Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Drama

Io Capitano (2024): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Io Capitano (2024) movie poster

Io Capitano is a 2024 drama directed by Matteo Garrone, starring Seydou Sarr as Seydou, Ndeye Khady Sy and Venus Gueye. It runs 2 hours 1 minute and earned $7.6 million worldwide on a $12.1 million budget. It was nominated for 1 Oscar. Critics gave it 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 79 on Metacritic. Stream it on Cineverse and Cohen Media, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

Rotten Tomatoes
96%
worldwide gross
$7.6M
award nomination
1
Echo Score
78
Io Capitano (2024) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 1m (121 min)
Director
Matteo Garrone
Genre
Drama
Original language
Wolof
Budget
$12.1M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Io Capitano About?

The premise of Io Capitano without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Two Senegalese teenagers in Dakar dream of a better life and embark on a dangerous journey to Europe. Their hopes are challenged as they face the harsh realities of migration, including a difficult trek across the desert, imprisonment, and perilous voyages across the sea.

Io Capitano Themes & Keywords

· 44 tags
  • money hidden up anus
  • fake passport
  • human smuggling
  • overloaded boat
  • title spoken by character
  • young
  • desert
  • sahara
  • mediterranean sea
  • 2020s
  • first person title
  • title in title
+32 more
  • senegalese man
  • police bribe
  • bribery
  • asking for a bribe
  • illegal border crossing
  • mali
  • niger
  • libya
  • tripoli libya
  • libyan desert
  • construction site
  • bricklayer
  • bricklaying
  • torture
  • head wound
  • riding in the back of a pickup truck
  • falling off a truck
  • dream sequence
  • pouring hot wax on skin
  • hung upside down
  • sicily
  • oil rig
  • cousin cousin relationship
  • two word title
  • docudrama drama
  • tragedy drama
  • emigration
  • african immigrant
  • young man
  • senegalese immigrant
  • walking across desert
  • desert crossing
Where to watch

Where to Watch Io Capitano

Stream it on Cineverse and Cohen Media, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Io Capitano Cast & Characters

Seydou Sarr leads the cast as Seydou, with Ndeye Khady Sy as Madre di Seydou and Venus Gueye as Sorellina di Seydou. Directed by Matteo Garrone; 20 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Io Capitano

· 16 more
Ratings

Io Capitano Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Io Capitano 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 79 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 78/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in rewatch factor (60).

78 /100

Io Capitano Echo Score Breakdown

In overall terms, the film presents a compelling visual and emotional journey while grappling with narrative unevenness. Critics widely praise Garrone’s striking cinematography and Seydou Sarr’s sensitive lead performance, which anchor the story in palpable human struggle. Some reviewers note moments of generic plotting and overlong sequences that undercut pacing. Ultimately, Io Capitano stands as a visually potent, empathetic drama that is occasionally hindered by its familiar structural beats.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 85

    In terms of art and craft, Io Capitano excels with its meticulously composed frames and immersive desert vistas. The cinematography employs an understated color palette that underscores both the expanses of the Sahara and the intimacy of the protagonists’ journey. Editing maintains cohesion between stark landscapes and moments of magical realism. Overall, the film’s visual design and production clarity create an arresting backdrop for the narrative’s emotional stakes.

  • Character & Emotion 90

    In terms of character and emotion, the lead performances anchor the film with nuanced authenticity. Seydou Sarr’s portrayal charts subtle emotional shifts, balancing vulnerability and resilience, while Moustapha Fall complements with quiet strength. The chemistry between the two newcomers reinforces the story’s human core. As a result, the film delivers richly detailed character arcs that foster genuine empathy and sustained audience investment.

  • Story & Flow 65

    When it comes to story and flow, Io Capitano weaves real-life testimonies with moments of imaginative embellishment, creating an adventurous framework. The narrative engages through varied obstacles but occasionally relies on familiar plot turns that diminish tension. Several sequences feel overlong, interrupting narrative momentum despite compelling stakes. Overall, the film’s blend of authenticity and dramatization produces a solid but uneven storytelling experience.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    In sensory terms, the film delivers a cohesive visual and auditory atmosphere that deepens immersion. The sweeping desert and sea vistas harmonize with a restrained soundtrack, punctuated by moments of diegetic sound that heighten tension. Visual sequences of magical realism introduce textural contrast without disrupting tonal consistency. Altogether, the sound design and visual style work in concert to evoke both the vastness of the journey and its intimate emotional landscape.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    In terms of rewatch potential, the film offers powerful thematic depth but can prove taxing on repeated viewings. Its harrowing scenarios and immersive tension establish a memorable first experience, yet the narrative’s heavy emotional weight may limit casual rewatches. Nevertheless, the sincerity of the performances and the film’s visual poetry encourage reflection, granting it enduring appeal for viewers seeking substantive drama.

