News of the World

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News of the World

PG-13

2020

1h 58m

Western

Adventure

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

271 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Verified Ratings

Five years after the end of the Civil War, Capt. Jefferson Kyle Kidd crosses paths with a 10-year-old girl taken by the Kiowa people. Forced to return to her aunt and uncle, Kidd agrees to escort the child across the harsh and unforgiving plains of Texas. However, the long journey soon turns into a fight for survival as the traveling companions encounter danger at every turn -- both human and natural.

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Critics Consensus

News of the World takes a slow but absorbing ride down a comfortingly familiar Western trail, guided by Tom Hanks in peak paternal mode.

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Linda Marric

The Jewish Chronicle

Feb 20, 2021

4/5

A beautifully crafted, no frills adventure which often feels like an homage to Westerns of yore.

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Feb 14, 2021

4/5

I found this a rewarding and entertaining drama, heavy with the weight of the past, yet buoyed up by the possibilities of the future.

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Clarisse Loughrey

Independent (UK)

Feb 12, 2021

3/5

Their journey packs in all the usual thrills of the genre - the shootouts and the ravenous jaws of nature - though Greengrass doesn't approach the material with the kineticism of Captain Phillips (also starring Hanks) or the Bourne films.

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James Profetto

Reel James (YouTube)

Jul 9, 2026

6/10

My biggest complaint is that the movie misfires too often and doesn't get interesting until the 56-minute mark.

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Geoffrey Macnab

iNews.co.uk

Jan 16, 2025

4/5

Humour is in short supply but this is still a handsome and moving affair which shows that the wagon trail hasn’t run dead quite yet.

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Joonatan Itkonen

Region Free

Jul 13, 2024

4/5

At an unnatural time, NEWS OF THE WORLD feels like the perfect communal experience, even when shared at a distance.

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Ken

Jun 19, 2022

New and exciting. Loved it!

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movie lover

Sep 17, 2021

love Tom Hanks and the young girl - a little slow but good story

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Charles

Apr 19, 2021

The movie was OK but parts of it dragged.

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Bonnie

Apr 17, 2021

Very touching movie. A long journey with healing for two main characters.

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Connie W

Apr 12, 2021

Great story, took my granddaughter to help show where we were and where we are now as a people, not what is being portrayed in the news these days. Very human story of love, loss, racism, and those who fought it. Gave her a greater appreciation for living in the 21st century.

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Christina C

Apr 2, 2021

We really enjoyed the interaction between Johanna and the Captain - well played!

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Paul Greengrass

Director

Tom Hanks

Captain Kidd

Helena Zengel

Johanna

Mare Winningham

Doris Boudlin

Michael Angelo Covino

Almay

Ray McKinnon

Simon Boudlin

News of the World: Movie Clip - Captain Kidd's Stories

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News of the World: Behind the Scenes - On Location

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News of the World: Featurette - A Look Inside

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News of the World: Trailer 1

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News of the World: TV Spot 1

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Synopsis

Five years after the end of the Civil War, Capt. Jefferson Kyle Kidd crosses paths with a 10-year-old girl taken by the Kiowa people. Forced to return to her aunt and uncle, Kidd agrees to escort the child across the harsh and unforgiving plains of Texas. However, the long journey soon turns into a fight for survival as the traveling companions encounter danger at every turn -- both human and natural.

Director: Paul Greengrass
Producer: Gary Goetzman, Gail Mutrux, Gregory Goodman
Screenwriter: Luke Davies
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Perfect World Pictures, Playtone Productions, Pretty Pictures, Universal Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Some Language|Disturbing Images|Thematic Material|Violence)
Genre: Western, Adventure, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 2020, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 15, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA): $12.7M
Runtime: 1h 58m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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