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Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Catherine Keener ... see more see more... , Brian Dierker , Vince Vaughn , Zach Galifianakis , Kristen Stewart , Hal Holbrook , Cheryl Francis Harrington

Into the Wild is writer/director Sean Penn's adaptation of the popular book by Jon Krakauer, a nonfiction account of the post-collegiate wanderings of a young Virginia man, who divorces himself from h... read more read more...is friends, family, and possessions in search of a greater spiritual knowledge and communion with nature. Upon his 1990 graduation from Emory University in Atlanta, Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) walks away from a loving if dysfunctional family and sends his nearly 25,000-dollar life savings to Oxfam International. Instead of the normal life his parents planned for him, Chris rechristens himself "Alexander Supertramp" and heads west in his beaten-up automobile until it no longer runs, at which point he takes up hitchhiking. The goal on the horizon? Alaska. By hook or by crook -- but without his limited cash, which he symbolically sets aflame -- Chris/Alexander determines to make it to his personal promised land, with stops along the way to experience America and its people. These adventures include a kayak trip down dangerous rapids, a gig working in a grain mill, extended stays with a hippie couple and a kindly old widower -- and enough cold, hunger, and exhaustion to leave him emotionally defeated more than once. Meanwhile, his parents (William Hurt and Marcia Gay Harden) and sister (Jena Malone) haven't received so much as a postcard from him, and begin to fear the worst. Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder composed the contemplative soundtrack. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi

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90% liked it

138,069 ratings

Critics

82% liked it

191 critics

R, 2 hr. 27 min.

Directed by: Sean Penn

Release Date: October 19, 2007

Keywords: touching, inspiring, sad, road, shot

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DVD Release Date: March 4, 2008

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Stats: 28,022 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (28,022)

  • moonrivers
    April 19, 2012
    moonrivers
    Sean Penn's elegant adaptation of Krakauer's popular novel, simultaneously sweet and bittersweet, follows an young man's rebellious and solitary search for truth, never forgetting that we are all ever the sum of those who love us. Chock full of amazing performances (the list is ... read moretoo long!) Hal Holbrook perhaps topping them all.
  • danperry17
    November 19, 2011
    danperry17
    Big marks for breathtaking cinematography - working with Terrence Malick (in The Thin Red Line) seems to have rubbed off on Sean Penn. Also, this film is full of brilliantly acted little moments, particularly those that feature Hal Holbrook, who was recognized with a Best Support... read moreing Actor nomination at the Academy Awards.

    But I had a problem with this film that made it hard to watch: the protagonist isn't exactly likeable. As was once said of Lisa Simpson, he has "a slight tendency toward know-it-all-ism" and is so self-righteous that I don't really get behind him; I kind of hope that he just comes through this little phase and goes home to his parents afterward... or even gives them a call.

    It's a small annoyance, though. Overall this is a quintessentially American film, steeped in Thoreau and big like Walt Whitman, that's great to get lost in. It's a breath of fresh air.
  • fb619846742
    November 5, 2011
    fb619846742
    This is my all-time favorite film. It took four viewings of this movie for me to finally say, without question, that this is the one movie that I would want to watch over and over again if I only had one movie in the world to watch. The plot, based on a true story, is about the l... read moreife of Christopher McCandless, a young man who rebelled against the norms of society by giving up a comfortable life with his hypocritical parents (played superbly by William Hurt and Marcia Gay Harden - there is a scene showing Hurt laying out on the pavement at the end of the film that is downright heartbreaking) and a promising future by electing to pursue the ultimate adventure - a cross-country trip in which Alaska was his ultimate destination.

    Along the way, he meets some unique people, including a loving, hippie couple (played beautifully by the very likable Catherine Keener and first-time actor Brian Dierker), a partying redneck farmer (played to perfection by a subdued Vince Vaughn), a lonely old man (played by Hal Holbrook, who gives the best supporting performance I have ever seen in a film - he will bring you to tears), and an attractive young musician (Kristen Stewart, before her dreaded "Twilight" fame). It is ironic that this film is directed by Sean Penn, who has not been shy in his personal life blasting America and its many faults. Here, he shows everything that is beautiful about this country, the majestic mountains, the peaceful fields, and the haunting, chilling, beauty of Alaska in particular. The characters are rich and detailed expertly, Penn makes you care for each character McCandless runs into. I can't say enough about the lead performance by Emile Hirsch. He really embodies Chris. Eddie Vedder's (vocalist for one of the best bands ever in "Pearl Jam") soundtrack is also quiet, but unmistakably powerful.

