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The Call of the Wild

  • 2020
  • PG
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
61K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,657
1,437
Harrison Ford in The Call of the Wild (2020)
A sled dog struggles for survival in the Alaskan wild.
Play trailer1:59
37 Videos
99+ Photos
Adventure EpicAnimal AdventureMountain AdventureQuestSurvivalAdventureDramaFamily

A sled dog struggles for survival in the wilds of the Yukon.A sled dog struggles for survival in the wilds of the Yukon.A sled dog struggles for survival in the wilds of the Yukon.

  • Director
    • Chris Sanders
  • Writers
    • Michael Green
    • Jack London
  • Stars
    • Harrison Ford
    • Omar Sy
    • Cara Gee
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    61K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,657
    1,437
    • Director
      • Chris Sanders
    • Writers
      • Michael Green
      • Jack London
    • Stars
      • Harrison Ford
      • Omar Sy
      • Cara Gee
    • 591User reviews
    • 189Critic reviews
    • 48Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 8 nominations total

    Videos37

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:59
    Official Trailer
    The Call of the Wild
    Trailer 1:59
    The Call of the Wild
    The Call of the Wild
    Trailer 1:59
    The Call of the Wild
    How Harrison Ford Answered 'The Call of the Wild'
    Clip 3:05
    How Harrison Ford Answered 'The Call of the Wild'
    The Call of the Wild
    Clip 0:46
    The Call of the Wild
    The Call of the Wild
    Clip 1:04
    The Call of the Wild
    The Call of the Wild
    Clip 1:20
    The Call of the Wild

    Photos141

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    + 134
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Harrison Ford
    Harrison Ford
    • John Thornton
    Omar Sy
    Omar Sy
    • Perrault
    Cara Gee
    Cara Gee
    • Francoise
    Dan Stevens
    Dan Stevens
    • Hal
    Bradley Whitford
    Bradley Whitford
    • Judge Miller
    Jean Louisa Kelly
    Jean Louisa Kelly
    • Katie Miller
    Michael Horse
    Michael Horse
    • Edenshaw
    Karen Gillan
    Karen Gillan
    • Mercedes
    Colin Woodell
    Colin Woodell
    • Charles
    Micah Fitzgerald
    Micah Fitzgerald
    • Red Sweater
    Heather McPhaul
    Heather McPhaul
    • Head Cook
    Adam Fergus
    Adam Fergus
    • James
    Stephanie Czajkowski
    Stephanie Czajkowski
    • Postmaster
    Abraham Benrubi
    Abraham Benrubi
    • Skookum Bench King
    Thomas Adoue Polk
    Thomas Adoue Polk
    • Assistant Postmaster
    Raven Scott
    Raven Scott
    • Pastry Chef
    Brad Greenquist
    Brad Greenquist
    • Skagway Dog Seller
    Benjamin Hoffman
    Benjamin Hoffman
    • Deckhand
    • Director
      • Chris Sanders
    • Writers
      • Michael Green
      • Jack London
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews591

    6.761.3K
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    Featured reviews

    6dylanhorne-76909

    I was expecting the wrong thing

    This is a great family movie. It has all the aspects of what makes kids smile. However, this is not the adaption of Jack London's book that I was looking for. In my opinion, in searching for that feel good vibe, it lost the character that defined the original story. Everything was made PG and the raw unforgiving reality of the book was lost in translation. Additionally, the CGI was good, but over used to the nth degree. Its worth a watch, just keep in mind that this movie is a rather loose adaptation.
    TxMike

    Jack London's 1890s Yukon novel brought to life.

    There have been several movies "Call of the Wild" but this is the first time one has told the entire story in Jack London's book. The real main character is the big dog, Buck, and his transformation from house pet to sled dog to alpha male of his own hybrid Timberwolf pack.

    This movie in its form could not have been made with real dogs. Instead they used state of the art motion capture to generate realistic animation for the animals. This is covered quite nicely in a series of "making of" extras on the movie disc.

    Harrison Ford, almost 80 now, is very effective as the narrator and the old prospector that befriends Buck. This is a really good movie, at first the sight of an animated Buck threw me off but soon it made no difference, the story is so good.

    I watched it at home on BluRay from my public library, my wife skipped, not her kind of movie.
    8Davor_Blazevic_1959

    A classic novel well-altered... especially for the younger ones

    Before writing anything about the film itself let it be noted following.

    (1) Screenplays are usually related to source materials (works of fiction or documentary depictions of factual events and experiences) with the phrase *based on*, which is mostly read as *copied from* (whether a fictitious depiction or reality) although fully faithful account of events and their protagonists almost never happens, so, in all fairness, it might be safer to understand such relation simply as *altered from*.

    (2) Furthermore, CGI has erased strict distinction between live action and animation, introducing a new method and a whole new form of cinematography by blending realistic imagery and kinematics of existing animals (and other fantastic beasts) with anthropomorphic expressions and gestures given to their stylized representation in the world of animation, a trend probably started in 1970's by ILM servicing Star Wars saga, getting (over)exploited in recent followers of the kind, most notably Disney's The Lion King (2019).

    That having been said, in the latest take on Jack London's classic novel, screenwriter Michael Green and director Chris Sanders--apparently intentionally not bound by faithfulness to the original text, particularly avoiding its darker overtones, certainly counting with receptiveness from the audience, especially from those (among us) who have read the novel--have succeeded in meeting a great deal of expectations from the film seeking to be labeled with family entertainment attribute.

