Promised Land
A corporate salesman’s straightforward campaign for rural drilling rights turns into a personal and ethical reckoning over economic survival, environmental risk, and community trust.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- earnest
- warm
- gentle
- thoughtful evening
- social issue double feature
What critics said
Critics generally found the cast likable and the character-focused, well-intentioned approach appealing, but viewed the screenplay as oversimplified and increasingly uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Steve and Sue promote drilling rights in a financially distressed farming community while residents debate the costs of natural gas development.
The town's recent decline creates pressure to accept the company's offer as immediate financial relief.
The film centers Steve's evolving relationships with Sue, Frank Yates, Dustin Noble, and Alice as the drilling campaign becomes morally complicated.
The campaign unfolds among rural properties where land ownership, drilling rights, and community identity are closely intertwined.
Films like Promised Land, and why
Silkwood
shared rural setting, environmental conflict, corporate pressure, and grounded social-issue drama
Erin Brockovich
shared focus on economic hardship, institutional power, and morally conflicted outsiders in an American community
Dark Waters
shared ensemble-centered drama about corporate exploitation, environmental risk, and community resistance
Movie Details
- Director
- Gus Van Sant
- Release Date
- 2012-09-23
- Runtime
- 106 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (765)
Cast
- Matt Damon
- Frances McDormand
- John Krasinski
- Rosemarie DeWitt
- Hal Holbrook
- Titus Welliver
- Lucas Black
- Tim Guinee
- Scoot McNairy
- Terry Kinney
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 Promised Land about?
- A corporate salesman’s straightforward campaign for rural drilling rights turns into a personal and ethical reckoning over economic survival, environmental risk, and community trust.
- What is Promised Land like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Promised Land as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Promised Land violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Promised Land.
- What did critics think of Promised Land?
- Critics generally found the cast likable and the character-focused, well-intentioned approach appealing, but viewed the screenplay as oversimplified and increasingly uneven.
- Which films are like Promised Land?
- Films with a similar feel include Silkwood, Erin Brockovich, and Dark Waters.
- How long is Promised Land?
- Promised Land runs 106 minutes.
- Where can I watch Promised Land?
- In United States, Promised Land is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