    Yes, this movie is long, and yes, it is very artsy and expects its viewers to have a love for settings and a story driven by character development. In every aspect however, this is a perfect movie, thanks to impeccable casting, fantastic cinematography, and a heart-wrenching finale that I will never forget.
  • SajinPA
    September 8, 2011
    SajinPA
    Story of Christopher McCandless is that of a journey away from material pleasures, consumerism, or whatever you want to call it. Having believed that joy of life does'nt have to be prinicipally related to human relationships, he opts wilderness over civilized society- living off... read more the grid. On a climactic realization he does admits that, happiness is only real when shared, but the tragedy being that by then he was so lost and trapped in wilderness, there was no going back.
    A real thought-provoking travelogue, beautiful and tragic at the same time, supported by excellent performances in front and behind camera, also worth mentioning is Eddie Vedder?'s mesmerizing songs well-blend into the movie.
  • FrizzDrop
    August 6, 2011
    FrizzDrop
    A journey with nothing more than solitude and the necessities to stay alive, this story tracks the journey of societal pariah Christopher McCandless aka Alexander Supertramp on his rambling experiences in, what else, the wild. Though he is journeying to the experienced nothingnes... read mores of Alaska, he does go through a period of tramping, including an illegal journey down the Colorado River, treks into the wild, and rough riding with turbulent weather. He meets a slew of characters, lending cameos to Vince Vaughan, Catherine Keener, and Hal Holbrooke, all understated and inept of their usual cautionary acting parameters. There are two very ingrained messages: that of minimalism and freedom over societal standards, and that without solidarity happiness is as shallow as the life you leave behind. Besides the lack of identity our protagonist dons, we get to follow him around whilst he spouts prolific prose, and finds some truly astounding beauty in nature. The cinematography makes me weep with all honesty, as the sweeping shots and bright nuances of foreign landscapes come crashing into the viewer's retina, McCandless aggression to caring for anyone without hurt apparent as he climbs the rocky inclines and kills with either fear or astonishment dawning behind his naive eyes. Besides the efficiency that the main character sheds his past, he is also living in a state anyone can be envious of. It's a playful tale, ending on a note of survival, respect, and realization for what truly being alive means. A diatribe of natural proportions, it sure beats out any Robinson Crusoe adaptation.
  • fb1672039553
    July 22, 2011
    fb1672039553
    We see the truths that Christopher discovered and documented -- the truths he may have hoped we would see. We see more than he does though; Sean Penn shows the hearts that Christopher breaks as he leaves people behind, so unattached to them, even unattached to his own common sens... read moree, during this journey for truth and raw nature. A very touching, reflective, sad film. Kids, don't be Christopher.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    June 26, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Sean Penn's Into The Wild based on the Alaskan Odyssey of Christopher McCandless is a terrific drama film with a top notch cast. McCandless opted to disown everything he owned, family, possessions, money and survive in the wild on the bare necessities. Christopher McCandless is b... read morerilliantly portrayed by Emile Hirsch, a wonderful young talent. The film is terrific at explorer McCandless' journey and the reasons as to why he undertook this type of journey to go live in the wild in the middle of nowhere. There has been much controversy on McCandless, and it's understandable why. Into The Wild is a powerful drama film that examines one mans life and how he tries to change it in the most eccentric way, I mean what McCandless did was cool in a way, but also irresponsible and dangerous. By what I read after watching the film, he had inadequate survival gear to survive in the wild, and his food would spoil quickly. The film like I said is a drama, but it's also an adventure film. The film is sad, and somewhat inspiring, but if one would something like McCandless did, remember to bring adequate supplies, a fact that is shown in the film is that McCandless was poorly prepared, supplied and equipped. Into The Wild is a wonderful, well acted drama film, and though Emile Hirsch would play Cleve Jones In the film Milk, and he was great in that film, this remains his strongest performances of his career.
  • Callahan441
    June 12, 2011
    Callahan441
    This film was recommended to me by a couple of mates, and I was looking forward to it, it had an interesting premise, but by not even half-way through, the film had lost its credibility for me purely because of the material it was based on.

