Jeremiah Johnson
A former soldier seeks peaceful solitude in the Rocky Mountains, only to find that survival, friendship, and frontier violence keep drawing him back into human conflict.
Overview
A solitary man's quest for peace in the wilderness leads to unexpected friendships and challenges.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- austere
- contemplative
- foreboding
- quiet weekend
- wilderness film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praise the film's thoughtful survival drama, Robert Redford's anchored performance, striking landscapes, and authentic physical detail, while noting its deliberate pace and occasionally ponderous storytelling.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jeremiah must make fire, hunt, fish, endure snow, and construct a cabin through sustained physical hardship.
Jeremiah seeks complete isolation in the mountains yet relies on Bear Claw, Swan, Caleb, and other frontier acquaintances.
The Rocky Mountains dominate the film through vast snowy landscapes, harsh weather, wildlife, and perilous terrain.
Jeremiah builds his home on Crow land and works toward peaceful relations before a cavalry-related act disrupts that balance.
Films like Jeremiah Johnson, and why
The Revenant
shared frontier survival, solitary protagonists, rugged wilderness settings, and morally complex western drama
The Last of the Mohicans
shared mountain landscapes, survivalist authenticity, contemplative pacing, and encounters between settlers and Indigenous communities
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
shared revisionist western atmosphere, frontier violence, isolation, and emotionally restrained protagonists
Movie Details
- Director
- Sydney Pollack
- Release Date
- 1972-09-10
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (728)
Cast
- Robert Redford
- Will Geer
- Delle Bolton
- Josh Albee
- Joaquín Martínez
- Allyn Ann McLerie
- Stefan Gierasch
- Richard Angarola
- Paul Benedict
- Charles Tyner
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Howdy Amazon Channel
- 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 Jeremiah Johnson about?
- A former soldier seeks peaceful solitude in the Rocky Mountains, only to find that survival, friendship, and frontier violence keep drawing him back into human conflict.
- What is Jeremiah Johnson like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Jeremiah Johnson as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Jeremiah Johnson violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Jeremiah Johnson as moderate.
- What did critics think of Jeremiah Johnson?
- Critics broadly praise the film's thoughtful survival drama, Robert Redford's anchored performance, striking landscapes, and authentic physical detail, while noting its deliberate pace and occasionally ponderous storytelling.
- Which films are like Jeremiah Johnson?
- Films with a similar feel include The Revenant, The Last of the Mohicans, and McCabe & Mrs. Miller.
- How long is Jeremiah Johnson?
- Jeremiah Johnson runs 108 minutes.
- Where can I watch Jeremiah Johnson?
- In United States, Jeremiah Johnson streams on Howdy Amazon Channel.
