8, 2026 Brilliant acting from DeNiro and Irons. Perfectly captures the ethos of the Jesuits desires and reality.. sad but true. The last scene is unforgettable and a perfect ending for the transformation of DeNiros character. By far one of my favorite movies. Piair this movie as a double feature with the documentary Exterminate all the Brutes. A realistic expose of western colonialism over the centuries.by the end you'll know why the world is so corrupt and dangerous today. See more TrueBlueReview I. @TrueBlueReview Jan 27, 2026 Well acted, touching, I was appreciative especially of its historical themes. Colonization needs to be understood for the devil it is. See more Marie Dec 21, 2025 So moving. A favorite movie for many decades now. See more Read all reviews
The Mission

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Cast & Crew

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Roland Joffé

Director

Robert De Niro

Rodrigo Mendoza

Jeremy Irons

Gabriel

Ray McAnally

Altamirano

Liam Neeson

Fielding

Aidan Quinn

Felipe

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The Mission

Gabriel (JEREMY IRONS) leads a group of frightened natives in Warner Bros. Pictures' epic THE MISSION. Rodrigo Mendoza (ROBERT DENIRO) in Warner Bros. Pictures' epic THE MISSION. Rodrigo Mendoza (ROBERT DENIRO), Fielding (LIAM NEESON), Sebastian (DANIEL BERRIGAN), Gabriel (JEREMY IRONS), and ROLF GRAY as a young Jesuit converse with the natives in THE MISSION. (L to R:) ROBERT DENIRO as Rodrigo Mendoza, Director ROLAND JOFFE, and JEREMY IRONS on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures' epic THE MISSION. Gabriel (JEREMY IRONS) fights for his life in Warner Bros.Pictures' epic THE MISSION. Soldier Rodrigo Mendoza (ROBERT DENIRO) bears the tribal markings of the natives in Warner Bros. Pictures' epic THE MISSION. Gabriel (JEREMY IRONS) in Warner Bros. Pictures' epic THE MISSION. Director ROLAND JOFFE and ROBERT DENIRO as Rodrigo Mendoza on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures' epic THE MISSION. The Mission (1986) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Jesuit priest Father Gabriel enters the Guaraní lands in South America with the purpose of converting the natives to Christianity. He soon builds a mission, where he is joined by Rodrigo Mendoza, a reformed slave trader seeking redemption. When a treaty transfers the land from Spain to Portugal, the Portuguese government wants to capture the natives for slave labor. Mendoza and Gabriel resolve to defend the mission, but disagree on how to accomplish the task.
Director
Roland Joffé
Producer
Fernando Ghia, David Puttnam
Screenwriter
Robert Bolt
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Warner Bros., Enigma Productions, Goldcrest Films Ltd.
Rating
PG
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 31, 1986, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 7, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$17.2M
Runtime
2h 8m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
70mm, Scope (2.35:1)
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