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The World's Fastest Indian

The World's Fastest Indian (2005)

tomatometer

82

Average Rating: 6.9/10
Reviews Counted: 139
Fresh: 114 | Rotten: 25

Overcomes its formulaic storyline thanks to Anthony Hopkins' warm and endearing portrayal of an age-defying thrill seeker.

70

Average Rating: 6.4/10
Critic Reviews: 30
Fresh: 21 | Rotten: 9

Overcomes its formulaic storyline thanks to Anthony Hopkins' warm and endearing portrayal of an age-defying thrill seeker.

audience

88

liked it
Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 34,003

My Rating

Movie Info

The true story of a man who never gave up on his dreams of doing something big -- and doing it very, very fast -- provides the basis for this engaging comedy drama. Burt Munro (Anthony Hopkins) was born in 1899 in Invercargill, New Zealand. From childhood, Munro had a passion for machines that moved fast, and when he was 21 he bought his first motorcycle, an Indian model with a 600 cc engine. Motorcycles became an obsession that stayed with Munro for the rest of his life, as he constantly

PG-13, 2 hr. 7 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure

Mar 15, 2005

$5.0M

Magnolia Distribution

All Critics (143) | Top Critics (30) | Fresh (115) | Rotten (26) | DVD (18)

This compelling fact-based story is [Donaldson's] best effort in years.

August 6, 2008 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The World's Fastest Indian might be the world's worst title for a charming, slice-of-life biopic starring Anthony Hopkins.

February 3, 2006 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | Comment
San Francisco Chronicle
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The World's Fastest Indian is an old-fashioned feel-good movie.

February 3, 2006 Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | Comment
Orlando Sentinel
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The film may be cutesy-poo for some tastes, and there isn't much nail-chewing suspense in Burt's pursuit or his lighthearted subjugation of everyone he meets. But man and "motor-sickle" sneaked up and beguiled me, so all I could do was hop on.

February 3, 2006 Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | Comment
Houston Chronicle
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The World's Fastest Indian, in which Anthony Hopkins gets to play an adorably cantankerous old man, is a pretty safe bet as far as movies go.

February 3, 2006 Full Review Source: Detroit News | Comment
Detroit News
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Without apology, Munro's story has been embellished and romanticized right to the edge of cornball, where it manages to make a hairpin turn and restore its balance.

February 3, 2006 Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press | Comment
Detroit Free Press
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Anthony Hopkins gives an eccentric performance in his second film with Roger Donaldson.

July 31, 2011 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment

Hopkins' joyous romp is a little slow for kids.

December 18, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

Ambushing audiences isn't easy for an actor like Anthony Hopkins, from whom we've come to expect shouting routines. But he propels this biopic past familiar fish-out-of-water beats with a vibrant, wily, unpredictable joie de vivre not seen since "Nixon."

December 15, 2010 Full Review Source: Suite101.com | Comment
Suite101.com

Movie does not try to turn elderly speedster Burt Munro into melodrama but simply allows his astounding achievements to speak for themselves.

November 11, 2008 Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | Comment
rec.arts.movies.reviews

An old-fashioned, consummate feelgood flick and a valedictory to eccentric, stubborn old coots everywhere.

August 6, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment

The film draws you in with its gentle humor and tenacious good will. (HD-DVD edition)

May 2, 2007 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

It's hard not to like Hopkins' Burt Munro, which means it's hard not to like The World's Fastest Indian.

May 2, 2007 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment (1)
Movie Metropolis

It creaks and splutters all the way, but Hopkins' charm keeps it chugging along steadily.

January 27, 2007 Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | Comment
Guardian [UK]

This codger has a libido, which distinguishes him from most of the seniors in the movies.

November 4, 2006 Full Review Source: CBC.ca Arts | Comment

Sweet but syrupy and formulaic.

July 24, 2006 Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | Comment
One Guy's Opinion

It takes a while to adjust to this amiable film's languorous tempo but you might find it's worth the wait.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

The film is itself an offering to the god of speed, but much more besides.

April 7, 2006 Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | Comment
Sydney Morning Herald

Hopkins presides as such an engaging old coot, it seems criminal to point out flaws in the film -- which rarely tries to be more than a Kiwi version of 'The Straight Story.'

April 4, 2006 Full Review Source: Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas) | Comment
Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)

A wonderfully uplifting and charming biopic that's sure to win over all but the most mean-spirited. And the motorbike races really rocket, too.

April 1, 2006 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | Comment (1)
Empire Magazine
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The World's Fastest Indian

took a look at this film with a slightly wary eye, the title being rather ambiguous and misleading initially. I nearly passed it by to watch one of the many screener DVD's I had to view. for possible inclusion in the BAFTA awards. I presumed it was about a runner or maybe an Indian astronaut, possibly. I had no idea

November 7, 2010
matertenebraum

Super Reviewer

The World's Fastest Indian is yet another well done feel good movie. The film tells the story of Burt Munro who seeked to break a land speed record on his 1920 Indian Scout. A film that focuses on one mans determination to accomplish his goal, The World's Fastest Indian is yet another terrific film from talented

October 13, 2010
TheDudeLebowski65
Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

    1. Burt Munro: If you don't follow through on your dreams, you might as well be a vegetable.
    – Submitted by Chad E (4 months ago)
    1. Burt Munro: At my age any day above ground and vertical is a good day.
    – Submitted by Chad E (4 months ago)
    1. Burt Munro: You live more in five minutes on a bike like this going flat out than some people live in a lifetime.
    – Submitted by Tomas K (10 months ago)

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Foreign Titles

  • Mit Herz und Hand (DE)
  • Burt Munro (FR)
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