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Magellan

Play trailer Poster for Magellan Jan 2026 2h 36m History Drama Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 58 Reviews 32% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
16th century. Magellan, a young and ambitious Portuguese navigator, rebels against the power of the King, who doesn't support his dream of discovering the world. He persuades the Spanish Crown to fund his bold expedition to the fabled lands of the East. The voyage is exhausting beyond expectations, with hunger and mutiny pushing the crew to their limits. Upon reaching the islands of the Malayan Archipelago, Magellan's mind changes. He becomes obsessed with conquest and conversion, which sparks violent uprisings beyond his control. This is not the myth of Magellan, but the truth of his journey.
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Magellan

Magellan

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Critics Consensus

Magellan blends Lav Diaz's slow cinema rigor with the biopic form to create a visually hypnotic, deliberately paced historical epic that immerses viewers in a spiritually charged meditation on power, mythology, and colonial ambition.

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Critics Reviews

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John Anderson Wall Street Journal Apr 23, 2026
Most buffs expect more motion in their pictures than what they get from director Lav Diaz and “Magellan.” Still, the 2025 film weaves a spell if you let it. Go to Full Review Michael Andor Brodeur Washington Post Jan 27, 2026
4/4
The scale of the film remains resolutely epic, in part because Diaz is patient and in part because he’s insistent on telling this story of conquest and domination on his terms. Go to Full Review Sergio Burstein Los Angeles Times Jan 21, 2026
Both true film buffs and admirers of García Bernal should know that this is an absolutely outstanding work, brilliantly filmed and eminently contemplative. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Fletcher Powell KMUW - Wichita Public Radio Jul 20, 2026
Diaz’s sense of composition is astounding, his images are gorgeous, and he often makes us feel as if we are there, in these places, in the 16th century, with pounding rain on a jungle river and piles of dead bodies. Go to Full Review Keva York The Saturday Paper Jul 16, 2026
In its coupling of languid pacing and poisonous precision, Magellan evokes two of the best skewerings of the colonialist project in recent memory: 2022’s Pacifiction, by Albert Serra and Zama, from 2017, by Lucrecia Martel. Go to Full Review Mariona Borrull Fotogramas Jul 6, 2026
3/5
It's pop sensibility doesn't make it any less self-absorbed. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ads T @RT11627483 2 days ago Perhaps due to the era in which Magellan lived, there is no romantic depiction of exploring to be found here. The film is relentlessly bleak- exotic locations are overcast with muddy beaches and dead bodies. It is also a very still movie with only sporadic action and dialogue. There is though, much to be admired not least the stunning cinematography. See more Brian S @RT07025475 Oct 5, 2026 It’s unwatchable. It’s like someone made a movie about colonialism. Cut out all the parts where things actually happen. And only left in the parts in between when people are bored and staring off into space. See more Lee H @RT46241624 Sep 30, 2026 This was not entertaining. It was mediocre as a movie or a documentary. Most of all, it was boring. See more Tom F @RT55173143 Aug 15, 2026 Long and slow, but ultimately rewarding. See more M S @Littoral Jul 22, 2026 We watched for the first hour+, and NOTHING happened. I can see how it would be favored by critics due to cinematography, but the movie sucked. I got it because of critic's ratings, I will try not to make that mistake again. See more Henry D @Henry_Domke May 5, 2026 An immersive reimagining of what it might have been like to be Magellan, seeing what he saw and doing what he did. The radically slow pacing and minimal dialogue add to the feeling that we are there with him, experiencing the voyage moment by moment. It is not conventionally dramatic, but the stillness and restraint make it feel unusually real. See more Read all reviews
Magellan

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Cast & Crew

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Lav Diaz

Director

Gael García Bernal

Fernão de Magalhães

Ângela Azevedo

Beatriz Barbosa de Magalhães

Amado Arjay Babon

Actor

Ronnie Lazaro

Raja Humabon

Hazel Orencio

Juana
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Magellan

Magellan (2025) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis 16th century. Magellan, a young and ambitious Portuguese navigator, rebels against the power of the King, who doesn't support his dream of discovering the world. He persuades the Spanish Crown to fund his bold expedition to the fabled lands of the East. The voyage is exhausting beyond expectations, with hunger and mutiny pushing the crew to their limits. Upon reaching the islands of the Malayan Archipelago, Magellan's mind changes. He becomes obsessed with conquest and conversion, which sparks violent uprisings beyond his control. This is not the myth of Magellan, but the truth of his journey.
Director
Lav Diaz
Producer
Joaquim Sapinho, Marta Alves, Alberto Serra, Montse Triola, Stefano Centini
Screenwriter
Lav Diaz
Distributor
Janus Films
Production Co
Rosa Filmes, Andergraun Films, Lib Films, Black Cap Pictures
Genre
History, Drama, Biography
Original Language
Portuguese
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 9, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 17, 2026
Box Office (Gross USA)
$213.1K
Runtime
2h 36m
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