Mud (2013)
Kernel Score: 79% · 3,002 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Drama
Released: 2013-04-26
Runtime: 130 minutes
Is Mud worth watching?
Worth watching. A warm, tense coming-of-age story on a Mississippi river island, where two boys help a fugitive. Matthew McConaughey is excellent and the setting feels lived in, though the pace is deliberate.
Watch it if you
- like Southern coming-of-age stories
- enjoy character-led drama with some suspense
- want a strong lead performance
Skip it if you
- need a fast plot
- dislike slow, atmospheric storytelling
Best for: Quiet night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Mud
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome, Tubi
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
Two teenage boys find a fugitive hiding out on an island in the Mississippi River and help him reunite with his lover and escape an avenging family and their armed posse.
Mud parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Mud is a PG-13 coming-of-age drama in which two boys help a fugitive evade an armed posse.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — Involves gun battles, a fugitive on the run, and an armed posse seeking revenge.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Mud
If you liked Mud, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Take Shelter (2011) — 78%: Same director's tense, character-focused drama
- Shotgun Stories (2007) — 76%: Same director's earlier rural family drama
- True Grit (1969) — 82%: Classic story of a young person and a rough protector
- 3:10 to Yuma (1957) — 80%: Tense Western about a man and his captor
- The Shawshank Redemption (1994) — 100%: Hopeful prison drama with strong emotional payoff
- In a Better World (2010) — 78%: Serious drama about boys and the adults around them
Director
Cast
- Matthew McConaughey as Mud
- Reese Witherspoon as Juniper
- Tye Sheridan as Ellis
- Jacob Lofland as Neckbone
- Sam Shepard as Tom
- Ray McKinnon as Senior
- Sarah Paulson as Mary Lee
- Michael Shannon as Galen
- Joe Don Baker as King
- Paul Sparks as Carver
Mud FAQ
Is Mud worth watching?
Worth watching. A warm, tense coming-of-age story on a Mississippi river island, where two boys help a fugitive. Matthew McConaughey is excellent and the setting feels lived in, though the pace is deliberate.
Where can I watch Mud?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome and Tubi and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Mud OK for kids?
Mud is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Mud is a PG-13 coming-of-age drama in which two boys help a fugitive evade an armed posse.
What movies are like Mud?
If you liked Mud, try Take Shelter, Shotgun Stories, True Grit and 3:10 to Yuma.