Z for Zachariah

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Z for Zachariah

PG-13

2015

1h 37m

Drama

Romance

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

96 Reviews

44%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Following a disaster that wipes out most of civilization, a scientist (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and a miner (Chris Pine) compete for the love of a woman (Margot Robbie) who may be the last female on Earth.

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Critics Consensus

Z for Zachariah wrings compelling drama out of its simplistic premise -- albeit at a pace that may test the patience of less contemplative viewers.

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Ibad Shah

IndieWire

Sep 13, 2017

B

"Z for Zachariah is a solid relationship drama disguised as post-apocalyptic tale.

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Noel Murray

Nashville Scene

Aug 4, 2016

The deviations from O'Brien's plot don't always work, but the characters do come across as real people, in a believably fallen world, following a carefully planned-out path and trying to avoid a fatal misstep.

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

May 27, 2016

'Z for Zachariah' is a film of ideas, but those ideas never overpower the people it's about.

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Matt Oakes

Silver Screen Riot

Oct 14, 2026

B-

Stellar performances from a tight cast and a delightfully melancholy post-apocalyptic setting imbue great meaning to [Z for Zachariah]'s movements.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Jul 29, 2026

... the film’s portrait of human co-existence in terms of wolf pack politics (there’s only room for one alpha here), is what’s most interesting, and Ejiofor’s performance gives John’s decency a dark edge.

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Vadim Rizov

Filmmaker Magazine

Jan 23, 2023

Heather McIntosh’s score reinforces every obvious emotion in hacky fashion, and there’s a bad sex scene to boot.

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Par H

@Parhwy Apr 1, 2026

Z for Zachariah (2015) is a 97-minute-long drama I saw on YouTube Free in March 2026. Based on the book of the same name by author Robert O’Brien first published in 1975. This was a class reading assignment for me in Year 10, 1986. I loved it. I did not love this film. Not because it’s not the book. I am rarely one of those "book versus film" types (except in egregious cases and this, oddly, is not egregious even though a third wheel is added to the cast). Because it’s boring, linear, and the suspense is lukewarm. And as another reviewer asked, Where did the dog go after half time?? Produced by Tobey Maguire of Spider-Man fame, it was surprisingly mostly set in the South Island of New Zealand. As apocalypse films go, it’s cool to learn how petrol bowsers work although fuel degradation apparently doesn’t exist. Rewatch? No. Recommend? No.

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Jayda A

@jBugs005 Feb 14, 2026

Worst movie adaptation of a book. Why did they introduce another character that's not in the book? Why did she have power the whole time? Why did they age up a 16 year old character so could have sex with 2 40+ y/o men? Terrible dog shit. Except the dog. Loved the dog, that's why there is even a star. I'm sorry Margot and Chris had to go though filming this. I'm sorry I don't know who the third guy is.

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Kevin W

@RT69520760 Feb 24, 2025

Yet another movie that had so much potential but straight way too far from the original book. And I'm really starting to get sick of movies that just leave you hanging. There's no definitive ending here. Did he/she or didn't he/she? We'll never know. Thanks for your two hours.

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Mark B

@RT83069172 Dec 27, 2024

I can’t recall seeing a movie that was so far removed from the content of the book it is based on. The whole point of the relationship between the two characters as there were just two is lost and was lost before they became a three.

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Ross M

@RT14420929 Mar 6, 2024

This was an interesting excursion pushed along by solid performances from its characters. It's not an action film by any stretch of the imagination but does a pretty good job within the confines of its set up.

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Jelisije J

@jjosifovic Oct 1, 2023

A very predictable movie that I wished stuck to the original source material.

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Craig Zobel

Director

Chiwetel Ejiofor

John Loomis

Margot Robbie

Ann Burden

Chris Pine

Caleb

Nissar Modi

Screenwriter

Sigurjon Sighvatsson

Producer

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Synopsis

Following a disaster that wipes out most of civilization, a scientist (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and a miner (Chris Pine) compete for the love of a woman (Margot Robbie) who may be the last female on Earth.

Director: Craig Zobel
Producer: Sigurjon Sighvatsson, Þór Sigurjónsson, Skuli Fr. Malmquist, Matthew Plouffe, Sophia Lin, Tobey Maguire
Screenwriter: Nissar Modi
Distributor: Roadside Attractions
Production Co: Silver Reel, Material, Zik Zak Filmworks, Sighvatsson Films, Lucky Hat Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Strong Language|A Scene of Sexuality|Partial Nudity)
Genre: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 28, 2015, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 7, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $118.5K
Runtime: 1h 37m

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