Skip to content
MovieCove
Into the Wild

Into the Wild

Into the heart. Into the soul.

2007148 minRMidcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Director
Sean Penn
Starring
Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone

After graduating from Emory University in 1992, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity, and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Into the Wild?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Into the Wild streaming on Pluto TV (free) and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Subscription

Free

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Into the Wild?

Into the Wild earns 11 badges, led by Modern classic and Top 5% of films.

Show 3 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is Into the Wild worth watching?

Into the Wild's Midcredits score is the 97th percentile of all films, from 1.4M ratings across 6 sources. 88% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

97th percentile

Better received than 97% of films

98th percentile among Adventure97th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)95th
Approval (how many liked it)97th

78 /100

95th percentile of all films

97th percentile among Adventure96th percentile among 2000s

Critics 73 · Audience 79

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

Ratings pile up at 9–10 with almost no detractors — near-universal love.

88% liked it

97th percentile of all films

97th percentile among Adventure97th percentile among 2000s
88% rated it 7–1012% rated it 1–6

Critics 83% · Audience 89%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 2 Oscar noms · 15 wins / 79 noms overall

  • NominatedAcademy Awards· Best Achievement in Film Editing
  • NominatedAcademy Awards· Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

98th percentile

1.4M ratings across platforms

98th percentile among Adventure97th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 12% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$15M
Opening weekend$212K
Domestic gross$18M
Worldwide gross$57M

Returned 3.8× its budget — 84th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A college graduate abandons his privileged life and family for a solitary, ill-prepared journey into the Alaskan wilderness, where he starves to death.

Fans praised

  • Emile Hirsch's transformative, committed performance
  • breathtaking cinematography capturing nature's beauty and danger
  • emotional depth and thought-provoking themes about freedom and connection

Detractors panned

  • idealized portrayal of a selfish, irresponsible protagonist
  • glorifies reckless unpreparedness and a foolish death
  • pretentious, self-indulgent direction with heavy-handed music and voiceover

What stands out

Cinematography90

stunning, breathtaking landscapes; captures both majesty and harshness of nature

ActingDivisive85

Emile Hirsch's physical transformation and emotional conviction; Hal Holbrook's heartbreaking supporting turn

AtmosphereDivisive80

powerful sense of place; nature feels both liberating and unforgiving

Emotional impactDivisive75

deeply moving for fans; leaves detractors cold or angry

Sound and musicDivisive75

Eddie Vedder's score praised as soulful and fitting by fans, criticized as overbearing by detractors

EndingDivisive70

tragic, poignant conclusion that reinforces the theme of shared happiness

Plot and storyDivisive60

episodic journey with a tragic, foreshadowed end

CharactersDivisive55

protagonist seen as either a noble idealist or a selfish, naïve brat

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 3 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 2 points apart
  • Critics vs users 3 points apart
  • US vs non-US 5 points apart

Watch experience

What is Into the Wild like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Moving and bittersweet: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want a story that moves you and leaves an ache.

It takes its time and leaves you devastated. Skip it when you want an easy night or you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings and patience.

What it feels like

Moving and bittersweet.

The answer rests on this: Moods
ContemplativeMelancholicHopefulDread
Heaviest: late
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Tender · 13% of films
Told as
Nonlinear · 6% of films: Events shown out of chronological order.In medias res · 1% of films: Opens mid-action, then fills in how we got there.
ToneThe film treats McCandless's story with solemn respect, but also tenderly portrays his encounters, ultimately mourning his fate.
The rideThe film shifts from the hopeful, contemplative wanderlust of the early travels to the increasing tension and sadness of McCandless's final months in Alaska.
StructureThe story unfolds through cross-cutting between McCandless's final days in Alaska and his two-year journey, creating a reflective, non-linear narrative that opens in the middle of the action.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Devastated.

The answer rests on this: Devastating · 3% of filmsThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe film's tragic conclusion and McCandless's final realization leave a haunting mix of devastation and philosophical reflection.
How it ends · evidence
Tragic ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Tragedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9% (this title): Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3% (this title)
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Tragedy: A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin. · Crushed by fate: Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.

9% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeMcCandless's journey into the wild is a tragic pursuit of self-discovery that leads to his death, underscored by his inability to reconcile his ideals with reality.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfPurposeSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% (this title) · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% (this title) · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Self

Purpose · 9% of filmsIsolation · 5% of filmsNature · 2% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores McCandless's quest for meaning and authentic existence outside societal structures, with nature as both the arena and the teacher.
StanceThe film questions McCandless's rejection of society and pursuit of a solitary ideal without fully endorsing or condemning it.

The world

Late 20th centuryWildernessIn transitRuralRealistic
FolkOrchestral modernAmbientForeground music · original score · Eddie Vedder
SettingNorth American road trip from Georgia to Alaska, culminating in an abandoned bus in the Denali wilderness
MusicEddie Vedder's acoustic guitar tracks, 'Guaranteed' and 'Society', serve as emotional anchors throughout the film.

Content guide

Is Into the Wild okay for kids?

R

Into the Wild is rated R: “Rated R for language and some nudity” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (43/100), sexual content at intense (68/100), language at moderate (54/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (38/100) and frightening material at moderate (55/100). Overall it is heavier than 28% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 19 other countries
  • UK15
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany12
  • FranceTP
  • Ireland15A
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil12
  • BelgiumAL
  • Denmark11
  • FinlandK-12
  • Hungary12
  • Netherlands12
  • Norway12
  • Poland18
  • PortugalM/12
  • RO15
  • Spain12
  • Sweden15
  • Switzerland12
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 54% of all filmsHeavier than 28% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Moderate
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 23%
Sex & Nudity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 85%
Profanity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 27%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 44%
Frightening / Intense
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 37%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is sexual content. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Into the Wild have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Into the Wild?

Cast

2 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Emile Hirsch
as Chris McCandless
SAG nominee: Screen Actors Guild Award nomination — Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading RoleTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Marcia Gay Harden
as Billie McCandless
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
William Hurt
as Walt McCandless
SAG nominee: Screen Actors Guild Award nomination — Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Jena Malone
as Carine McCandless
SAG nominee: Screen Actors Guild Award nomination — Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Brian H. Dierker
as Rainey
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Catherine Keener
as Jan Burres
SAG nominee: Screen Actors Guild Award nomination — Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Vince Vaughn
as Wayne Westerberg
SAG nominee: Screen Actors Guild Award nomination — Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Kristen Stewart
as Tracy Tatro
SAG nominee: Screen Actors Guild Award nomination — Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Hal Holbrook
as Ron Franz
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Thure Lindhardt
as Mads

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Into the Wild?

Movies like Into the Wild include Wild (2014), This Must Be the Place (2011) and The Last Showgirl (2024). Of the 12 closest matches, several are road-trip stories, and several are films set in the American West.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

5 of these 12 share its character type: estranged parent and child. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Into the Wild?

1.7K other films share the rarest tag below, relationship: parent and child estranged. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.