Lion

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2:21

Lion

PG-13,

2016,

2h 1m,

Drama/

Biography

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Lion: Trailer 1

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84%

267 Reviews

Tomatometer

91%

25,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

267 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Five-year-old Saroo gets lost on a train which takes him thousands of miles across India, away from home and family. Saroo must learn to survive alone in Kolkata, before ultimately being adopted by an Australian couple. Twenty-five years later, armed with only a handful of memories, his unwavering determination, and a revolutionary technology known as Google Earth, he sets out to find his lost family and finally return to his first home.

Critics Consensus

Lion's undeniably uplifting story and talented cast make it a moving journey that transcends the typical cliches of its genre.

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Christy Lemire

What the Flick?!

Jun 6, 2018

7.8/10

The beginning is harrowing and the end is heartbreaking.

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Alonso Duralde

What the Flick?!

Jun 6, 2018

6.5/10

I don't think I've ever seen a movie that's this much about the experience of adoption and the relation between adoptive parents and adopted children...it's a rich subject that we don't see much in film.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Apr 1, 2017

1-5 stars

Despite its wavering focus from its fascinating lead to his white supporting actors, this is an inspiring story about one young man's search for identity

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Jul 20, 2025

4/5

The feature film debut of award-winning commercial director Garth Davis, is a love letter instead of a power ballad that delivers genuine emotional heft all on its own, without the need to manufacture it for the sake of a movie.

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JD Duran

InSession Film

Aug 20, 2024

A-

Lion is a film that will rip your heart out, but in all the best ways possible.

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Denise Pieniazek

A Sala Llena (Argentina)

Jan 14, 2024

6/10

The story of the film begins in 1986, and some time later, after several events, an indian boy is adopted by an Australian couple. From here it is inevitable not to establish a point of contact with the 2005 film "Va, vis et deviens".

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Rey S

Apr 25, 2019

By purposely focusing on the execution, Lion's neglects any element of surprise.

Leia R

Apr 20, 2019

Lion tells a moving and heartbreaking true story through captivating performances and beautiful cinematography. The film captures the pain of being a lost child without being overly dramatic. Instead it's uplifting and focuses on the happy ending of this remarkable story. The transition between young Saroo to adult Saroo would be the only issue as it splits the movie into two halves and leaves a gap for questions regarding his life after being adopted. Other than that, there's nothing but praise especially for Sunny Pawar who was simply amazing.

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Poe S

Feb 26, 2019

This is a beautiful story about a lost little boy in India. Best movie I've seen in years.

Han W

Feb 26, 2019

Bring water because you'll need to re-hydrate after all the crying you'll do in the first act of this one.

Anakin W

Feb 23, 2019

Good movie ï¿ 1/2 1/2 ï¿ 1/2 1/2ï¿ 1/2?ï¿ 1/2 1/2

Hagrid L

Feb 10, 2019

Absolutely moving. Touches your deepest feelings. There couldn't be a better cast. Everything, from the language and location to the actual footage in the end, make this a masterpiece.

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Lion: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Five-year-old Saroo gets lost on a train which takes him thousands of miles across India, away from home and family. Saroo must learn to survive alone in Kolkata, before ultimately being adopted by an Australian couple. Twenty-five years later, armed with only a handful of memories, his unwavering determination, and a revolutionary technology known as Google Earth, he sets out to find his lost family and finally return to his first home.

Director: Garth Davis
Producer: Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, Angie Fielder
Screenwriter: Luke Davies
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: See-Saw Films, Aquarius Films, Sunstar Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Material|Some Sensuality)
Genre: Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 21, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $51.7M
Runtime: 2h 1m

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