Overview
A gripping tale of survival and self-discovery on a deserted island.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- austere
- melancholic
- intimate
- solitary movie night
- reflective weekend
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film intelligent and emotionally compelling, praising Robert Zemeckis's mature direction and Tom Hanks's commanding solo performance despite reservations about the final act.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Chuck must systematically secure food, water, shelter, fire, and an escape route using limited island resources.
Chuck paints a face on a Wilson volleyball and relies on it to endure prolonged social isolation.
Chuck's survival depends on rescue, yet the lost years make reintegration with Kelly and his former life uncertain.
FedEx's time-obsessed global delivery network is set against the island's slow, materially constrained rhythms.
Films like Cast Away, and why
The Blue Lagoon
shared deserted-island survival, isolation, adaptation, and emotionally intimate character focus
Robinson Crusoe
shared survival skill, solitude, castaway premise, and robinsonade tradition
The Revenant
shared survival drama, environmental hardship, psychological endurance, and human resilience
Life of Pi
shared intimate survival narrative, emotional loss, and a protagonist rebuilding life after catastrophe
Movie Details
- Director
- Robert Zemeckis
- Release Date
- 2000-12-22
- Runtime
- 143 min
- Rating
- 7.7 / 10 (12593)
Cast
- Tom Hanks
- Helen Hunt
- Nick Searcy
- Jenifer Lewis
- Geoffrey Blake
- Peter Von Berg
- Chris Noth
- Lari White
- Elden Henson
- Timothy Stack
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 Cast Away about?
- A time-obsessed FedEx executive must reinvent himself through physical survival and emotional endurance after a crash strands him alone on a remote Pacific island.
- What is Cast Away like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Cast Away as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Cast Away violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Cast Away as mild.
- What did critics think of Cast Away?
- Critics broadly found the film intelligent and emotionally compelling, praising Robert Zemeckis's mature direction and Tom Hanks's commanding solo performance despite reservations about the final act.
- Which films are like Cast Away?
- Films with a similar feel include The Blue Lagoon, Robinson Crusoe, The Revenant, and Life of Pi.
- How long is Cast Away?
- Cast Away runs 143 minutes.
- Where can I watch Cast Away?
- In United States, Cast Away is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
