127 Hours

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127 Hours

R,

2011,

1h 33m,

Biography/

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

93%

237 Reviews

Tomatometer

86%

50,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

237 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

While exploring a remote canyon in Utah, mountaineer and adventurer Aron Ralston becomes trapped when a boulder falls on his arm. Over the next five days, Ralston examines his life and considers his options, leading him to an agonizing choice: to amputate his arm so that he can extricate himself and try to make his way back to civilization or remain pinned to the canyon wall and likely die. Based on Ralston's book, "Between a Rock and a Hard Place."

Critics Consensus

As gut-wrenching as it is inspirational, 127 Hours unites one of Danny Boyle's most beautifully exuberant directorial efforts with a terrific performance from James Franco.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Aug 30, 2018

This may be a great film, and an ingenious film, but only if you've the stomach for it.

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Kaleem Aftab

Independent (UK)

May 15, 2018

Any film that relies on one actor to carry the movie demands a lot of its leading man but James Franco applies a youthful exuberance that makes him so watchable it's all viewers could do not to blink.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Sep 11, 2017

B

Franco... delivers a solid performance as the strapping climber who shows his vulnerability when he reflects back on his life--the mistakes he's made and the moments he may miss.

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Sep 11, 2025

5/5

Both tremendously anxiety-inducing and life-affirming over the course of its run time.

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Danilo Castro

Next Best Picture

May 27, 2024

8/10

Survival films are generally difficult to watch, given their dire subject matters, and there times when hitting standard dramatic beats inhibits the film’s creative flow, but “127 Hours” is about as entertaining and exciting as the genre gets.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Aug 3, 2023

4/4

In the wrong hands, the story could have easily been toned down to movie-of-the-week quality banality. But the presentation is pure cinema, designed to create the illusion of motion and progress in otherwise stationary circumstances.

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Apr 17, 2019

An amazing portrayal of a real-life story, this movie shows the devastating reality that a few choices and circumstance can do. The romance part was unnecessary, but I can see how it was used to distract audience from the agonizing situation. The self-amputation was played down; however, it would have been much more horrifying if depicted more realistically.

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Abraham S

Apr 11, 2019

Good, not great. I think Wild and Into the Wild were far better! (both with a similar survival feel)

Poe G

Apr 10, 2019

Should have been called, "The James Franco Show". Ugh! Why so many high ratings? Oh..I get it "high" ratings. ..touche, James Franco fans, well done!

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Hermione W

Mar 8, 2019

A modern day masterpiece.

Leia S

Feb 21, 2019

5/5. James Franco's performance is incredible, Danny Boyle's direction is fantastic, the editing and the cinematography are both glorious, and the amputation is one of the most brutal things I have ever watched.

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Hermione P

Feb 3, 2019

a true story of a man who teaches us what a man can do to survive through an excellent and well-meaning film.

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Danny Boyle

Director

James Franco

Aron Ralston

Amber Tamblyn

Megan

Kate Mara

Kristi

Clémence Poésy

Rana

Treat Williams

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Synopsis

While exploring a remote canyon in Utah, mountaineer and adventurer Aron Ralston becomes trapped when a boulder falls on his arm. Over the next five days, Ralston examines his life and considers his options, leading him to an agonizing choice: to amputate his arm so that he can extricate himself and try to make his way back to civilization or remain pinned to the canyon wall and likely die. Based on Ralston's book, "Between a Rock and a Hard Place."

Director: Danny Boyle
Producer: Christian Colson, Danny Boyle, John Smithson
Screenwriter: Simon Beaufoy, Danny Boyle
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: Darlow Smithson Productions, Cloud Eight
Rating: R (Disturbing Violent Content|Bloody Images|Language)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 28, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $18.3M
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

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