Mud

Play trailer

Mud

PG-13

2013

2h 10m

Drama

Adventure

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

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.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

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.

Go to Full Review

Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

Apr 23, 2015

A

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

Go to Full Review

Mary Corliss

TIME Magazine

Jan 1, 2014

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

Go to Full Review

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...

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Robert P

@Superbad 13 hrs ago

Mud = a *4.5* star Movie!

See more

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.

See more

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.

See more

Dominique E

@encisonico Jul 25, 2026

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

See more

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.

See more

Pongo K

@RT48921889 May 14, 2026

What a beautiful movie. C it!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Jeff Nichols

Director

Matthew McConaughey

Mud

Tye Sheridan

Ellis

Jacob Lofland

Neckbone

Reese Witherspoon

Juniper

Michael Shannon

Galen

View more videos

Kon-Tiki

83%

77%

Kon-Tiki

Watchlist

Walking Out

92%

55%

Walking Out

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Walking Out

Alpha

80%

71%

Alpha

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Alpha

6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain

22%

51%

6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain

Watchlist

TRAILER

for 6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain

Only the Brave

87%

91%

Only the Brave

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Only the Brave

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Matthew McConaughey’s 10 Best Movies

Definitive Michael Shannon Performances

Reese Witherspoon’s 10 Best Movies

View more photos

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

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings