The Tree of Life

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The Tree of Life

PG-13

2011

2h 18m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

86%

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291 Reviews

60%

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50,000+ Ratings

In this highly philosophical film by acclaimed director Terrence Malick, young Jack (Hunter McCracken) is one of three brothers growing up as part of the O'Brien family in small-town Texas. Jack has a contentious relationship with his father (Brad Pitt), but gets along well with his beautiful mother (Jessica Chastain). As an adult, Jack (Sean Penn) struggles with his past and tries to make sense of his childhood, while also grappling with bigger existential issues.

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Critics Consensus

Terrence Malick's singularly deliberate style may prove unrewarding for some, but for patient viewers, Tree of Life is an emotional as well as visual treat.

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Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

Jun 21, 2026

5/5

...the shadows of kids playing... upside down... like so many images in the film, it's life like we've always seen it, except like we've never seen it before. It's familiar but somehow alien.

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Adam Nayman

The Ringer

Apr 6, 2020

Malick's earnest pretentiousness surely invites derisive laughter. But it also withstands it, and like the ancient evergreen of its title, it towers benevolently over less ambitious movies...

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Amy Taubin

Film Comment Magazine

Aug 27, 2019

The Tree of Life in no way measured up.

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Ray Pride

Newcity

Oct 4, 2025

10/10

If you work with a camera that is autonomous and distracted,as Malick does, with promiscuous principal photography that works from inspiration and not text... the meaning gets layered in selection, the decisive moment is then in the edit, not in shooting.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Apr 26, 2025

The film is more kaleidoscopic than linear, filled with privileged moments of magic and terror, of remembered shards of treasured memories that have become idealized snapshot, and moments that are more textured evocations of emotions and anxieties.

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

Oct 10, 2023

3.5/4

There are two distinct films being made here and while the opening frames of The Tree of Life are some of the finest in memory, there’s little in the middle-to-late section of the film worth noting.

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Kristin R

@igobykristin 4 days ago

I just paid money to watch 20 minutes of a movie and 45 minutes of National Geographic.

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Huntin P

@PaxVobiscum80 Oct 4, 2026

The first 30-40 minutes are awesome, and I remember thinking wow, what can possibly follow this? The answer was not very much. I think Malick is probably one of the most overrated filmmakers in movie history. The Tree of Life helped me come to that opinion. Any movie that has lines like, "Love every blade of grass!", delivered earnestly, not with tongue-in-cheek, is a movie that needs an editor.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 19, 2026

This movie is a 3.5 star Movie!

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Maarit L

@Komedienne May 31, 2026

Cinematography deserves one star ⭐️

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Hao Ian L

@HaOiAn May 14, 2026

Pretentious in a sincere way and overstays its welcome, as well as some questionable dialogue every so often, are all heavily compensated for by Malick's sheer ambition. Navigating through its flaws, however, The Tree of Life, with its visuals and a genuine, heartfelt theme, is not only worthwhile but also the kind of picture that may very well change lives.

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Josiah C

@JosiahCosgrove Apr 15, 2026

A wonderful film! I hate how low-ranked it is just because the audience doesn't understand it. This is a must watch art-house film for the true appreciators of cinema ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Terrence Malick

Director

Brad Pitt

Mr. O'Brien

Sean Penn

Jack

Jessica Chastain

Mrs. O'Brien

Fiona Shaw

Grandmother

Irene Bedard

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Synopsis

In this highly philosophical film by acclaimed director Terrence Malick, young Jack (Hunter McCracken) is one of three brothers growing up as part of the O'Brien family in small-town Texas. Jack has a contentious relationship with his father (Brad Pitt), but gets along well with his beautiful mother (Jessica Chastain). As an adult, Jack (Sean Penn) struggles with his past and tries to make sense of his childhood, while also grappling with bigger existential issues.

Director: Terrence Malick
Producer: Sarah Green, Bill Pohlad, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Grant Hill
Screenwriter: Terrence Malick
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: Cottonwood Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Some Thematic Material)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 27, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $13.3M
Runtime: 2h 18m

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