The Tree of Life

Name: The Tree of Life
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Released: 2011-05-17
Cast: Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain, Hunter McCracken, Sean Penn, Fiona Shaw

2011 | 139 min | Drama, Fantasy

Saturday Special

Why it’s a Saturday Special

It earned strong reviews (85% on Rotten Tomatoes), it drew serious awards attention and it's still drawing plenty of interest. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for fantasy fans. If you loved Boogie Nights, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood: Emotional (bring tissues).
The pace: Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 19 min.
What might put you off: Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

The impressionistic story of a Texas family in the 1950s. The film follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack, through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father. Jack finds himself a lost soul in the modern world, seeking answers to the origins and meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith.

How it earned its rating

CriticsStrong
85% on Rotten Tomatoes
AudiencesSolid
6.7 out of 10
AwardsStrong
Won 1 Cannes award: Palme d'Or. Also nominated for 3 Oscars. Plus 2 other awards.
Box office & staying powerSolid
$55 million worldwide on a $32 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 410K people sought it out in the past year