The Lost City of Z

Cinephile deep dive

The take

James Gray directs. Darius Khondji behind the camera. Christopher Spelman scores. John Axelrad cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America, Northern Ireland. Dialogue in English, German, Portuguese, Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 1Earned back only 29% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
• 2Released 9 years ago.
• 3Dialogue crosses 4 languages: English, German, Portuguese, Spanish.
• 4International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Northern Ireland.
• 5Directed by James Gray, shot by Darius Khondji. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 6Original score by Christopher Spelman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 7Editor John Axelrad shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 8Charlie Hunnam and Robert Pattinson and Sienna Miller carry the top of the cast.
• 9Marketing tagline: "A man's reach should exceed his grasp... or what's a heaven for?".
• 10IMDB entry: tt1212428 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
• 11Classified under 18 themes, including "based on novel or book", "snake", "world war i", "river".

The technical file

Cinematography

Darius Khondji

Original score

Christopher Spelman

Editing

John Axelrad

Production design

Jean-Vincent Puzos

Costume design

Sonia Grande

Makeup / hair

Nana Fischer

Runtime

141 min · 2h 21m

Aspect ratio (typical)

1.37:1 (Academy)

Status

Released

Budget

$30,000,000

Box office

$8,574,339

Return

29% of budget

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

PG-13

IMDB

The Lost City of Z (2017) ↗

Also by

James Gray

• 
  A Timewatch Guide

  2015 · ★ 7.0
• 
  Two Lovers

  2008 · ★ 6.9
• 
  The Red Road

  2014 · ★ 6.7
• 
  We Own the Night

  2007 · ★ 6.7
• 
  Little Odessa

  1994 · ★ 6.5
• 
  Armageddon Time

  2022 · ★ 6.4

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper Wallpaper Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  THE LOST CITY OF Z - Percy Fawcett Featurette - Starring Charlie Hunnam and Robert Pattinson

  Featurette · Official
• 

  ▶
  The Lost City of Z - David Grann Featurette | Amazon Studios

  Featurette · Official
• 

  ▶
  The Lost City of Z - Featurette | Amazon Studios

  Featurette · Official
• 

  ▶
  The Lost City Of Z | Movie Clip | Starring Tom Holland & Charlie Hunnam

  Clip · Official
• 

  ▶
  THE LOST CITY OF Z - Journey TV Spot - On DVD & Blu-ray July 24th

  Teaser · Official
• 

  ▶
  THE LOST CITY OF Z - Civilisation TV Spot - On DVD & Blu-ray July 24th

  Teaser · Official

Community reviews

What people are saying

• Gimly2017-07-18
  ★ 4/10

  Let it not be said that The Lost City of Z doesn't attempt something large. Let also not be said that I was entertained for more than a couple of seconds at a time throughout the whole damn thing. Final rating:★★ - Had some things that appeal to me, but a poor finished product.

  Read full review ↓
• Reno2017-09-26
  ★ 7/10

  He wasn't the first, but came close to let the world know his founds. I don't know what were the people expecting from it, another 'Indian Jones'? Booby traps, man eating ants, ancient alien ship et cetera? Well, I agree it was slow and boring in parts, but most importantly, it was only revealed the true story. Not all the biopics are delightful entertainer. Originally this tale took place for three decades, but what you saw on the screen was merely a highlight. All about the adventures. The personal life was less focused. Especially the final act was honest. Because it is a mystery. So people should appreciate for the effort from the filmmakers. I really enjoyed it. A film like this hard to come by. I mean when a film based on a real person was made a film, people expect the only heroic act, instead of truth. That kind of mindset need to be changed in order to enjoy it. Or else pick the those similar commercial films instead of it. Charlie Hunnam was impressive, probably his film best I've seen so far. He always reminds me Tom Hardy for having a similar facial. There were others in the film, but only he had piloted it. It's weird that it should have been a British film, but Hollywood made it. Above all, the funny thing was they correctly pronounced the Z as Zed. Anyway, that's how the real story was. The jungle scenes were awesome. In many parts it was very suspense like when they had contact with the Amazonia tribes. I was very curious about what would happen. Because all I remember was 'The Green Inferno'. Those who are interested in the history and archaeological expedition, this film would be the right choice, but anticipate reality, not something out of the world. 7/10

  Read full review ↓
• dshacky902018-03-03
  ★ 2/10

  End of the movie you just kind of stare at the screen and ask "What the H* did I just watch?!?" It is loooooong and just keeps going and going and going. No big movements to get the plot line going any faster and just when you think it's wrapping up it keeps dragging itself a long. The story is great, no doubt about that, but the way the movie potrays every single little detail was way way way too much. It's over 2 hours long and in the end we find out Spoiler It's all just speculation of what COULD have happened! Seriously?!?! they wander into the jungle go past where anyone had been before and then never returned! they could have tripped and fell into a canyon or drowned in the river but this movie drags out what could possibly have happened as if it's the true story. Don't waste you time...

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• 

  Northern Ireland Screen

  GB

• 

  Plan B Entertainment

  US

• 

  Sierra/Affinity

  US

• MI

  MICA Entertainment

• 

  MadRiver Pictures

  US

• 

  Keep Your Head Productions

  US

Key crew

• Executive ProducerMarc Butan
• Executive ProducerMark Huffam
• Executive ProducerFelipe Aljure
• Music SupervisorGeorge Drakoulias
• Music SupervisorRandall Poster
• Co-ProducerAidan Elliott
• Co-ProducerDoug Torres
• Unit Production ManagerAnthony Katagas
• First Assistant DirectorDoug Torres
• Unit Production ManagerJames Smith
• Second Assistant DirectorSarah Hood
• Second Assistant DirectorFlorence Ortiz
• Second Assistant DirectorPhilip Stephanou
• Associate ProducerLuca Borghese
• VFX ArtistEmily Austin Griswold
• Executive ProducerLewis Horwitz
• Executive ProducerMichael Ilitch Jr.
• Executive ProducerJulie B. May
• Executive ProducerGlenn Murray
• Art DirectionNora Takacs Ekberg
• Art DirectionHeather Greenlees
• Set DecorationMaria Andrea Rangel
• First Assistant EditorScott Morris
• NovelDavid Grann

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• based on novel or book
• snake
• world war i
• river
• expedition
• lost civilisation
• tribe
• biography
• amazon rainforest
• colonel
• jungle
• south america
• explorer
• journey
• 1920s
• mysterious lands
• mischievous
• admiring

Release history · US

When it landed

• Premiere2016-10-15· New York Film Festival
• Premiere2017-04-09· RiverRun International Film Festival & San Francisco International Film Festival
• Premiere2017-04-08· Cleveland International Film Festival
• Premiere2018-01-06· Palm Springs International Film Festival
• Premiere2017-04-06· Wisconsin Film Festival
• Theatrical (limited)2017-04-14PG-13
• Theatrical2017-04-21PG-13
• Physical2017-07-11PG-13

Also known as

International titles

• Z: Amazonin kadonnut kaupunkiFI
• Izgubljeni grad ZBA
• La cité perdue de ZCA
• Ha'ir ha'avouda ZIL
• Z: La ciudad perdidaAR
• Z: La ciudad perdidaCL
• Z: La ciudad perdidaPE
• Η Χαμένη Πόλη του ΖGR
• 迷失Z城CN