Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

News of the World

  • 20202020
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
84K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,241
245
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Tom Hanks and Helena Zengel in News of the World (2020)
This Christmas, Universal Pictures is proud to present Tom Hanks starring in News of the World, a moving story written and directed by Paul Greengrass, reuniting for the first time with his star from their 2013 Best Picture nominee Captain Phillips. 
 
Five years after the end of the Civil War, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Hanks), a widower and veteran of three wars, now moves from town to town as a non-fiction storyteller, sharing the news of presidents and queens, glorious feuds, devastating catastrophes, and gripping adventures from the far reaches of the globe.
 
In the plains of Texas, he crosses paths with Johanna (Helena Zengel, System Crasher), a 10-year-old taken in by the Kiowa people six years earlier and raised as one of their own. Johanna, hostile to a world she’s never experienced, is being returned to her biological aunt and uncle against her will. 

Kidd agrees to deliver the child where the law says she belongs. As they travel hundreds of miles into the unforgiving wilderness, the two will face tremendous challenges of both human and natural forces as they search for a place that either can call home.

News of the World is directed by Greengrass (the Bourne films, United 93) from his screenplay with Luke Davies (Lion), based on the National Book Award finalist and best-selling novel by Paulette Jiles. The film is produced by Gary Goetzman (Mamma Mia! franchise, Greyhound), Gail Mutrux (The Danish Girl, Donnie Brasco) and Gregory Goodman (22 July, 8 Mile). The executive producers are Steven Shareshian and Tore Schmidt. The film’s music is by eight-time Academy Award® nominee James Newton Howard.
Play trailer2:49
10 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Drama

A Civil War veteran agrees to deliver a girl, taken by the Kiowa people years ago, to her aunt and uncle, against her will. They travel hundreds of miles and face grave dangers as they searc... Read allA Civil War veteran agrees to deliver a girl, taken by the Kiowa people years ago, to her aunt and uncle, against her will. They travel hundreds of miles and face grave dangers as they search for a place that either can call home.A Civil War veteran agrees to deliver a girl, taken by the Kiowa people years ago, to her aunt and uncle, against her will. They travel hundreds of miles and face grave dangers as they search for a place that either can call home.

IMDb RATING
6.8/10
84K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,241
245
  • Director
    • Paul Greengrass
  • Writers
    • Paul Greengrass(screenplay by)
    • Luke Davies(screenplay by)
    • Paulette Jiles(based upon the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Tom Hanks
    • Helena Zengel
    • Tom Astor
Top credits
  • Director
    • Paul Greengrass
  • Writers
    • Paul Greengrass(screenplay by)
    • Luke Davies(screenplay by)
    • Paulette Jiles(based upon the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Tom Hanks
    • Helena Zengel
    • Tom Astor
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 693User reviews
    • 236Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars
      • 5 wins & 81 nominations total

    Videos10

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:49
    Official Trailer
    TV Trailer
    Trailer 1:01
    TV Trailer
    News of the World
    Trailer 2:50
    News of the World
    News of the World
    Trailer 2:56
    News of the World
    Art of the Crew | Production Design
    Clip 1:02
    Art of the Crew | Production Design
    2021 Cinematography | Art of the Crew
    Clip 1:01
    2021 Cinematography | Art of the Crew
    News of the World
    Clip 1:11
    News of the World
    News of the World
    Clip 1:08
    News of the World
    News of the World
    Featurette 1:26
    News of the World
    News of the World
    Featurette 2:47
    News of the World

    Photos320

    Tom Hanks and Helena Zengel in News of the World (2020)
    Tom Hanks and Helena Zengel in News of the World (2020)
    Tom Hanks in News of the World (2020)
    Tom Hanks in News of the World (2020)
    Tom Hanks and Helena Zengel in News of the World (2020)
    Tom Hanks, Clint Obenchain, and Helena Zengel in News of the World (2020)
    Tom Hanks and Helena Zengel in News of the World (2020)
    Tom Hanks and Helena Zengel in News of the World (2020)
    Tom Hanks in News of the World (2020)
    Paul Greengrass in News of the World (2020)
    Tom Hanks and Paul Greengrass in News of the World (2020)
    Tom Hanks and Helena Zengel in News of the World (2020)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tom Hanks
    Tom Hanks
    • Captain Kiddas Captain Kidd
    Helena Zengel
    Helena Zengel
    • Johannaas Johanna
    Tom Astor
    Tom Astor
    • Cavalry Lieutenantas Cavalry Lieutenant
    Travis Johnson
    • Cavalry Rideras Cavalry Rider
    Andy Kastelic
    Andy Kastelic
    • Union Duty Officeras Union Duty Officer
    Ray McKinnon
    Ray McKinnon
    • Simon Boudlinas Simon Boudlin
    Mare Winningham
    Mare Winningham
    • Doris Boudlinas Doris Boudlin
    Jeffrey Ware
    • Red River Heckleras Red River Heckler
    Chris Bylsma
    Chris Bylsma
    • Red River Heckleras Red River Heckler
    Justin Tade
    • Red River Heckleras Red River Heckler
    Darrin Giossi
    Darrin Giossi
    • Federal Soldieras Federal Soldier
    Brenden Wedner
    Brenden Wedner
    • Young Progressive Speakeras Young Progressive Speaker
    Elizabeth Marvel
    Elizabeth Marvel
    • Mrs. Gannettas Mrs. Gannett
    Michael Angelo Covino
    Michael Angelo Covino
    • Almayas Almay
    Clay James
    • Almay's Manas Almay's Man
    Cash Lilley
    Cash Lilley
    • Almay's Manas Almay's Man
    Stafford Douglas
    Stafford Douglas
    • Dallas Federal Officeras Dallas Federal Officer
    Jared Berry
    Jared Berry
    • Dallas Federal Soldieras Dallas Federal Soldier
    • Director
      • Paul Greengrass
    • Writers
      • Paul Greengrass(screenplay by)
      • Luke Davies(screenplay by)
      • Paulette Jiles(based upon the novel by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Greyhound
    7.0
    Greyhound
    The Dig
    7.1
    The Dig
    Finch
    6.8
    Finch
    The Highwaymen
    6.9
    The Highwaymen
    A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
    7.3
    A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
    Sully
    7.4
    Sully
    Da 5 Bloods
    6.5
    Da 5 Bloods
    Captain Phillips
    7.8
    Captain Phillips
    The Trial of the Chicago 7
    7.7
    The Trial of the Chicago 7
    A Hologram for the King
    6.1
    A Hologram for the King
    The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
    7.3
    The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
    Bridge of Spies
    7.6
    Bridge of Spies

