The Lost Bus

Last updated

The Lost Bus
The Lost Bus poster.jpg
Release poster
Directed by Paul Greengrass
Screenplay by
Based onParadise: One Town's Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire
by Lizzie Johnson
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyPal Ulvik Rokseth
Music by James Newton Howard
Production
companies
Distributed by Apple Original Films (through Apple TV+)
Release dates
  • September 5, 2025 (2025-09-05)(TIFF)
  • September 19, 2025 (2025-09-19)(United States)
  • October 3, 2025 (2025-10-03)(streaming)
Running time
130 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Lost Bus is a 2025 American survival drama film directed by Paul Greengrass, who co-wrote the screenplay with Brad Ingelsby. It is based on the non-fiction 2021 book Paradise: One Town's Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire by Lizzie Johnson about the 2018 Camp Fire. It stars Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera, Yul Vazquez, and Ashlie Atkinson.

Contents

It had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on September 5, 2025 in the Special Presentations section, which will be followed by a limited theatrical release in the United States on September 19, 2025, and will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on October 3, 2025. [2]

Premise

A bus driver has to navigate a bus carrying children and their teacher to safety through the 2018 Camp Fire, which became the deadliest fire in California history. [3]

Cast

McConaughey, Ferrera, and Greengrass at the premiere in Toronto Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera and Paul Greengrass at TIFF 2025.jpg
McConaughey, Ferrera, and Greengrass at the premiere in Toronto

Production

In June 2022, Jamie Lee Curtis for Comet Films and Jason Blum for Blumhouse Productions were developing the film as producers, an adaptation of Lizzie Johnson's book Paradise: One Town's Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire. [4] In January 2024, Paul Greengrass was attached to direct, Matthew McConaughey was set to star, and Apple Inc. entered talks to distribute. [5] [6] In February 2024, America Ferrera joined the cast, and Apple was confirmed to be distributing. [7] In May 2024, Yul Vazquez, Ashlie Atkinson, and Spencer Watson joined the cast. [8] [9]

McConaughey's son, Levi, stars in the film but auditioned without using his last name. [10]

Principal photography began on April 1, 2024, in Ruidoso, New Mexico. [11]

Release

The Lost Bus had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on September 5, 2025. [12] [13] It is slated to be released in select theaters on September 19 and on Apple TV+ on October 3, 2025. [14]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 84% of 19 critics' reviews are positive. [15] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 64 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [16]

References

  1. ↑ "The Lost Bus (15)". British Board of Film Classification . August 4, 2025. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera Save Children From Fire in 'The Lost Bus' Trailer". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  3. ↑ White, James (January 28, 2024). "Matthew McConaughey In Talks To Star In The Lost Bus For Director Paul Greengrass". Empire . Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  4. ↑ Kroll, Justin (June 22, 2022). "Jamie Lee Curtis' Comet Pictures And Blumhouse Developing Lizzie Johnson's 'Paradise: One Town's Struggle To Survive An American Wildfire' As Feature Film". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  5. ↑ Kroll, Justin (January 26, 2024). "Matthew McConaughey To Star In 'The Lost Bus' With Paul Greengrass Directing And Jamie Lee Curtis And Jason Blum Producing; Apple In Talks To Acquire". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  6. ↑ Kit, Borys; Gajewski, Ryan (January 26, 2024). "Apple in Talks to Land Thriller 'The Lost Bus' From Matthew McConaughey, Director Paul Greengrass". The Hollywood Reporter . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  7. ↑ Davis, Clayton (February 21, 2024). "America Ferrera to Star in Paul Greengrass' Wildfire Drama 'The Lost Bus' With Matthew McConaughey (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  8. ↑ Grobar, Matt (May 3, 2024). "Yul Vazquez Latest To Join Paul Greengrass Pic 'The Lost Bus'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  9. ↑ Grobar, Matt (May 9, 2024). "Ashlie Atkinson & Spencer Watson Round Out Cast Of Apple's 'The Lost Bus'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Matthew McConaughey snuck son into audition for new movie by hiding famous last name". EW.com. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  11. ↑ "VILLAGE OF RUIDOSO LAUNCHES CENTRALIZED HUB FOR "THE LOST BUS" FILMING UPDATES". Village of Rudioso. March 27, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  12. ↑ "The Lost Bus". TIFF. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  13. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 16, 2025). "TIFF Unveils Round Of World Premieres With 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery' & Pics From Derek Cianfrance, Paul Greengrass, Nicholas Hytner, Hikari & More". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  14. ↑ Oganesyan, Natalie (July 29, 2025). "'The Lost Bus' Trailer: Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera Try To Rescue Schoolchildren From 2018 Camp Fire In Paul Greengrass Thriller". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  15. ↑ "The Lost Bus". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  16. ↑ "The Lost Bus". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
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