Mud

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Mud

PG-13

2013

2h 10m

Drama

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

183 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

While exploring a Mississippi River island, Arkansas boys Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) encounter Mud (Matthew McConaughey), a fugitive who needs their help. Though Mud killed a man in Texas and has bounty hunters on his trail, he is most concerned about reuniting with Juniper (Reese Witherspoon), the love of his life. Ellis, who is suffering the pangs of his first crush, agrees to help Mud. He and Neckbone do all they can to protect Mud and help him reunite with Juniper.

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Critics Consensus

Bolstered by a strong performance from Matthew McConaughey in the title role, Mud offers an engaging Southern drama that manages to stay sweet and heartwarming without being sappy.

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Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

metro.co.uk

Sep 5, 2017

4/5

Its beguiling mix of naturalism and fabulism will appeal to adults who'd like to see a version of Beasts Of The Southern Wild with fewer fairy lights.

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Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

Apr 23, 2015

A

The type of film that's miraculously heartwarming, while also mournful and filled with sorrow.

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Mary Corliss

TIME Magazine

Jan 1, 2014

Glorious vision of youth and truth, love and loss, your name is Mud.

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JD Duran

InSession Film

Aug 20, 2024

B+

McConaughey, Sheridan, and Lofland carry the film and make Mud one of the year’s best films...

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

May 6, 2023

... a story of childhood adventure steeped in the rural culture of life on the Mississippi and the mythology of Huckleberry Finn, but this boy’s adventure is also tangled in the world of adults and family bonds.

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James Croot

The Post NZ

May 1, 2023

4.5/5

A film that mixes the intimate with the epic, thrilling action with slow-burning drama, Mud is a searing 2012 slice of Southern US-set cinema which rivals the brilliant Beasts of the Southern Wild from the same year.

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James A

@ablett001 Sep 4, 2026

Mud is an enjoyable, watchable movie but not much more. It never really gets going towards what could be potentially much more interesting and enthralling than the end product. As such, you find yourself waiting on some sort of plot twist that never really comes. That being said it is entertaining enough and all involved play their roles well.

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Geoffroy C

@RT36235841 Aug 30, 2026

I had no expectations didn't have a clue what I was about to watch, but I was pleasantly surprised. Well acted and beautiful photography. It's a pleasant quality slow paced film to watch. I highly recommend it.

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Dominique E

@encisonico Jul 25, 2026

Great dialogue and great themes with a southern style that we all can learn from

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Chris S

@Janomi Jul 1, 2026

Mud is a thoughtful coming-of-age drama that trusts its characters more than dramatic twists. Jeff Nichols writes and directs with remarkable restraint, weaving together themes of trust, first love, loyalty, and disillusionment in a way that feels honest. The story gradually reveals that growing up often means accepting that the people we admire are far more complicated than they first appear. Matthew McConaughey delivers an outstanding performance, making Mud both charismatic and deeply flawed. Tye Sheridan is equally impressive as Ellis, whose journey anchors the film, while Jacob Lofland, Reese Witherspoon, and Michael Shannon all add depth to the richly drawn supporting cast. Nichols also captures rural Arkansas beautifully, giving the rivers and small communities a strong sense of place. The climax is intentionally restrained, favoring emotional resolution over spectacle. It may feel understated to some viewers, but it fits the story and leaves a lasting impression.

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Pongo K

@RT48921889 May 14, 2026

What a beautiful movie. C it!

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Sky Y.

@datbigmeasel May 11, 2026

Very good cinematography and visually stunning but the story is very dry and slowly paced, big Matt does a great job but even at the climax of the movie I found myself dis interested and wondering when it would end. I feel like with some changes to the story and more liberties in the directing would’ve made this a much more enjoyable watch. very mid tier

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Jeff Nichols

Director

Matthew McConaughey

Mud

Tye Sheridan

Ellis

Jacob Lofland

Neckbone

Reese Witherspoon

Juniper

Michael Shannon

Galen

Mud: Official Clip - I Reckon We Can Make a Deal

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Mud: Official Clip - Mud Rescues Ellis

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Mud: Official Clip - There It Is

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Mud: Official Clip - Shootout on the River

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Mud: Official Clip - Where is He?

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Mud: Official Clip - A Talk by the Fire

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Mud: Official Clip - I Shot a Man

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Mud: Official Clip - Farewell

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Mud: Official Clip - You Can Call Me Mud

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Mud: Official Clip - I Trusted You!

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Synopsis

While exploring a Mississippi River island, Arkansas boys Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) encounter Mud (Matthew McConaughey), a fugitive who needs their help. Though Mud killed a man in Texas and has bounty hunters on his trail, he is most concerned about reuniting with Juniper (Reese Witherspoon), the love of his life. Ellis, who is suffering the pangs of his first crush, agrees to help Mud. He and Neckbone do all they can to protect Mud and help him reunite with Juniper.

Director: Jeff Nichols
Producer: Lisa Maria Falcone, Sarah Green, Aaron Ryder
Screenwriter: Jeff Nichols
Distributor: Roadside Attractions
Production Co: FilmNation, Brace Cove
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual References|Language|Smoking|Some Violence|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Drama, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 10, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 6, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $21.6M
Runtime: 2h 10m

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