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Rudy Youngblood, Dalia Hernandez, Jonathan Brewer, Morris Birdyellowhead, Carlos Emilio Baez ... see more see more... , Amilcar Ramirez , Israel Contreras , Israel Rios , María Isabel Díaz , Espiridion Acosta Cache , Mayra Serbulo , Iazua Larios , Lorena Hernández , Itandehui Gutiérrez , Sayuri Gutiérrez , Hiram Soto , José Suárez , Raoul Trujillo , Gerardo Taracena , Rodolfo Palacios , Ariel Galvan , Bernando Ruíz , Ricardo Díaz Mendoza , Richard Can , Carlos Ramos , Ammel Rodrigo Mendoza , Marco Antonio Argueta , Javier Escobar , Fernando Hernandez , Maria Isidra Hoil , Aquetzali Garcia , Abel Woolrich , Antonio Monroy , Nicolas Jasso , Ronaldo Eknal , Miriam Tun , Rafael Vélez , Diana Botello , Joaquín Rendón , Mauricio Amuy Tenorio

As the foundation of the Mayan civilization begins to crumble, one man's previously idyllic existence is forever changed when he is chosen as a sacrifice needed to appease the gods in director Mel Gib... read more read more...son's mythic, end-times adventure. The Mayan kingdom is at the absolute height of opulence and power, but leaders are convinced that unless more temples are constructed and more human sacrifices made, the crops, and ultimately the people, will suffer. Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood) is a peaceful hunter from a remote forest tribe whose life is about to be changed forever. When Jaguar Paw's village is raided and he is prepared as a sacrifice that the Mayan deities have demanded, the brave young hunter is forced to navigate a horrific new world of fear and oppression. Fearlessly determined to escape his captors and save his family from a harrowing demise, Jaguar Paw prepares to risk it all in one final, desperate attempt to preserve his dying way of life. However, few who have seen the sacrificial alter of the Mayans have managed to live to see another day. Now, in order to rescue his pregnant wife and young son, Jaguar Paw will have to elude the most powerful warriors of the Mayan kingdom while using his vast knowledge of the forest to turn the tables on those who would rather see him dead than set free. Inspired by such ancient Mayan texts as the Popul Vuh, Apocalypto marks a comprehensive collaboration between director Gibson, Cambridge-educated screenwriter Farhad Safinia, and world-renowned archeologist and Mayan culture expert Dr. Richard D. Hansen -- whose services as a special consultant on the film lent the production an unprecedented degree of historical accuracy. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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79% liked it

409,464 ratings

Critics

65% liked it

193 critics

R, 2 hr. 18 min.

Directed by: Mel Gibson

Release Date: December 8, 2006

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DVD Release Date: May 22, 2007

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Stats: 34,181 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (34,181)

  • aquateen2
    May 21, 2012
    aquateen2
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]

