Cast AwayMovie Reviews

Go
Avg. Critic Score: 73 out of 100 Generally favorable reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
13 Iffy for 13+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 100
    New York Post | Lou Lumenick

    A really classic adventure yarn with one of Hollywood's great actors hitting one out of the ballpark. If you're seeing only one movie this season, this is the obvious choice. Read full review

  • 100
    Baltimore Sun | Chris Kaltenbach

    It's a startling physical transformation, as Noland goes from flabby desk jockey to lean, mean fishing machine. But even more remarkable is the mental transformation Hanks effects. Read full review

  • 91
    Entertainment Weekly | Lisa Schwarzbaum

    Hanks towers as a near naked, near biblical man. Zemeckis tells his story -- the screenplay is by William Broyles -- with a control magnificent in what isn't shown as much as in what is. Read full review

  • 88
    Chicago Tribune | Michael Wilmington

    An adventure movie of extraordinary simplicity and power. Read full review

  • 88
    USA Today | Susan Wloszczyna

    Just be glad that Hanks and Zemeckis toiled mightily to pull off at least two-thirds of a remarkable achievement. Read full review

  • 88
    Philadelphia Inquirer | Steven Rea

    Bold, ambitious -- and ambiguous. Read full review

  • 75
    Boston Globe | Jay Carr

    The film's most remarkable achievement, in this culture of clamor, simply may be its decision to keep the volume down, drawing us in as opposed to pummeling us, as most films do. Read full review

  • 75
    New York Daily News | Jack Mathews

    The island phase of Hanks' performance is simply amazing. Read full review

  • 75
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    Here is a strong and simple story surrounded by needless complications, and flawed by a last act that first disappoints us and then ends on a note of forced whimsy. Read full review

  • 25
    San Francisco Chronicle | Mick LaSalle

    It will bring joy in a way certainly not intended, as one of the most gloriously and unwittingly silly films ever devised by a major American filmmaker. Read full review

View more reviews for Cast Away on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says Iffy for 13+ Tom Hanks' powerful, brutal, and mature story.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this movie has brief strong language, a very scary plane crash, a dead body, and scenes of peril (some bloody). The deprivation and losses may be very upsetting to some kids and teens. Noland considers suicide, and speaks of attempting it, which some people may also find disturbing.
  • Families can talk about what is left when we strip away the conventions and conveniences of our society. How do we decide what our priorities are, and what our values are?
  • Compare this movie to other desert island sagas, from Lord of the Flies to The Admirable Crichton.
The good stuff
  • message true0 Positive messages: Not an issue
What to watch for
  • violence false3 Violence: Extremely scary plane crash, dead body, scenes of peril, some bloody, emotional.
  • sex false0 Sexy stuff: Not an issue
  • language false3 Language: Some strong language.
  • consumerism false3 Consumerism: Practically a commercial for Fed Ex.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false0 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

Cast Away Featured Trailers + Video Clips