The Book of Eli
A solitary warrior crosses a ravaged America to protect a mysterious book from a ruthless town boss who wants its power.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- austere
- brooding
- foreboding
- action movie night
- dystopian double feature
What critics said
Critics found the film stylish and gripping in places, especially in its central Washington-Oldman confrontation, but uneven and overly familiar in its post-apocalyptic formula and religious ambition.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Eli's closely guarded book motivates Carnegie's pursuit and structures the film's central conflict.
The Hughes brothers present a bombed-out North American landscape through stark, desaturated imagery and stylized action.
Carnegie seeks the book to control survivors, while Eli treats it as a responsibility to preserve and transmit.
Eli survives repeated attacks through formidable combat skill while remaining devoted to his westward religious mission.
Films like The Book of Eli, and why
The Road Warrior
Shared post-apocalyptic survival setting, lone drifter protagonist, brutal action, and bleak dystopian atmosphere.
The Road
Shared post-apocalyptic journey structure, austere wasteland setting, survivalist violence, and morally serious tone.
Mad Max: Fury Road
Shared post-apocalyptic world-building, stylized combat, oppressive dystopian power structures, and religious symbolism.
Book of Eli
Shared post-apocalyptic action, guarded heroism, scarce resources, and conflict between authoritarian control and human hope.
Movie Details
- Directors
- Allen Hughes, Albert Hughes
- Release Date
- 2010-01-14
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (6914)
Cast
- Denzel Washington
- Gary Oldman
- Mila Kunis
- Ray Stevenson
- Jennifer Beals
- Michael Gambon
- Tom Waits
- Frances de la Tour
- Evan Jones
- Joe Pingue
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- YouTube TV
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Book of Eli about?
- A solitary warrior crosses a ravaged America to protect a mysterious book from a ruthless town boss who wants its power.
- What is The Book of Eli like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Book of Eli as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Book of Eli violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Book of Eli as brutal.
- What did critics think of The Book of Eli?
- Critics found the film stylish and gripping in places, especially in its central Washington-Oldman confrontation, but uneven and overly familiar in its post-apocalyptic formula and religious ambition.
- Which films are like The Book of Eli?
- Films with a similar feel include The Road Warrior, The Road, Mad Max: Fury Road, and Book of Eli.
- How long is The Book of Eli?
- The Book of Eli runs 118 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Book of Eli?
- In United States, The Book of Eli streams on YouTube TV.
