Promised LandMovie Reviews

So-so
Avg. Critic Score: 55 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
15 OK for kids 15+
Read Common Sense Media review

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

  • 83
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    Urgent, heartfelt, and not-quite-as-predictable-as-you-think environmental rabble-rouser. Read full review

  • 80
    New York Daily News | Joe Neumaier

    Krasinki's soft-sell script, lets the movie's ideas get absorbed without grandstanding or pretension. Its issues go down with a smile and common sense, which turns out to be exactly the right formula. Read full review

  • 80
    NPR | Jeannette Catsoulis

    Though the film eventually caves to sentiment and stereotype, its alert performances and muted rhythms offer much to enjoy in the interim. Read full review

  • 75
    San Francisco Chronicle | Mick LaSalle

    Promised Land is a fine place to start appreciating Matt Damon, who always makes it seem as if everybody else is acting and he's just going through the movie being natural. Read full review

  • 75
    Rolling Stone | Peter Travers

    Director Gus Van Sant finds the human side of a knotty issue. No polemics. Just the face of a new America in crisis. Read full review

  • 75
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    Promised Land is an involving and timely tale that explores the changing nature and complex challenges of rural life. Read full review

  • 63
    Boston Globe | Ty Burr

    It's a fine line between interesting characters and "Northern Exposure" quirk, but the movie mostly stays on the right side of it. Read full review

  • 60
    The Hollywood Reporter | Todd McCarthy

    Promised Land presents its environmental concerns in a clear, upfront manner but hits some narrative and character bumps in the second half that weaken the impact of this fundamentally gentle, sympathetic work. Read full review

  • 50
    Wall Street Journal | Joe Morgenstern

    There's also reason to worry when a simplistic movie like this one takes on an issue of overarching importance to the nation's future. The challenges presented by fracking are immense, and Capra-esque nostalgia isn't helpful. Read full review

  • 50
    Philadelphia Inquirer | Steven Rea

    Promised Land is a frustrating film to watch. It should be better than this, smarter than this. Read full review

View more reviews for Promised Land on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 15+ Low-key "issues" drama has some strong language, drinking.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that Promised Land is a drama about big companies and farming communities, big money, and environmental troubles that's rated R primarily for strong language (including several uses of "f--k"). It's told through two main characters: a well-meaning company man and a grass-roots activist, neither of whom are what they seem. It's a movie filled with issues and ideas, and it would make for good discussions with teens. In addition to the swearing, there's a scene with strong drinking (followed by a hangover), as well as one fight, some flirting, and a little product placement.
  • Families can talk about what the farmers should do. Should they take the money or look for a better solution? Is there a "right" answer to this problem?
  • What's the right thing for the main character, Steve Butler, to do? What does he learn over the course of Promised Land? Is he a role model?
  • How does the movie depict drinking? Why do the characters drink? Are there realistic consequences?
The good stuff
  • message true2 Positive messages: The movie's message isn't entirely easy to nail down, but it will launch some good discussions. One theme is about the debate between farms staying true to their roots or giving in and accepting cash from a corporation. Another theme is about whether a person should remain loyal to the corporation for which he works -- or do the right thing.
  • rolemodels true2 Positive role models: Steve is highly imperfect, but he learns many lessons. He works for a huge company and believes he's doing the right thing, but eventually he learns that there may be other answers just as valid. Eventually he comes to a crossroads wherein he must decide between his job and telling the truth.
What to watch for
  • violence false1 Violence: A brief fight in a bar; the character sustains some minor wounds to the face.
  • sex false1 Sexy stuff: Two adults flirt and go on a date.
  • language false4 Language: "F--k" is used many times. Other words include "suck it," "a--hole," "hell," "s--t," "hell," "a--hole," "damn," "oh my God," "goddamn," and more.
  • consumerism false2 Consumerism: A Pepsi machine is shown. A pack of Trident gum is shown. The main character has a Hewlett-Packard (HP) computer.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3 Drinking, drugs and smoking: The main character has a night of strong drinking (beer and shots) and wakes up, hung over, in a comical way. He keeps returning to the bar for more drinks throughout the movie, but a drinking problem isn't implied.
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Promised Land Movie Reviews + Ratings

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Exclusive Features

Cast Interviews Exclusive Cast Interview Matt Damon and John Krasinski on how the film came about and Rosemarie Dewitt on the duo's budding bro-mance.