The Road (2009): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Road is a 2009 adventure thriller directed by John Hillcoat, starring Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron and Kodi Smit-McPhee. It is based on The Road by Cormac McCarthy. It runs 1 hour 51 minutes and earned $27.6 million worldwide on a $25 million budget. Critics gave it 64 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 51m (111 min)
- Director
- John Hillcoat
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Dimension Films
- Budget
- $25M
- Based on
- The Road by Cormac McCarthy
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Road About?
The premise of The Road without spoilers, adapted from The Road by Cormac McCarthy. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
After an unnamed catastrophe destroys civilization, a father and son journey south across a post-apocalyptic America. They face extreme weather, scarce resources, and the constant threat of violence as they struggle to survive. Driven by love and a determination to protect his son, the man teaches him to maintain hope and avoid the moral compromises that have led others to desperate acts. Their journey is a stark portrayal of the enduring power of the human spirit amidst overwhelming despair.
The Road Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- apocalypse
- post apocalypse
- on the road
- based on novel
- cataclysm
- suicide contemplation
- carrying a boy over one's shoulders
- forced to strip
- skinny dipping
- survival
- cannibalism
- canned food
+38 more Show fewer
- abandoned house
- coca cola
- boy
- male rear nudity
- dystopian sci fi
- coughing
- bomb shelter
- tent
- falling tree
- bleakness
- child with a gun
- man with no name
- waterfall
- can
- coughing up blood
- soda
- flower
- beer
- old man
- arrow in the leg
- worrying
- dying
- chase
- crying
- loss of mother
- narrated by character
- loss of father
- child in jeopardy
- hugging
- tragedy drama
- road trip adventure
- survival adventure
- disaster drama
- urban adventure
- removing an object from a wound
- removing an arrow from a wound
- removing an arrow from one's leg
- domestic drama
The Road Cast
Viggo Mortensen leads the cast, with Charlize Theron and Kodi Smit-McPhee. Directed by John Hillcoat.
- Director John Hillcoat
More from John Hillcoat
More films directed by John Hillcoat, best-rated first: The Proposition, Lawless, Triple 9 and Bob Dylan: Odds and Ends.
The Road Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Road 64 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 64 Metascore
User score 7.3
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 70% User score
See on TMDB
The Road Plot Summary
What happens in The Road from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film opens with a poignant flashback showcasing a Man, played by Viggo Mortensen, in bed alongside his wife, portrayed by Charlize Theron. Suddenly, the tranquility is shattered by an eerie sound and an unfamiliar glow filtering through their window. Disturbed, the Man rushes to the bathroom, hastily filling the sink and bathtub with water, while his wife wakes to question his erratic behavior, unaware of the dread the moment entails. As she peers outside to grasp the situation, the narrative swiftly transitions to the somber present day, where the Man, accompanied by his son, traverses a desolate snow-covered road, embodying the weight of a world gripped by chaos and despair.
Full summary
The whole story of The Road, scene by scene
The Road Box Office & Budget
The Road grossed $27.6 million worldwide on a $25 million budget, 1.1 times what it cost. $8.1 million came from the US and Canada and $19.5 million (71%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$27.6M
1.1× its budget
- US & Canada
- $8.1M
- International
- $19.5M
- Budget
- $25M
The Road Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer The Road (2009) Official Trailer #1 - Viggo Mortensen Movie HD
How Well Do You Know The Road?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who plays the role of the Man in 'The Road'?
Cars in The Road
27 cars on screen, including the 1974 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado and the 1980 GMC C-7000.
-
1974 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado Minor role -
1980 GMC C-7000 Minor role -
1987 Plymouth Grand Voyager Minor role -
Volvo VN-Series Minor role
The Road Also Known As
28 alternative titles, including “A Estrada” and “末路浩劫”.
- Also known as
-
- A Estrada
- 末路浩劫
- Yol
- ザ・ロード
- La Route (2009)
- La Carretera
- Apokalypsa: Cesta smrti
- The Road (La carretera)
- 末日危途
- الطريق
- Vägen
- La Route
+16 more Show fewer
- Дорога
- La Carretera (The road)
- Cesta
- Az út
- Tie
- Droga
- Ο Δρόμος
- הדרך
- Drumul
- 더 로드
- Ceļš
- El último camino
- Пътят
- Hậu Tận Thế
- เดอะ โร้ด ข้ามแดนฝ่าอำมหิต
- Kelias
Seen The Road?
Movies Like The Road
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Road, The Road Killers and On the Road.
The Road FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of The Road, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Road?
The Road runs 1 hour 51 minutes (111 minutes).
When was The Road released?
The Road was released on November 25, 2009.
Who directed The Road?
The Road was directed by John Hillcoat.
More films by John Hillcoat Who is in the cast of The Road?
The Road stars Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron and Kodi Smit-McPhee.
How much did The Road make at the box office?
The Road grossed $27.6 million worldwide ($8.1 million domestic, $19.5 million international) on a budget of $25 million.
How is The Road rated?
The Road has 64 on Metacritic and 70% on TMDB.
Is The Road based on a book?
Yes. The Road is adapted from The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
Does The Road have a post-credit scene?
No. The Road has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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