    I was surprised at how much this film has been forgotten. Apocalypto is Mel Gibson's best film. It doesn't look like much at first glance because the trailer is not remotely interesting, and quite dull. ... read moreBut it's actually filled with violence and a great deal of thrills and shocks. It's filmed beautifully, like Passion Of The Christ but has a clearer meaning and a more developed hero. Everything about it is more engaging, affectionate and ironically, more passionate. The environments and set pieces are positively breathtaking and the costume design is absolutely marvelous. I really liked Passion Of The Christ for a lot of reasons but Apocalypto, is Gibson's masterpiece.
  • StarCrossedVoyager
    January 31, 2012
    StarCrossedVoyager
    Although slow and sometimes difficult to understand, this is truly a visual masterpiece with so many brilliant performances it's hard to choose who to credit first. A fantastic voyage of a story which integrates you with these people and allows you to feel part of the gang; but t... read morehen that's all spoiled by the ending which confuses my sense of time. At first it seems to be of the Mayan era but then the ships come along with a completely different period of clothing. I'm not sure if this was intentional to show that such barbarism was still in full swing in 'modern' times or to just be annoying. Good film though.
  • paulkoh110
    January 30, 2012
    paulkoh110
    Ehhhhh, it was alright. Mel Gibson directing this doesn't really change the lack of character development and simple story. The acting from unknown actors is good but not convincing. Some of the stories flaws may also be an issue to some. A mediocre film.
  • ironclad1609
    January 8, 2012
    ironclad1609
    Mel Gibson's decision to start out his mythic south American adventure in a rather amusing way, as we learn about the everyday life of the jungle tribe, is a good one. The natives seem human like you and me before violence shows its ugly head in form of the invading Mayan civiliz... read moreation. What follows is a very bloodthirsty and visually stunning middle part that has some really disconcerting and unpleasant yet fascinating scenes. Sadly, the last third of the film turns into a rather regular "hunted turns into the hunter"-action finale, which doesn't entirely live up to the prophetic implications of the title even with the outlook on the arriving ships from Europe. Still, a brave attempt, entertaining and well made.
  • fb1672039553
    January 6, 2012
    fb1672039553
    Though noble and ambitious in its efforts to make the ancient Mayan people relatable and ordinary, with senses of humor and similar domestic worries of health and family, we are stretched a bit thin with too many characters for a "chase movie." The level of disturbing violence is... read more reminiscent of Mel's past writer/director projects. A part of me understand why he wants to show the awful brutality of men, but once again it seems he can't stop taking it too far and unintentionally making it look cartoony (yet, oddly, all of the children are ignored. Maybe even Mel has his limits?). The costume designs are captivating, but the camera work and editing is often somewhere between an episode of LOST and a reenactment production for a television documentary. Still, it was enjoyable to see a big budget film truly dedicated to the Mayan culture and this moment of history.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    October 19, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Mel Gibson's Apocalypto is a near flawless historical epic. This is easily the best film that Mel Gibson has directed since Braveheart. What can I say; I just enjoy historical epics like this and Braveheart. Apocalypto is a stunning film both in conception and the way it was shot... read more. I've always been fascinated with the Mayans and Aztecs. Apocalypto was quite a film to watch, and I enjoyed the historical significance that the film showed. This is a terrific film that will definitely appeal to people that are interested in the Mayan Culture. I thought that this film was far better than Passion of the Christ, and thought I didn't hate that one, I simply preferred this one. Apocalypto is a great film. The cast do a terrific job in their roles. Apocalypto is a phenomenal epic and is one of Mel Gibson's strongest directorial efforts. The film has an engaging story and shows some of the historical aspects of the Mayan civilization. The film is brilliant, very much authentic, and though is not 100% accurate; for the most part the film is accurate enough to give you an idea of what the Mayans were like. This is a stunning film that is a definite must see for historical buffs and should also be seen by viewers who enjoy sweeping epics. A very accurate portrait, one that is both equally brutal and beautiful of one of history's most fascinating civilizations.
  • fb729949618
    September 17, 2011
    fb729949618
    Wow, what a brilliant and artistic movie. The current 64% on here is wayyyy lower than what this movie truly deserves. One of the few films that engages you to the point that you forget you are watching a movie, and makes you feel like you are actually part of it.
  • blkbomb
    September 15, 2011
    blkbomb
    Jaguar Paw: I am Jaguar Paw! This is my forest! My sons and their sons will hunt here after I am gone!

    "When the end comes, not everyone is ready to go"

    Apocalypto, after a dumb start, turned out to be a really powerful and rewarding film from Mel Gibson. The movie was a l... read moreot more then I thought it was going to be. It turned out to be a story a fight to survive not for ones self, but for the ones he loves. The film, if looked at purely as one man doing what he has to to survive for his family, is actually pretty heartwarming. Which is weird because the rest of the movie is a big, violent, bloody epic.

    The movie is stunning to watch, with mesmerizing cinematography. There are a few scenes that really stand out from Apocalypto that are pretty much flawless. Among those scenes is an outstanding human sacrifice scene. Anyone who has studied Mayan civilization has an understanding of these sacrifices and it is brought to screen with amazing authenticity. Although there are some perfect scenes, the movie isn't perfect. It drags for good portions of the movie.