Plot

Io Capitano Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Io Capitano from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

As the scorching sun of the desert beat mercilessly on their sunburned skin, Seydou and Moussa, two tenacious teenagers from Senegal, embarked on a perilous journey, brandishing false passports in a desperate bid to escape the oppressive chains of poverty. Their adventure commenced in Dakar, but it wasn’t until they traversed through Mali that their deception was uncovered by a vigilant policeman. A well-placed bribe saved them from incarceration, allowing the cousins to resume their treacherous quest, this time venturing through Niger. There, they paid to join a ragtag group of travelers who promised to guide them across the perilous expanse of the desert into Libya.

Full summary

The whole story of Io Capitano, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Io Capitano Box Office & Budget

Io Capitano grossed $7.6 million worldwide on a $12.1 million budget, 63% of what it cost. $150,048 came from the US and Canada and $7.5 million (98%) from the rest of the world.

2024 box office

Worldwide gross

$7.6M

63% of its budget back

US & Canada
$150K
International
$7.5M
Budget
$12.1M
US & Canada 2% Rest of the world 98%
Awards

Io Capitano Awards & Nominations

Io Capitano was nominated for 1 Oscar.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

Io Capitano Trailers & Videos

8 videos: 3 trailers, 3 teasers and 2 featurettes.

All 8 videos
Official Trailer [Subtitled]
  • Trailer US Trailer [Subtitled]
  • Trailer Official US Trailer V2 [Subtitled]
  • Teaser Official :15 Cutdown [Subtitled]
  • Teaser Official :30 Cutdown [Subtitled]
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Io Capitano?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Where did Seydou and Moussa's odyssey begin?

Details

Io Capitano Also Known As

35 alternative titles, including “Iao Capitano” and “少年的漂浪旅程”.

Also known as
  • Iao Capitano
  • 少年的漂浪旅程
  • Yo capitán
  • Moi, capitaine
  • Εγώ, καπετάνιος
  • Ja, kapitan
  • Eu Capitão
  • Я - капитан
  • Kaptenen
  • من کاپیتان هستم
  • Kaptan Benim
  • I
+23 more
  • Captain
  • Ich Capitano
  • Я - капітан
  • Eu
  • Capitão
  • 尋找彼岸的少年
  • Moi capitaine
  • 이오 카피타노
  • קפיטאנו
  • 我是船长
  • Yo
  • Capitán
  • Já kapitán
  • Я – капитан
  • Ја сам капетан
  • Jaz sem kapitan
  • Én vagyok a kapitány
  • 僕はキャプテン
  • Aš čia kapitonas
  • Jo capità
  • เส้นทางฝันฝ่านรก
  • Mina
  • Kapten

Seen Io Capitano?

FAQ

Io Capitano FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and awards of Io Capitano, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Io Capitano?

Io Capitano runs 2 hours 1 minute (121 minutes).

When was Io Capitano released?

Io Capitano was released on February 23, 2024.

Who directed Io Capitano?

Io Capitano was directed by Matteo Garrone.

More films by Matteo Garrone

Who is in the cast of Io Capitano?

Io Capitano stars Seydou Sarr as Seydou, Ndeye Khady Sy as Madre di Seydou and Venus Gueye as Sorellina di Seydou, among 20 credited actors.

Where can I watch Io Capitano?

In the US, Io Capitano is streaming on Cineverse, Cohen Media and Fandor and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Io Capitano make at the box office?

Io Capitano grossed $7.6 million worldwide ($150,048 domestic, $7.5 million international) on a budget of $12.1 million.

How is Io Capitano rated?

Io Capitano has 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 79 on Metacritic, 78% on TMDB and 3.9/5 on Letterboxd.

Was Io Capitano nominated for any awards?

Io Capitano received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app