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John Carter

Play trailer Poster for John Carter PG-13 2012 2h 12m Sci-Fi Action Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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52% Tomatometer 234 Reviews 60% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
When Civil War veteran John Carter mysteriously awakes on the surface of Mars -- also called Barsoom -- he little expects the adventure that awaits him. Carter reluctantly becomes embroiled in an epic conflict among the red planet's inhabitants, including Tars Tarkas and Princess Dejah Thoris. As Barsoom is poised on the brink of collapse, war-weary Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that everyone's fate is in his hands.
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John Carter

John Carter

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Critics Consensus

While John Carter looks terrific and delivers its share of pulpy thrills, it also suffers from uneven pacing and occasionally incomprehensible plotting and characterization.

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Critics Reviews

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J. Hoberman ARTINFO.com 02/25/2019
For the most part, the first "live action" feature by Andrew Stanton, is graphically splendiferous and enjoyably nonsensical. Go to Full Review Matt Singer ScreenCrush 04/05/2012
5/10
Isn't the disaster some industry observers predicted, but it's not the high-gloss masterpiece some of us hoped for either. Go to Full Review David Denby The New Yorker 03/26/2012
A mess. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 09/22/2024
John rides a rhino into battle, fights great white apes in the arena, and leaps great distances like Superman in the early, original comic books. Go to Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 02/22/2023
2.5/4
It’s watchable and, at times, an enjoyable film, just not wowing or immediately satisfying in the way so many of Burroughs’ readers had hoped it would be. Go to Full Review David Bax Battleship Pretension 03/16/2021
John Carter is a good summer movie in March but, with the exception of that one fleeting segment, it's not a great movie at any time of year. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Brad w @Bradwright 2d My favorite movie by far. It's very similar to an old story I read as a kid. Just a great story. I can't wait for a sequel. See more Dan V @Valid777 Feb 2 I enjoyed it very much. It deserves a much better rating in my opinion. Now this is a movie that deserves a sequel. See more Leaburn O Jan 25 I only saw that the critics hated it but whatever, it’s a bit all over the place at first but settles down into a good film with likeable characters. Exciting enough too. Way better than any Star Wars. Watched on DVD. See more short T. @shortyno1 Jan 19 I went into John Carter knowing almost nothing, and it completely surprised me. The special effects were impressive, and while it’s not Avatar or backed by that level of budget, it delivers big on adventure and world-building. It’s also more relatable than expected, feeling like a modern-day Lawrence of Arabia.. set on Mars. Rewatching it today, it still holds up and left me wanting more. In fact, it was the first movie I ever bought on Blu-ray 3D, which says a lot about the impression it made. John Carter has earned an unfair reputation over the years, but taken on its own merits, it’s an entertaining and ambitious sci-fi adventure. Here’s hoping it someday gets the sequel it deserves. See more Ali s @Ahlee.s Jan 9 Way ahead of its time. WE NEED A REBOOT JOHN CARTER 2 or a tv-show! See more Thomas D @Thom1967 Dec 24 John Carter is not at all the disaster some critics said it is ! In my opinion IT’S A MODERN PEPLUM… It has the huge sets we used to see in Ancient Rome or Antique Greece movies of the 50’s and 60’s. (Most of it CGI, ok…), the fine costume to go with, the Martian technology looks a bit retro (which is pretty cool). The actors are definitely famous and very convincing ! Please don’t listen to the guys who criticise while being comfortable in their couch, feeling superior… while they often don’t have the beginning of the culture necessary to judge or even understand what they see… Make up your own mind, JOHN CARTER of MARS deserves it. See more Read all reviews
John Carter

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Cast & Crew

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Andrew Stanton

Director

Taylor Kitsch

John Carter

Lynn Collins

Princess Dejah Thoris

Willem Dafoe

Tars Tarkas

Samantha Morton

Sola

Ciarán Hinds

Tardos Mors

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John Carter

Woola in "John Carter." Lynn Collins as Dejah Thoris in "John Carter." (L-R) Willem Dafoe as Tars Tarkas and Taylor Kitsch as John Carter in "John Carter." A scene from "John Carter." Taylor Kitsch as John Carter in "John Carter." (L-R) Tars Tarkas and Taylor Kitsch as John Carter in "John Carter." A scene from "John Carter." Lynn Collins as Dejah Thoris and Taylor Kitsch as John Carter in "John Carter." A scene from "John Carter." A scene from "John Carter." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When Civil War veteran John Carter mysteriously awakes on the surface of Mars -- also called Barsoom -- he little expects the adventure that awaits him. Carter reluctantly becomes embroiled in an epic conflict among the red planet's inhabitants, including Tars Tarkas and Princess Dejah Thoris. As Barsoom is poised on the brink of collapse, war-weary Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that everyone's fate is in his hands.
Director
Andrew Stanton
Producer
Jim Morris, Colin Wilson, Lindsey Collins
Screenwriter
Andrew Stanton, Mark Andrews, Michael Chabon
Distributor
Walt Disney
Production Co
Walt Disney Studios
Rating
PG-13 (Intense Sequences of Violence|Intense Sequences of Action)
Genre
Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 9, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$73.1M
Runtime
2h 12m
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