The Road (2009)
Kernel Score: 77% · 4,189 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Adventure, Drama
Released: 2009-11-25
Runtime: 111 minutes
Is The Road worth watching?
Worth watching. A father and son walk a dead, ash-covered America, and the film never softens how bleak that is. Mortensen and Smit-McPhee carry it, though some viewers find it more admirable than involving.
Watch it if you
- want a stark survival story built on a father-son bond
- can handle relentless bleakness
- like quiet, performance-driven drama
Skip it if you
- want any hope or action in a post-apocalypse film
- are squeamish about starvation and cannibalism themes
Best for: Serious solo night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Road
- Stream: Prime Video
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome, The Roku Channel, The CW
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind and water. It is cold enough to crack stones and, when the snow falls, it is gray. Their destination is the warmer south, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there.
The Road parents' guide: ages 14+
Parents need to know that this R-rated post-apocalyptic drama depicts a grim survival journey including cannibalism and starvation.
- Violence & scariness: Strong — Bleak post-apocalyptic survival story with cannibalism and starvation themes, per the R rating and keywords.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Road
If you liked The Road, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Proposition (2005) — 79%: Same director, same harsh, sparse, morally bruised storytelling
- When the Wind Blows (1986) — 82%: Quiet, devastating look at ordinary people facing the end
- I Am Legend (2007) — 82%: Lone survivor holding onto family in a ruined world
- Into the Wild (2007) — 89%: Spare journey where the landscape tests a relationship
- Captain Fantastic (2016) — 88%: Parent-child bond tested far from normal society
- Concrete Utopia (2023) — 75%: Survivors and moral choices after catastrophe
Director
John Hillcoat
Cast
- Viggo Mortensen as Father
- Kodi Smit-McPhee as Boy
- Charlize Theron as Mother
- Robert Duvall as Old Man - Eli
- Guy Pearce as Veteran
- Molly Parker as Friendly Woman
- Michael Kenneth Williams as The Thief
- Garret Dillahunt as Gang Member
- Bob Jennings as Bearded Man
- Buddy Sosthand as Archer
The Road FAQ
Is The Road worth watching?
Worth watching. A father and son walk a dead, ash-covered America, and the film never softens how bleak that is. Mortensen and Smit-McPhee carry it, though some viewers find it more admirable than involving.
Where can I watch The Road?
In the US you can stream The Road on Prime Video, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome, The Roku Channel and The CW and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Road OK for kids?
The Road is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 14+. Parents need to know that this R-rated post-apocalyptic drama depicts a grim survival journey including cannibalism and starvation.
What movies are like The Road?
If you liked The Road, try The Proposition, When the Wind Blows, I Am Legend and Into the Wild.