User reviews

What a ride! This movie was pure intensity from start to finish, I haven't felt this kind of adrenaline in years. The fire and smoke felt so real that I could almost feel the heat and smell the smoke. Even after it ended, it was like the scent was still in my nose. That's how immersive and powerful it was. Easily one of the most gripping and realistic disaster thrillers I've seen in a long time.

As a former resident of Paradise, this caused a surge of emotions. I lived less than a half mile from Ponderosa Elementary and had moved 3 months prior to the fire. Watching this knowing every road, every place that bus went was heartbreaking. Great movie but exceedingly difficult to watch. Absolutely recommend watching cause it's just one of hundreds of stories of people trying to survive a fire that shouldn't have made it over Feather River Canyon. But those winds...damn they drove that fire like Satan himself was leading the charge.

Love Matthew. Lots of other great actors. Strong storyline.

Enjoyed watching this. Except. The filming. The camera won't stay still. Gave me a huge headache trying to watch. I get they try to do this for impact. A smalll amount is ok. But at times I had to look away as it made me dizzy.

The effects with the fire were very good.

I wish they didn't do that style of videography.

The Lost Bus is a 2025 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.

Set during the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California, the film centers on Kevin McKay (Matthew McConaughey), a school bus driver, and Mary Ludwig (America Ferrera), a teacher. When the wildfire rapidly engulfs the town, Kevin is called upon to evacuate 22 children stranded at a school. What begins as a routine route turns into a tense, fraught journey through smoke, flame, blocked roads, and chaos, as they fight to reach safety

McConaughey delivers a grounded, intense performance, while Ferrera adds heart and calm strength. The child cast brings raw emotion and realism. The ensemble including Yul Vázquez, Ashlie Atkinson (as the dispatcher), and child actors holds up its weight in a film dominated by disaster visuals. The children's fear, confusion, and moments of quiet resilience are often cited as among the film's emotional strongest points.

Paul Greengrass keeps the tension high with his signature handheld style and gripping pace. The visuals of fire and chaos feel terrifyingly real, though some emotional beats feel rushed or predictable. Cinematographer Pål Ulvik Rokseth and the visual effects team succeed in creating a visceral, suffocating atmosphere of fire, smoke, and heat. The visuals are among the film's strongest assets: the bus lit by orange glow, smoke creeping through the frame, and the impression of encroaching danger are all powerfully rendered.

A powerful, visually striking survival drama that captures human courage in crisis. Despite a few clichés, The Lost Bus burns bright with emotion and intensity. If you're a fan of survival dramas and disaster cinema done well, It's not perfect, but it's a visceral, ambitious ride that reminds us how ordinary people can act extraordinarily under pressure.

I was on the edge of my seat as I did not know the true outcome of the missing bus. The tension, the actual film of this disaster had me grasping how huge this fire was and it was woven excellently in the film. Mathew and America were exceptional. A wonderful exciting, well done movie! See this movie!

Matthew McConaughey shines as Kevin, the determined bus driver, infusing the role with stoic grit and subtle vulnerability. America Ferrera, as Mary, the teacher, matches his intensity, her warmth and resolve anchoring the young ensemble cast of students, who bring authenticity and raw emotion to the screen. Their performances elevate the film, capturing the courage and fear of those caught in an unimaginable crisis.

Yet, the film's impact is severely hampered by its abysmal cinematography. The shaky, handheld camera work feels chaotic and disorienting, often resembling amateur footage rather than a polished production. Scenes of the wildfire's terrifying beauty-flames consuming the landscape-are reduced to a blur of erratic zooms and unsteady frames, robbing the visuals of their potential grandeur. This jarring approach distracts from the story's weight, undermining the otherwise immersive production design and haunting soundscape of roaring flames and distant sirens.

The Lost Bus is a tale of resilience that deserves to be seen with clarity, but its unprofessional camera work overshadows its strengths. While the stellar acting and gripping plot make it worth watching, the cinematographic missteps hold it back from greatness.

Rating: 6/10.

It was literally hell on earth, the whole town was on fire, this story needed to be told and remembered. I was one of the last few leaving town that day, did not realize how severe it was, lucky to make it out. It was 12 noon but you could never tell it was so dark, except for yellow and red glow of the flames everywhere and ash like it was snowing. You don't realize what you've had 'till it's all gone, count your blessing! Great actors, great movie, watch it!

I usually steer clear of suspense films - the anxiety often feels overdrawn and exhausting. But "The Lost Bus" was different. It kept me on the edge of my seat, not with empty jump scares, but with a pulse of genuine tension that sparked hair-raising chills and unexpected waves of emotion. What impressed me most was the setting: confined almost entirely to the bus itself, yet never once lapsing into the tedium or claustrophobia that plagues so many single-location thrillers. Instead, the film packs in a startling variety of scenarios - each as gripping and perilous as the last - so that the ride through the flaming inferno feels relentless, immersive, and disturbingly real. I enjoyed the hell outta this movie-my only regret is that I didn't ready up with a bowl of popcorn!

I was raised in Paradise. Lived there until I was 30. That will always be my home. When the fires happened it was catastrophic. To see that a movie was made makes me happy they will tell the story. This is a must watch! Matthew McConaughey in America Ferreira are amazing! Please watch this movie and honor town of Paradise.

If you have any doubt as to how frightening and deadly a wild fire is, then this film will set you right. No one does kinetic, anxiety-inducing action quite like Paul Greengrass, and in telling this true story of a bus driver and teacher trying to get a bus full of school kids to safety in the midst of the worst wildfire in California's history, Paul Greengrass is certainly in territory made for his signature strengths. It's a shame this has only had a limited cinema release before streaming - it would have looked and sounded truly immersive on the big screen. It's claustrophobic and thrilling enough on television, with the cinematography and sound design really standing out. A good Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera, along with the rest of the cast, do a decent job with a screenplay that is sometimes a necessary exposition dump, and whilst the character development isn't all it could be, this is still a thrilling and involving disaster film that doesn't let up for any of its run time.

The Lost Bus (2025) is a survival drama movie based on Lizzie Johnson's non-fiction 2021 book Paradise: One Town's Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire about the 2018 Camp Fire and it was co-written and directed by Paul Greengrass. I just got done watching the movie and it was absolutely incredible.

Positives for The Lost Bus (2025): Similar to the other movies based on true stories, Paul Greengrass is able to take a story about tragedy and turn it into one of the most intense and enthralled experiences I've had with any movie. The other element that elevates this movie to greater heights are the two lead performances by Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera as two people trapped by the deadly fires, but stay determined to get themselves and the bus carrying children out alive. The movie is just our main characters and the children trapped in a deadly situation that seems impossible to escape and yet they manage to stay clam enough to figure out a way to get out of the fires. You can feel the tension throughout the movie as the fire department is doing their best to put out the fire, but they keep getting bigger and more out of hand for anyone to handle. And finally, I love that the final scene ends without any dialogue as we see two character embrace one another and it makes the scene more powerful and emotional.

Overall, The Lost Bus (2025) is one of the most intense experiences I've had with any movie based on a true story and I highly recommend that everyone check this movie out when it comes to Apple TV+ next month.

The story is very thin. Acting is okay but nothing special. I don't understand how the lead actor got involved in this B-movie. The camera work is pure evil. I survived an hour of extreme shaking, shocking en twirling through a raging wildfire. After that I turned it off and got me some icecream from the kitchen.

"The Lost Bus" is a solid thriller-drama that manages to keep the audience engaged with its tense atmosphere and emotional undertones. While it doesn't necessarily break new ground in terms of storytelling, it makes up for it with good pacing, a strong sense of tension, and a cast that delivers believable and heartfelt performances.

What works best here is the way the film blends survival tension with personal drama, making the stakes feel more grounded and human. The direction keeps the suspense alive without going overboard, and visually, the film captures the claustrophobic and unsettling tone well.

