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Wildlife (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Wildlife (2018) movie poster

Wildlife is a 2018 drama starring Carey Mulligan as Jeanette Brinson, Jake Gyllenhaal and Ed Oxenbould. It is based on Wildlife by Richard Ford. It runs 1 hour 45 minutes and earned $3.3 million worldwide. It earned 4 award nominations, including Best Cinematography at the Spirit Awards 2019. Critics gave it 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and 80 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10.

IMDb rating
6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
94%
worldwide gross
$3.3M
award nominations
4
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Wildlife (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 45m (105 min)
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Wildlife About?

The premise of Wildlife without spoilers, adapted from Wildlife by Richard Ford. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In 1960s Montana, a raging forest fire looms over a small town, disrupting the lives of Jeanette and her teenage son, Joe. Their lives are further complicated when Joe's father and Jeanette's husband, a golf pro, leaves to fight the fire, abandoning them to face financial hardship and emotional turmoil. Jeanette struggles to provide for her son while Joe grapples with the absence of a parental figure and navigates a changing family dynamic.

Wildlife Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • husband wife relationship
  • coming of age
  • adultery
  • unemployment
  • mother son relationship
  • extramarital affair
  • teenage boy
  • melodrama
  • slice of life
  • photography
  • father son relationship
  • firefighter
+38 more
  • bus
  • title spoken by character
  • f rated
  • one word title
  • failing marriage
  • great falls montana
  • directorial debut
  • montana
  • forest fire
  • football
  • part time job
  • cigarette smoking
  • golf
  • country club
  • fire
  • fired from a job
  • losing a job
  • ringing telephone
  • watching tv
  • swimming pool
  • swimming lesson
  • photographer
  • dancing
  • kiss
  • slapped in the face
  • mother slaps her son
  • letter
  • portrait photograph
  • posing for a photograph
  • photography studio
  • photography assistant
  • cheating on a test
  • americana
  • cheating wife
  • marriage
  • job termination
  • unfaithfulness
  • american football
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Cast & crew

Wildlife Cast & Characters

Carey Mulligan leads the cast as Jeanette Brinson, with Jake Gyllenhaal as Jerry Brinson and Ed Oxenbould as Joe Brinson.

Ratings

Wildlife Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Wildlife 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and 80 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 77/100, strongest in character & emotion (88) and weakest in rewatch factor (60).

77 /100

Wildlife Echo Score Breakdown

In terms of its overall execution, Wildlife excels in its visual craft and central performances but is tempered by a deliberate pace and occasional narrative predictability. Reviews consistently highlight the director’s assured compositional style and the depth of the lead actress’s portrayal, while noting that the understated plot can feel measured to the point of reserve. The film’s meditative quality yields an experience that is more contemplative than instantly engaging, resulting in a net impression of an artful, character-driven drama with modest momentum.

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, the film demonstrates assured directorial control and evocative cinematography. The restrained compositions unfold with an understated color palette, from twilight plains to softly lit interiors, creating a cohesive visual rhythm. Direction maintains a poised elegance, letting frames breathe without overt flourish. The result is a production design that consistently supports the film’s contemplative atmosphere.

  • Character & Emotion 88

    In terms of character and emotion, the film is anchored by a nuanced lead performance that conveys subtle shifts in inner life. Scenes balance measured dialogue with emotive gestures, allowing character relationships to surface organically. The supporting cast contributes depth to the household dynamic, even when some transitions test plausibility. Overall, the emotional resonance remains a compelling aspect of the drama.

  • Story & Flow 70

    In terms of story and flow, the narrative unfolds with a deliberate tempo that emphasizes reflection over momentum. The plot’s midcentury setting offers period authenticity, yet certain beats feel aligned with familiar dramatic patterns, reducing the sense of novelty. Pacing choices underscore the family’s unraveling but can render engagement sporadic. Net, the script strikes a balance between thoughtful observation and conventional structure.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    In terms of sensory experience, the film delivers a cohesive visual style marked by a subtle color scheme and gentle sound design. The score underlines emotional undercurrents without overwhelming the images, while ambient audio complements the rural setting. Visual transitions and soundscapes work in tandem to maintain tonal unity. Overall, the sensory elements reinforce the film’s subdued, introspective mood.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    In terms of rewatch factor, the film’s reflective pace and nuanced details invite reconsideration, though its subdued momentum may limit eagerness for multiple viewings. The layered compositions and restrained performances reward careful attention, offering new observations on repeated watches. However, the film’s understated tone may not sustain broader replay appeal. Ultimately, replay interest rests on appreciation for subtle craftsmanship.

