Into the Wild

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2:25

Into the Wild

R

2007

2h 27m

Biography

Drama

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

199 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

A top student and athlete leaves his middle-class life to venture into Alaska, only to meet people who will eventually shape his values and life.

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Critics Consensus

With his sturdy cast and confident direction, Sean Penn has turned a complex work of non-fiction like Into the Wild into an accessible and poignant character study.

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David Fear

Blender

Sep 8, 2023

Anyone who’s read Jon Krakauer’s best-selling nonfiction account knows the details, but actually seeing McCandless’s travels is still thrilling. Yet... are we supposed to salute this foray into the wild or shake our heads at the sheer idiocy?

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Tim Robey

Sight & Sound

Jul 6, 2010

Even Penn's more indulgent flourishes seem to enhance the film's keen feeling.

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Amy Nicholson

I.E. Weekly

Feb 22, 2008

C

Penn's main idea about going native is making eye contact with a deer.

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JD Duran

InSession Film

Aug 16, 2024

A

This is perhaps the best performance of Emile Hirsch’s career and he does a really great job of bringing this character to life.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Mar 8, 2024

3.5/4

Shot by cinematographer Eric Gautier, Penn’s film is beautifully realized, with full attention to the sublime beauty that Chris loves and respects.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Mar 21, 2023

3/4

Into the Wild is especially memorable in the manner in which it offers no absolutes.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 14, 2026

Into the Wild = a 4.5 star Movie!

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Jannis L

@Relmond Aug 12, 2026

One of my favourite movies because of music and pictures. Eddie Vedders soundtrack makes this a masterpiece, depicting an emotionally gripping story.

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Rick S

@RT01793111 Jul 23, 2026

Terrible movie. Hippie takes on the wild and loses. Penn tries to romanticize it and make it cool but it's just plain foolish. This is what happens when you try to live off of the land and have no idea how to do it. But he has poetry!

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Owen K

@NCR23 Jul 17, 2026

A beautiful introspective movie that has nothing like it. I really loved this movie and it's adventure. It was a movie that gave the feeling of freedom.

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R T.

@RT68105602 Jun 5, 2026

Love this film like my life,my whole youth.

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Parker G.

@pgrason1 May 28, 2026

This film really took you into the complex mindset McCandless was in and his take on life and society. By the end I really felt like everything in this film was captivating and the pacing is awesome.

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Sean Penn

Director

Emile Hirsch

Christopher McCandless

Marcia Gay Harden

Billie McCandless

William Hurt

Walt McCandless

Jena Malone

Carine McCandless

Catherine Keener

Jan Burres

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Into the Wild: Trailer 1

2:25

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Synopsis

A top student and athlete leaves his middle-class life to venture into Alaska, only to meet people who will eventually shape his values and life.

Director: Sean Penn
Producer: Art Linson, Bill Pohlad
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: River Road, Paramount Vantage, Art Linson Productions
Rating: R (Some Nudity|Language)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 21, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $18.4M
Runtime: 2h 27m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

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