    If you can make it through some slow areas what you're going to get is an extremely well made film from an extraordinary filmmaker. The movie feels real and the camera work, sound and special effects just add to a great story. This is a movie I wish I had seen in theaters. If it looked this good on my little IPad screen, I would have loved to have seen it on the big screen.
  • jamers2011
    June 9, 2011
    jamers2011
    Very good film by Mel Gibson. Good story, but even better action. I absolutely loved the fighting scenes and the chase scenes in particular. The last thirty minutes were so intense. A great movie despite the few historical inaccuracies. I really enjoyed it.
  • ythelastman89
    May 7, 2011
    ythelastman89
    Instead of being a historical epic, Apocalypto is just an extremely human story. It's actually a highly effective suspense plot that is strangely reminiscent of exploitation films from the 70s and 80s. However, nothing about this is in poor quality. The visual atmosphere is compl... read moreetely and utterly flawless. Mel Gibson may not be everyone's favorite person, but you have to admit that he knows how to make a movie look good. In accordance with that, I actually like the simplistic nature of the plot. It allows you to soak in the setting and unfamiliar characters. Now it wouldn't be fair to mention Apocalypto without bringing attention to its extremely violent content and brutally carried message. This has more gore and disturbing mayhem than you might expect, but it was put there for a reason. There isn't much forgiveness in the jungle; no one to save the day or rescue everyone from slaughter. Sure it has a happy ending, but there's a good deal of torment before you get there.

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Critic Reviews

David Edelstein
June 29, 2007
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

Apocalypto demonstrates two things: that Mel Gibson is a hell of a filmmaker and that his imaginative world borders on the Neanderthal. Full Review

Tom Charity
December 30, 2006
Tom Charity, CNN.com

As a piece of filmmaking it's certainly strong enough to restore his commercial viability. Whether that's to the good is another question entirely. Full Review

Anthony Lane
December 11, 2006
Anthony Lane, New Yorker

[Gibson] has learned how to tell a tale, and to raise a pulse in the telling. You have to admire that basic gift, uncommon as it is in Hollywood these days, though equally you have to ask what obsessi...

Richard Roeper
December 11, 2006
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

Mel Gibson is a real artist as a director. Full Review

James Berardinelli
December 8, 2006
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

It's unlike any other movie to reach theaters this year and, because it is as visual an experience as it is visceral, it is best seen on a large screen. Full Review

Andrew O'Hehir
December 8, 2006
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com

None of us can completely resist the spectacle of a disturbed guy -- who used to just be a movie star -- projecting his own violent fantasies in public and repeatedly enacting his own crucifixion. Let... Full Review

Geoff Pevere
December 8, 2006
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

If, as a filmmaker, the obviously soul-stricken former movie star is an unabashed red-meat primitivist, he's also become an undeniably polished one. Full Review

Joe Morgenstern
December 8, 2006
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

By the end I felt sure it was the most obsessively, graphically violent film I'd ever seen, but equally sure that Apocalypto is a visionary work with its own wild integrity. And absolutely, positively... Full Review

Mick LaSalle
December 8, 2006
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

By now, it's fair to say that Mel Gibson does not make boring movies. He does, however, make movies that make you a little worried about him. Full Review

Steven Rea
December 8, 2006
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Apocalypto is primal.

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    • Jaguar Paw: I'm sorry. The balls are useless.
    • Oracle Girl: You fear me? So you should. All you who are vile. Would you like to know how you will die? The sacred time is near. Beware the blackness of day. Beware the man who brings the jaguar. Behold him reborn from mud and earth. For the one he takes you to will cancel the sky, and scratch out the earth. Scratch you out. And end your world. He's with us now. Day will be like night. And the man jaguar will lead you to your end.
    • Jaguar Paw: I am Jaguar Paw. This is my forest. And I am not afraid.
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Apocalypto Trivia

  • What kind of animal are the Mayans hunting at the start of Mel Gibson's Apocalypto?  Answer »
  • name the diretor of the movie called APOCALYPTO?  Answer »
  • In "Apocalypto" the main character has a pregnant wife and a young son but when he is captured his family does not travel with him. Why?  Answer »
  • I directed or starred in all these films: Apocalypto, The Passion of the Christ, Braveheart, The Patriot.  Answer »
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