Magellan

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Magellan

Jan 2026

2h 36m

History

Drama

Biography

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90%

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58 Reviews

33%

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50+ Ratings

16th century. Magellan, a young and ambitious Portuguese navigator, rebels against the power of the King, who doesn't support his dream of discovering the world. He persuades the Spanish Crown to fund his bold expedition to the fabled lands of the East. The voyage is exhausting beyond expectations, with hunger and mutiny pushing the crew to their limits. Upon reaching the islands of the Malayan Archipelago, Magellan's mind changes. He becomes obsessed with conquest and conversion, which sparks violent uprisings beyond his control. This is not the myth of Magellan, but the truth of his journey.

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Critics Consensus

Magellan blends Lav Diaz's slow cinema rigor with the biopic form to create a visually hypnotic, deliberately paced historical epic that immerses viewers in a spiritually charged meditation on power, mythology, and colonial ambition.

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John Anderson

Wall Street Journal

Apr 23, 2026

Most buffs expect more motion in their pictures than what they get from director Lav Diaz and “Magellan.” Still, the 2025 film weaves a spell if you let it.

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Michael Andor Brodeur

Washington Post

Jan 27, 2026

4/4

The scale of the film remains resolutely epic, in part because Diaz is patient and in part because he’s insistent on telling this story of conquest and domination on his terms.

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Sergio Burstein

Los Angeles Times

Jan 21, 2026

Both true film buffs and admirers of García Bernal should know that this is an absolutely outstanding work, brilliantly filmed and eminently contemplative. [Full review in Spanish]

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Fletcher Powell

KMUW - Wichita Public Radio

Jul 20, 2026

Diaz’s sense of composition is astounding, his images are gorgeous, and he often makes us feel as if we are there, in these places, in the 16th century, with pounding rain on a jungle river and piles of dead bodies.

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Keva York

The Saturday Paper

Jul 16, 2026

In its coupling of languid pacing and poisonous precision, Magellan evokes two of the best skewerings of the colonialist project in recent memory: 2022’s Pacifiction, by Albert Serra and Zama, from 2017, by Lucrecia Martel.

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Mariona Borrull

Fotogramas

Jul 6, 2026

3/5

It's pop sensibility doesn't make it any less self-absorbed. [Full review in Spanish]

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Frederico T

@RT33736717 Nov 4, 2026

It's terribly slow for such a rich story. The only good thing is Gael García Bernal performance, that was able to speak european portuguese with an almost flawless accent in contrast with the brazilean portuguese and some other dialect that was supposed to be portuguese but is not. It's an art-house film.

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Ads T

@RT11627483 Oct 11, 2026

Perhaps due to the era in which Magellan lived, there is no romantic depiction of exploring to be found here. The film is relentlessly bleak- exotic locations are overcast with muddy beaches and dead bodies. It is also a very still movie with only sporadic action and dialogue. There is though, much to be admired not least the stunning cinematography.

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Brian S

@RT07025475 Oct 5, 2026

It’s unwatchable. It’s like someone made a movie about colonialism. Cut out all the parts where things actually happen. And only left in the parts in between when people are bored and staring off into space.

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Lee H

@RT46241624 Sep 30, 2026

This was not entertaining. It was mediocre as a movie or a documentary. Most of all, it was boring.

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Tom F

@RT55173143 Aug 15, 2026

Long and slow, but ultimately rewarding.

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M S

@Littoral Jul 22, 2026

We watched for the first hour+, and NOTHING happened. I can see how it would be favored by critics due to cinematography, but the movie sucked. I got it because of critic's ratings, I will try not to make that mistake again.

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Lav Diaz

Director

Gael García Bernal

Fernão de Magalhães

Ângela Azevedo

Beatriz Barbosa de Magalhães

Amado Arjay Babon

Actor

Ronnie Lazaro

Raja Humabon

Hazel Orencio

Juana

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Synopsis

16th century. Magellan, a young and ambitious Portuguese navigator, rebels against the power of the King, who doesn't support his dream of discovering the world. He persuades the Spanish Crown to fund his bold expedition to the fabled lands of the East. The voyage is exhausting beyond expectations, with hunger and mutiny pushing the crew to their limits. Upon reaching the islands of the Malayan Archipelago, Magellan's mind changes. He becomes obsessed with conquest and conversion, which sparks violent uprisings beyond his control. This is not the myth of Magellan, but the truth of his journey.

Director: Lav Diaz
Producer: Joaquim Sapinho, Marta Alves, Alberto Serra, Montse Triola, Stefano Centini
Screenwriter: Lav Diaz
Distributor: Janus Films
Production Co: Rosa Filmes, Andergraun Films, Lib Films, Black Cap Pictures
Genre: History, Drama, Biography
Original Language: Portuguese
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 9, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 17, 2026
Box Office (Gross USA): $213.1K
Runtime: 2h 36m

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