The Island

The Island (2005)

  • 40% of critics liked it
    (191 reviews)

  • 67% of users liked it
    (341,755 ratings)

Blockbuster action director Michael Bay delivers a striking look at a strange world of the future in this sci-fi action drama. Midway through the 21st century, Lincoln Six Echo (Ewan McGregor) lives in a confined indoor community after ongoing abuse of the Earth has rendered most of the planet… More

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PG-13, 2 hr. 16 min.
Directed By
Michael Bay
Written By
Robert Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Caspian Tredwell-Owen
Genres
Drama, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy
In Theaters
Jul 22, 2005 Wide
On DVD
Dec 13, 2005
Dreamworks Distribution LLC

Critic Reviews

  • Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

    What the clone lovers find is a new world -- it's 2019 -- of highway collisions, flying motorbikes, exploding buildings, bad acting and moral incoherence, very much like old Bay movies.

  • Rex Reed, New York Observer

    Since Michael Bay never knows when enough is enough, every chase is restaged over and again and the narrative matrix is as simplistic as it is repetitive.

  • Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

    You have Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson, these terrific actors reduced to saying, 'Go, go and duck' and hanging from buildings and all that stuff. And it just falls apart.

  • Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

    The Island is nothing so dull as a total failure. But it has enough surprises up its clingy white sleeve to make you wish it were better.

  • Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

    If you find yourself at The Island I have only three words of advice: Vote yourself off.

Read all 18 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Michael M


    Not really suited to Ewan McGregor or Johannson. The Island is a typical Michael Bay film with a bad script and too many un exciting explosions.

  • Sophie B


    No matter what the critics say, I thoroughly enjoyed this film and would watch it again and again. A clever premise that unfolds into this brilliant character film (ruined by slightly too many action shots and stuff getting blown up courtesy of Mr. Bay). It had the right amount of… More

  • Raymond W


    Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson try their best to get us to care for their characters, but it all gets lost amidst the bombastic, loud although fantastic action sequences, and the plot has some major holes. Overall, The Island is visually fantastic, and the action sequences are… More

  • Unknown H


    I must say for the reviews this movie gets I didn't think it was half bad. An original concept with some stunning twists, even McGregor's terrible American accent was not enough to stop me enjoying this movie. One to see for yourself I think.

  • Conner R


    This is a movie that was unfairly judged as being corny and unintelligent, but truly had a great concept and execution. While there are undoubtedly weak moments, they are nowhere near strong enough to dampen the effectiveness of the movie. Michael Bay's look is always a flawless… More

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

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