Plot

Wildlife Plot Summary

What happens in Wildlife from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In 1960, Jeanette Brinson and Jerry Brinson Brinson have recently moved to Great Falls, Montana, with their teenage son Joe Brinson. Tensions simmer after Jerry is fired from his job as a golf pro at a local country club. He is offered his old position back, but his pride keeps him from taking it. Instead of hunting for work, he sleeps in his car and spends nights watching the local firefighting crews combat a raging forest fire that grips the surrounding mountains. To help the family make ends meet while he searches for steady employment, Jeanette Brinson takes a job as a swimming instructor, though she initially tries to land a teaching post at a school.

Full summary

The whole story of Wildlife, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Wildlife Box Office

Wildlife grossed $3.3 million worldwide. $1.1 million came from the US and Canada and $2.3 million (68%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$3.3M

US & Canada
$1.1M
International
$2.3M
US & Canada 32% Rest of the world 68%
Awards

Wildlife Awards & Nominations

Wildlife earned 4 award nominations, including Best Cinematography at the Spirit Awards 2019. The 4 nominations come from 2 ceremonies, the most at the Spirit Awards 2019.

4 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

Wildlife Trailers & Videos

15 videos: 1 trailer, 4 teasers, 3 clips and 7 featurettes.

All 15 videos
Official Trailer
  • Teaser Official Teaser
  • Teaser :60 Second Trailer
  • Teaser Carey Mulligan - TV Spot
  • Teaser Jake Gyllenhaal - TV Spot
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Wildlife?

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

In what year is the movie set?

Cars

Cars in Wildlife

29 cars on screen, including the 1953 Chevrolet One-Fifty Handyman and the 1956 Cadillac Coupe DeVille.

All 29 cars
  • 1953 Chevrolet One-Fifty Handyman in Wildlife 1953 Chevrolet One-Fifty Handyman Main role
  • 1956 Cadillac Coupe DeVille in Wildlife 1956 Cadillac Coupe DeVille Important role
  • 1954 Chevrolet Two-Ten in Wildlife 1954 Chevrolet Two-Ten Minor role
  • 1951 GMC PD 4103 in Wildlife 1951 GMC PD 4103 Minor role
Details

Wildlife Also Known As

24 alternative titles, including “Wildlife: une saison ardente” and “Vida Selvagem”.

Also known as
  • Wildlife: une saison ardente
  • Vida Selvagem
  • 와일드 라이프
  • Lo que arde con el fuego
  • Cuộc Tình Hoang Dại
  • Yangın Yeri
  • Wildlife : Une saison ardente
  • 와일드라이프
  • Дике життя
  • Дикая жизнь
  • 野性日記
  • תמונה משפחתית
+12 more
  • Kraina wielkiego nieba
  • Дивата природа
  • Metsik elu
  • Vadon
  • Under en öppen himmel
  • 狂野生活
  • Divje življenje
  • Incendios, ველური ცხოვრება
  • Laukinis gyvenimas
  • ワイルドライフ
  • รัก เรา ร้าว ร้าง
  • Viața sălbatică

Seen Wildlife?

FAQ

Wildlife FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it, awards and post-credit scenes of Wildlife, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Wildlife?

Wildlife runs 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes).

When was Wildlife released?

Wildlife was released on October 19, 2018.

Who is in the cast of Wildlife?

Wildlife stars Carey Mulligan as Jeanette Brinson, Jake Gyllenhaal as Jerry Brinson and Ed Oxenbould as Joe Brinson, among 15 credited actors.

How much did Wildlife make at the box office?

Wildlife grossed $3.3 million worldwide ($1.1 million domestic, $2.3 million international).

How is Wildlife rated?

Wildlife has 6.8/10 on IMDb, 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 80 on Metacritic and 66% on TMDB.

Is Wildlife based on a book?

Yes. Wildlife is adapted from Wildlife by Richard Ford.

Was Wildlife nominated for any awards?

Wildlife received 4 nominations across 2 ceremonies.

Does Wildlife have a post-credit scene?

No. Wildlife has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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