The Road

Play trailer

The Road

R

2009

1h 50m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Sci-Fi

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

216 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

America is a grim, gray shadow of itself after a catastrophe. A man (Viggo Mortensen) and his young son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) wander through this post-apocalyptic world, trying to keep the dream of civilization alive. They journey toward the sea, surviving as best they can on what they can scavenge, and try to avoid roving gangs of savage humans who will turn them into slaves, or worse.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

The Road's commitment to Cormac McCarthy's dark vision may prove too unyielding for some, but the film benefits from hauntingly powerful performances from Viggo Mortensen and Kodi McPhee.

Read Critics Reviews

Shadow and Act Staff

Shadow and Act

09/13/2022

I still recommend The Road; just keep in mind that this is Cormac McCarthy's post-apocalyptic tale, not Richard Matheson's.

Go to Full Review

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

08/30/2018

I cannot say how faithful this is but, having read other McCarthy books, would say the novel probably repaid your attention with its astonishing prose. This, though, puts you through the wringer, but doesn't repay you in any way.

Go to Full Review

Ed Koch

The Atlantic

01/16/2018

It wasn't fascinating at all. The movie looked like it cost $500 to make, excluding actors' salaries, which were worth another $500.

Go to Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Jul 28

2/5

Bleak and grim are understatements. It's hard to come away liking a movie with this little innocence or hope.

Go to Full Review

Michael Leader

Den of Geek

05/07/2024

3/5

While The Road is not without its impressive aspects, it has not efficiently pulled taut the slack created by the loss of McCarthy’s commanding prose. And so, it is hard to avoid the sense that it needn’t have been made at all.

Go to Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

08/30/2023

4/4

Plan to see it twice—once to familiarize yourself with its unconventional, non-commercial method of storytelling, and a second time that allows you to submerge into the material, to appreciate how stunningly composed it is.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Durden 6

@Durden767 Feb 12

So so. Depressing as hell.

See more

Jennie B.

@fatbearsummer Jan 19

Dark and bleak take on humanity after an appocolypic disaster, enough to question what you would do to continue on in a world where to die is a luxury.

See more

mark g

@Mark_Alan_G. Jan 16

What is bleeker and more depressing than an apocalyptic nightmare caused by an unknown disaster? Having to watch most of this film.The darkness and dreariness is unrelenting, just constant and we never really see a point to continuing on. However, in the end we are left with some hope.

See more

Edward E.

@Trustmee Jan 7

One of those movies that can compete with the book. It's lack of dialog just makes it better. I love films where the story propels the whole film. In this case, you really see the actors ability to carry the story. One of those films that really makes you think about the fragile human existence.

See more

Keith B B

@Okbullard Dec 13

I can't believe I missed this one being a huge sci-fi and Viggo Mortensen fan. This one was really good and very intense. I really admire Charlize Theron's work as well but her part was small and her character was a bummer in this one. Be prepared for a lot of struggling, hopelessness, starvation and evading the bad people. The ending was so touching. Watch it you'll enjoy it.

See more

Asher K

@pretoxic Dec 8

probably the worst movies i have ever watched. I can go watch Logan Paul for 2 hours but not this movie. The kid's acting was diabolical, i think the script was written wrong in reality he was the first one to die!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

John Hillcoat

Director

Viggo Mortensen

The Man

Kodi Smit-McPhee

The Boy

Charlize Theron

Wife

Robert Duvall

Old Man

Guy Pearce

The Veteran

View more videos

Cloud Atlas

66%

66%

Cloud Atlas

Watchlist

Ex Machina

92%

86%

Ex Machina

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Ex Machina

The Astronaut's Wife

14%

33%

The Astronaut's Wife

Watchlist

Cube

61%

76%

Cube

Watchlist

Anna

32%

39%

Anna

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

America is a grim, gray shadow of itself after a catastrophe. A man (Viggo Mortensen) and his young son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) wander through this post-apocalyptic world, trying to keep the dream of civilization alive. They journey toward the sea, surviving as best they can on what they can scavenge, and try to avoid roving gangs of savage humans who will turn them into slaves, or worse.

Director: John Hillcoat
Producer: Paula Mae Schwartz, Steve Schwartz, Nick Wechsler
Screenwriter: Joe Penhall
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Dimension Films, Chockstone Pictures, 2929 Productions
Rating: R (Language|Disturbing Images|Some Violence)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 18, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.1M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

Most Popular at Home Now