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The Mission

1986·Movie
2h 5min·PG

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

The Mission fingerprint

Stunning style, high energy, no humor.

Energy

Epic and tense

  • Spectacle9
  • Tension7
  • Violence7

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

  • Pathos9
  • Melancholy8
  • Catharsis7

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay4
  • Situational Comedy0
  • Physical Comedy0

World

History, faith and meaning, and politics

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion9
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and storytelling

  • Direction9
  • Acting9
  • Narrative Structure8

Style

Standout score, cinematography, and editing

  • Music Composition10
  • Music Centrality10
  • Cinematography9

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightIntergenerationalPartner WatchSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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You need an uplifting mood

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

One will trust in the power of prayer. One will believe in the might of the sword.

When a Spanish Jesuit goes into the South American wilderness to build a mission in the hope of converting the Indians of the region, a slave hunter is converted and joins his mission. When Spain sells the colony to Portugal, they are forced to defend all they have built against the Portuguese aggressors.
Historical EpicMoral DramaColonial ConflictSpiritual JourneyLush CinematographyPowerful ScoreTragic NarrativeSocial InjusticeRedemption ArcSacrifice

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Mission

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Mission legally?

You can watch it free with ads on YouTube Free and Plex. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Mission worth watching?

69
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 69/100 (IMDb 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes 63%, and Metacritic 55). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Mission rated?

PGViolenceDisturbing imagery

It's rated PG in the United States. Content advisories: violence and disturbing imagery.

How long is The Mission?

2 h 5 min

The Mission runs 2 h 5 min.

Is The Mission based on a true story?

Yes. It's based on real events or a real person's life.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Mission?

Critics59
Audiences81

Not quite. Audiences rate The Mission higher (81) than critics (59). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was The Mission a box office hit?

Budget$25 million
Box office$17 million

No. It cost about $25 million to make and earned $17 million worldwide, 70% of its budget.

What language is The Mission in?

EnglishGuaraniLatinSpanish

It was made in English, with some Guarani, Latin, Spanish. Produced in United Kingdom, France, United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Mission?

28ATAUCACHCVDEESFRGBIEITJPKRMU+14

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Mission in 28 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Mission use?

FlynningDoomed Moral VictorTragic MonsterCain and AbelMook LieutenantHired by the OppressorScenery PornSoundtrack DissonanceHeel–Face TurnAll for NothingReligious BruiserEgocentrically Religiousand 48 more

TV Tropes lists 60 storytelling tropes for The Mission, including Flynning, Doomed Moral Victor, Tragic Monster.