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Poster for The Mission

The Mission

One will trust in the power of prayer. One will believe in the might of the sword.

1986 · 2h 5m · PG Action, Adventure, Drama, History
Directed by Roland Joffé

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Overview

When a Spanish Jesuit goes into the South American wilderness to build a mission in the hope of converting the Indians of the region, a slave hunter is converted and joins his mission. When Spain sells the colony to Portugal, they are forced to defend all they have built against the Portuguese aggressors.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
63%
Tomatometer
Rotten

The two principal actors, Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons, work hard to animate their parts. But there is little to do. The Mission is probably the first film in which De Niro gives a bland, uninteresting performance.

Variety Staff, Variety
Rotten

The Mission manages to be both magnificent and curiously uninvolving, a buddy movie played in soutanes.

Derek Adams, Time Out
Rotten

A singularly lumpy sort of movie.

Vincent Canby, New York Times
Rotten

"The Mission" is everything a movie should be -- magnificently produced, epic in scope, serious in theme -- everything, that is, but good.

Paul Attanasio, Washington Post
Fresh

"The Mission" effectively dramatizes yet another chapter in the ruthless European conquest of the Americas. It'll make you hate the whole of western civilization with every fiber of your being.

Rita Kempley, Washington Post

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