    Storyline

    Edit
    Five years after the end of the Civil War, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Tom Hanks), a veteran of three wars, now moves from town to town as a non-fiction storyteller, sharing the news of presidents and queens, glorious feuds, devastating catastrophes, and gripping adventures from the far reaches of the globe. On the plains of Texas, he crosses paths with Johanna (Helena Zengel), a 10-year-old taken in by the Kiowa people six years earlier and raised as one of their own. Johanna, hostile to a world she's never experienced, is being returned to her biological aunt and uncle against her will. Kidd agrees to deliver the child where the law says she belongs. As they travel hundreds of miles into the unforgiving wilderness, the two will face tremendous challenges of both human and natural forces as they search for a place that either can call home. —Universal Pictures
    • rescue
    • wild west
    • sandstorm
    • texas
    • native american
    • 182 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Find Where You Belong
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Adventure
      • Drama
      • Western
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images, thematic material and some language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Paul Greengrass said in an interview in the New York Times on 12/30/2020 how this movie "is the first film I made with a child actor at the heart of it" and he thought that it would be very difficult to cast the role of Johanna but when he saw Helena Zengel's audition, he said she "was the only person I really had to look at" and that it "was the easiest decision in the film".
    • Goofs
      John Calley calls the Central Texas area "Kiowa country" when he splits from Kidd and Johanna. However, in 1870 that area was unquestionably Comanche territory ("Comanchería"). The Kiowa roamed further north.
    • Quotes

      Captain Kidd: See all those words printed in a line one after the other? Put 'em all together and you have a story.

    • Connections
      Featured in SportsCenter: J.K. Dobbins (2020)
    • Soundtracks
      Prairie Dog Song
      Traditional

    User reviews693

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    A Little Stale but Watchable
    I didn't really love this film. I think it is competently made and you can tell the director knew what he was doing, i just think it was pretty average.

    The story is very slow, it is almost a road movie. You can see the ending coming from a mile off. I just don't know if this was a story that needed to be told.

    The script was pretty beige to me too. It wasn't gripping. It wasn't really passionate either. It just felt like a movie script from a western from 2006 that we have all forgot and you may have rented from blockbuster once but you don't really remember it. It just wasn't fresh.

    I do think the set pieces were pretty good. They looked really nice and in turn provided some lovely shots. I didn't love the colour of this film. It was very muted. I get that it was a western but it just looked really grey and washed out. Maybe this was a choice i just didn't love it.

    The acting was pretty good especially from the two leads. Some of the other acting was a bit over the top and out of place. Some of the antagonists seemed like pantomime villains and i also think when they were on screen the script also sagged. It turned into Saturday mourning cartoons a little bit.

    I do think some of the action scenes were engaging however. I think they were pretty tense and enjoyable to watch.

    I think you could watch this, just keep in mind it is slow. Do i think it should win any awards. No. But you could definitely check it out.
    helpful•175
    86
    • Neon_Gold
    • Feb 10, 2021

    FAQ3

    • If you are reluctant to attend a cinema release of this movie, are there any alternatives?
    • When Captain Kidd first meets Johanna he also finds an official document that has her background story, including her birth name. Where did that information come from? Even if there was a missing person report filed several years earlier, how could anyone make the connection that the little girl they found with the Kiowa was the little girl who had been taken several years earlier?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 25, 2020 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Instagram
    • Languages
      • English
      • North American Indian
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Chuyến Đi Định Mệnh
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
    • Production companies
      • Perfect World Pictures
      • Playtone
      • Pretty Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $38,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $12,668,325
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,250,430
      • Dec 27, 2020
    • Gross worldwide
      • $12,668,325
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 58 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Atmos
      • Dolby Digital
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

    Tobias Menzies To Star Alongside Julia Louis-Dreyfus In Nicole Holofcener’s ‘Beth & Don’; Cast Set For A24 Movie
    Tobias Menzies To Star Alongside Julia Louis-Dreyfus In Nicole Holofcener’s ‘Beth & Don’; Cast Set For A24 Movie
    May 2Deadline Film + TV
    ‘The Dropout’s’ Elizabeth Marvel Joins Blitz Bazawule’s ‘The Color Purple’ Musical Movie (Exclusive)
    ‘The Dropout’s’ Elizabeth Marvel Joins Blitz Bazawule’s ‘The Color Purple’ Musical Movie (Exclusive)
    Apr 8Variety Film + TV

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Tom Hanks and Helena Zengel in News of the World (2020)
    Top Gap
    By what name was News of the World (2020) officially released in India in Hindi?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The 10 Most Anticipated Marvel and DC Movies
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:14
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.