Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- irreverent
- sardonic
- awkward
- indie movie night
- dark comedy night
What critics said
Critics generally agreed that Woody Harrelson gives a committed performance, while the film struggles to make Wilson’s abrasive outlook consistently relatable.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Wilson confronts strangers, relatives, and institutions with unusually direct opinions and demands.
Wilson’s attempts to reconnect with Pippi and meet Claire are repeatedly complicated by his misanthropy and lack of social tact.
Wilson seeks a relationship with the teenage daughter he never knew through impulsive and outrageous interventions.
Learning about Claire gives Wilson a specific goal and drives his effort to build a family connection.
Films like Wilson, and why
The Squid and the Whale
shares an abrasive outsider protagonist, darkly comic social observation, and uncomfortable family dynamics
Welcome to Me
shares a caustic misfit lead, dysfunctional relationships, and an offbeat blend of comedy and drama
The Skeleton Twins
shares bittersweet outsider humor, estranged family bonds, and emotionally awkward reconciliation
Ghost World
shares graphic-novel sensibility, deadpan absurdity, and a difficult protagonist seeking human connection
Movie Details
- Director
- Craig Johnson
- Release Date
- 2017-03-24
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (390)
Cast
- Woody Harrelson
- Mary Lynn Rajskub
- Cheryl Hines
- Isabella Amara
- Laura Dern
- Judy Greer
- Brett Gelman
- Margo Martindale
- David Warshofsky
- Sandra Lee-Oian Thomas
Where to watch in United States
- 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 Wilson about?
- A brutally candid loner tries to turn an unexpected reunion with his estranged wife and unknown teenage daughter into a second chance at family.
- What is Wilson like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Wilson as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Wilson violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Wilson as mild.
- What did critics think of Wilson?
- Critics generally agreed that Woody Harrelson gives a committed performance, while the film struggles to make Wilson’s abrasive outlook consistently relatable.
- Which films are like Wilson?
- Films with a similar feel include The Squid and the Whale, Welcome to Me, The Skeleton Twins, and Ghost World.
- How long is Wilson?
- Wilson runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch Wilson?
- In United States, Wilson is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
