Overview
An epic journey across the vast Pacific Ocean reveals the resilience of the human spirit.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- adventurous
- tense
- inspiring
- weekend adventure night
- history film night
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded it as a polished and exciting retelling of an epic true story, with strong period detail and oceanic spectacle despite conventional plotting and some artistic license.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film follows Thor Heyerdahl's recorded 1947 Pacific crossing and its preparation as a dramatized historical feature.
Six men spend 101 days crossing the Pacific on a fragile balsawood raft, facing isolation and dangerous ocean conditions.
Thor Heyerdahl finances and attempts the voyage to demonstrate that ancient South Americans could have reached Polynesia.
Widescreen photography and sound design repeatedly contrast the tiny raft and crew with the vast Pacific Ocean.
Films like Kon-Tiki, and why
The Lost City of Z
shared true-story adventure, historical setting, dangerous expedition, and emphasis on human endurance
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
shared maritime survival, period exploration, ensemble conflict, and visually expansive adventure filmmaking
The Way Back
shared true-life expedition, survival against natural forces, and classic adventure tone
The Aeronauts
shared historical adventure, determined explorers, and polished large-scale period filmmaking
Movie Details
- Directors
- Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg
- Release Date
- 2012-08-24
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (863)
Cast
- Pål Sverre Hagen
- Anders Baasmo Christiansen
- Tobias Santelmann
- Gustaf Skarsgård
- Odd-Magnus Williamson
- Jakob Oftebro
- Agnes Kittelsen
- Manuel Cauchi
- Richard Trinder
- Søren Pilmark
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Kon-Tiki about?
- A determined Norwegian explorer risks everything on a fragile raft to prove that an ancient Pacific crossing was possible.
- What is Kon-Tiki like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Kon-Tiki as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Kon-Tiki violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Kon-Tiki as mild.
- What did critics think of Kon-Tiki?
- Critics broadly regarded it as a polished and exciting retelling of an epic true story, with strong period detail and oceanic spectacle despite conventional plotting and some artistic license.
- Which films are like Kon-Tiki?
- Films with a similar feel include The Lost City of Z, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, The Way Back, and The Aeronauts.
- How long is Kon-Tiki?
- Kon-Tiki runs 118 minutes.
- Where can I watch Kon-Tiki?
- In United States, Kon-Tiki streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