    Into The Wild isn't bad film making... read more by any means; but I believe the story of Christopher McCandless is simply not film-worthy. To be frank, McCandless was a selfish fool who lost all sense of rationality whilst making a grand statement about civilised society. He left his only sister with their emotionally distant, shallow and contentious parents to pursue his ill-fated adventure totally unprepared. So unfortunately, I couldn't see past the lead character's naivety and self importance.

    But despite this, I did find myself compelled to watch McCandless' interaction with the film's supporting cast; the hippies, old man Ron Hanz and dare I say it even Kristen Stewart's role were infinitely more interesting than McCandless' 'inspiring' mission. Again, I stress that this film isn't bad film making, it features good performances from the whole cast and some good emotive interplay between them, but it is all set within the context of the lead character's idiotic escapade, a fundamental aspect which I cannot bypass.

    So in conclusion, I am giving this film the minimum amount required for a 'fresh' rating based solely on the supporting cast; it's a shame that McCandless was immortalised for being so reckless.
  • fb732260458
    May 12, 2011
    fb732260458
    The frustrating ending is over-shadowed by the solid direction and admirable performance from Emile Hirsch - which elevate this witty and unique true-story into an interesting expose of a strange, complex character.
  • movieguru12
    March 19, 2011
    movieguru12
    Only saw bits and pieces of this because I watched it in my English class but from what I saw I really enjoyed it.

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Critic Reviews

Bob Mondello
October 18, 2008
Bob Mondello, NPR.org

As [Hirsch] struggles with the elements, his increasing frailty and the cinematography's increasing grandeur mesh in a way that's at once iconic and wrenching. Full Review

David Ansen
November 1, 2007
David Ansen, Newsweek

Hirsch, who carries the film on his increasingly emaciated shoulders, performs heroically, but there's an edge missing. Full Review

Amy Biancolli
October 5, 2007
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

Without diminishing the deep transcendentalist yearnings of its young hero, Into the Wild builds to a climax of profound human connectedness, profound human pain. Full Review

Tom Long
October 5, 2007
Tom Long, Detroit News

Into the Wild takes your heart and shakes it, offering inspiration, exasperation and blunt realization in a true story of one young man's dream and nightmare. Full Review

Terry Lawson
October 5, 2007
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

It's a beautiful, big, sorrowful film that manages to celebrate America while reexamining what it has stood for and what it has become. Full Review

Lisa Kennedy
October 5, 2007
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

It is we who are made a little more complete for wrestling with, and watching, Penn's film. Full Review

Roger Moore
October 4, 2007
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

It's a gorgeous, self-assured, thrilling and entertainingly intimate epic, an actor's picture in front of and behind the camera. Full Review

David Denby
October 1, 2007
David Denby, New Yorker

Sean Penn's Into the Wild is certainly visual -- it's entirely too visual, to the point of being cheaply lyrical. Full Review

Geoff Pevere
September 28, 2007
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

Super '70s in both style and sensibility, Into the Wild does for vagabond New Age souls what Deliverance did for misguided suburban macho. Full Review

Bruce Newman
September 28, 2007
Bruce Newman, San Jose Mercury News

In its expansive spirit of investigation and embrace of life as a creative act, Into the Wild comes as close as any picture ever made to capturing the America that Jack Kerouac discovered half a centu... Full Review

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    • Christopher McCandless: You are really good. I mean, you're like, a hundred thousand times better than like any apple I've ever had. I'm not Superman, I'm Supertramp and you're super apple. You're so tasty, you're so organic, so natural. You are the apple of my eye, ha!
    • Christopher McCandless: ...And I also know how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong but to feel strong. To measure yourself at least once. To find yourself at least once in the most ancient of human conditions. Facing the blind death stone alone, with nothing to help you but your hands and your own head.
    • Christopher McCandless: The core of mans' spirit comes from new experiences.
    • Christopher McCandless: Happiness is only real once shared.
    • Christopher McCandless: Happiness is only real when shared.
    • Christopher McCandless: I'm going to paraphrase Thoreau here... rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness... give me truth.
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Into the Wild Trivia

  • In the film "Into the WIld,' what bus number does Chris (Alex) stay on and eventually die in during his time in the wild?  Answer »
  • In the film "Into the Wild" what road in Alaska does the last person Chris talks with drop him off?  Answer »
  • In the film The Wild Bunch, what song is the choir singing before the bank robbery turns into a bloodbath in the middle of town?  Answer »
  • who directed the movies THE PLEDGE and INTO THE WILD  Answer »
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