    The Call of the Wild is the story of Buck (as main human character, John Thornton, described it), a dog like no other, he'd been spoiled, and he'd suffered, but he could not be broken... Buck's life gets turned upside down during the gold rush of the 1890s, when he was suddenly banished from his home in California and moved, first to Yukon, and then deep into the heart of Alaska, reaching Arctic Circle. *As a newcomer to the dog team delivery service - soon their leader - Buck is having adventure of a lifetime, finally finding his rightful place in the world and becoming the master of his own destiny.*

    By smoothening London's honest account and description of--pursuant to extreme conditions easily understandable--truly violent interaction between people, animals and nature, primarily by minimizing cruel dog beatings at the hands of their masters and brutal, often fatal dog fights, film makers have altered such survival seeking Darwinian world, in which dog eats dog and a man is (often) a wolf to another man, by promoting rather-friends-then-foes approach towards strangers, and, whenever possible, insisting rather on gentleness than harshness of the great wild outdoors, overhauling the classic story to an easier digestible, ergo family friendlier.

    Other qualities include good acting, with Harrison Ford as a stand-out, whose husky calm voice offers narration throughout the film, providing vulnerable yet soothing, almost comforting presence in his appearance as John Thornton, seemingly a gold prospector, but in fact, after losing his loved ones, a son to a deadly fever, and a wife to subsequent collapse of his marriage, no more than a grief-stricken redemption seeker. Also, in the first half of the movie, as a far north delivery service running couple, Omar Sy and Cara Gee are joy to watch in their often, despite all difficulties, comic relief providing roles.

    Film demonstrates commendable seamless integration of CG imagery of beasts and beautiful environments into spectacular cinematography provided by Janusz Kaminski.

    Joyful music, scored by John Powell, is well-paced to follow the speed of onscreen action and reflect the highs and lows in the moods of characters.

    All in all, it is nicely crafted film with the fast-paced story, providing enough dramatic excitement and fun, especially for the younger ones.

    My rating score stops short of perfect, due to a trend described in my second opening note that I cannot easily fall in with, too.

    Finally, on a lighter note, having film menagerie of animals fully CGI-ed renders monitors from American Humane Association superfluous, as even in their absence we can rest assured that *no (real) animals were harmed during the making of this film.*
    7theojhyman

    Sweet, innocent, old school movie

    I was actually very impressed with the CGI dog, who became more and more real as the film went on, probably because of how emotionally involved you become with his character. Harrison Ford is great (though in the film for probably 50% of the time). Anyway, it's all about the story of Buck the dog and it's a sweet, lovely, story with an old school feel. The CGI expressions on Buck's face are just slightly hyper-real, as in a bit overly emotive compared to a dog in reality, but it works, and if you like dogs, then you'll love Buck and his adventures in this movie. He gets treated quite harshly and violently at times, but that makes his story all the more emotional at the end. Great for kids aged 7 and up and great for parents who like an old school movie or fans of Harrison Ford too!
    7masonsaul

    Heartwarming adventure

    The Call of the Wild is a familiar but heartwarming adventure that's surprisingly funny and emotional. The CG dog is great and conveys lots of emotions and the CG in general is also great, though it has moments where it dips in quality. Harrison Ford is amazing and Omar Sy gives a really good supporting performance. Chris Sanders' direction is great and there are some thrilling set pieces. It's well filmed, well paced and the music by John Powell is fantastic.

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Each sled dog on Buck's team (besides Spitz) was given the personality of one of the dwarfs from the Disney classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937): Dolly is Bashful, Pike is Grumpy, Joe is Happy, Billy is Sleepy, Dave is Dopey, Dub is Sneezy, and Sol-Leks is Doc.
    • Goofs
      The message on the telegram that Perrault receives has a uniformity and cleanness that demonstrates that this was produced not on a typewriter, but by a modern laser printer. Also, the telegram's text uses a modern Courier font not present on typewriters of that period.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      John Thornton: [narrates] Some say that's the legend. Not so. You see, I knew him once, when he was just a dog at a men side. And even all this land is his, every summer, when he comes down to the valley, he remembers kind hands and old masters... before he went to his own... became his own master... before he heard the call.

    • Crazy credits
      Film title at the end of closing credits
    • Alternate versions
      Prior to re-shoots, Mercedes, Charles, and the remaining dog team die (off-screen) on the broken-up river; only Hal survives to return to Dawson and confront John Thornton in the Argonaut saloon. (Paraphrased: "I lost everything because of you: my dogs... my sister...") Despite successful test screenings, studio heads changed this to Hal saying, "My dogs ran off" -- indicating the team and (one assumes) Mercedes and Charles survived -- in an attempt to keep children from being upset.
    • Connections
      Featured in Jimmy Kimmel Live!: Harrison Ford/"Science Bob" Pflugfelder/Wiz Khalifa/Ty Dolla Sign/Lil Yachty/Sueco the Child (2020)
    • Soundtracks
      Johnny Todd
      Traditional

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    FAQ19

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 21, 2020 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Instagram
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • El llamado salvaje
    • Filming locations
      • Yukon, Canada(Klondike Gold Rush)
    • Production companies
      • 20th Century Studios
      • TSG Entertainment
      • 3 Arts Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $135,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $62,342,368
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $24,791,624
      • Feb 23, 2020
    • Gross worldwide
      • $111,166,669
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
      • Auro 11.1
      • Dolby Digital
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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