That said, some narrative choices lean toward the predictable, and the film doesn't always take full advantage of its premise. Still, "The Lost Bus" is a well-executed ride-tense, engaging, and worth watching if you enjoy character-driven thrillers with a touch of emotional depth.

Amazing action and acting if you could get a glimpse through the shacking camera. I don't understand why films choose this style it's takes always from the actors performance. The little nuances in the actors face the little details that could make and break a whole movie. Please attention to all film makers stop making films with this style!!

Even in the parts where the group of Firemen are studying a map the cameraman was had the shakes!

Was the whole movie made off a cellphone?

The 15 year old kid who can not get home from school or buy his own Tylenol was odd.

Also do not bring your phone to work if your a school bus driver, your day will go a lot more smoother .

This is a gripping survival drama that keeps you on edge from start to finish, absolutely unmissable.

Matthew McConaughey delivers as always, perfectly suited for the role, and it's even cooler that his son and mother appear alongside him.

This is the kind of film where you can't look away for a second, blink, and you will miss something crucial. I was hooked the entire time.

What makes it even more intense is that it's based on the real-life 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California. Knowing this actually happened makes the story hit so much harder.

100% worth watching!

Another disaster movie, and the hero's fight with fire immediately reminded me of Ron Howard's Backdraft, but unlike that film, The Last Bus delivers much, much less. It feels closer in scope to Dante's Peak or Twister, so in comparison, it's clearly inferior to Backdraft.

The film felt weak and overstretched - far too long for what it actually is. It's clear that the final cut includes a lot of unnecessary material that should have stayed on the editing floor. If I had seen this in a cinema, I would've walked out. The hero spends an absurd amount of time trapped with the bus for all sorts of implausible reasons, and it quickly becomes exhausting rather than suspenseful.

Matthew McConaughey seems to be in the film not for his acting talent, but rather to help sell it. His presence feels more like marketing than storytelling - a recognizable face added to lend credibility to an otherwise forgettable project. I can't give it a passing grade; it's a film full of fire, smoke, and apocalyptic visuals - the kind you might watch on a Friday night just to fill the time.

Excellent job bringing the viewer into the scene. I could almost feel how dry everything was in the beginning, smell the smoke and feel the heat as the movie progressed. The actors, including the children, made me feel part of the film.

The emotions of the first responders, teachers and bus drivers were communicated so well it was like I was feeling them.

Well done!

Based on the horrendous real life tragedy that burned the Cali town of Paradise (ironic) down to the ground - killing 86 people in the process, this is a mixed bag of a movie.

A-lister Matthew McConaughey stars as a wayward local school bus driver and puts in a typically stellar performance, despite a somewhat limited script. Other than Matty it's a small, no name cast with only America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) making any meaningful impact to the proceedings.

While the 'firestorm' special effects are excellent and the sense of panic and realism is well presented, the intentional shaky handheld camera work throughout is really annoying and downright nauseous. As is the incessant use of "copy that" in the dialogue - inside joke maybe?

At over 2 hours runtime, the film is way too long and drawn out. I mean the majority of the screenplay focuses on McConaughey driving a busload of screaming kids around, trying to get from Point A to B while flames and panic rage around them! There are a couple of subplots thrown in to flesh out the piece, but they're predictable and pretty throwaway as the story really starts to drag.

All in all then, it's a slightly above average disaster flick (because it really happened) that ultimately fails to scale the heights of such stellar like-minded efforts as 'Titanic', 'The Impossible' and 'The Towering Inferno'.

I can't help feeling that this one would've been better served as a shorter television docu-drama... as a feature film it's a missed opportunity and a one-watch at best.

I need a Xanax to sleep now . Holy Moly !

So very intense . FIRE! Children frightened ! Life and death situation. The trauma these kids , parents and fire and rescue went through is incredible MM and America were fantastic. Just a lot to process for me. Still recommend but definitely not for children.

There's always something compelling about survival films when they're done right, and The Lost Bus is another solid addition. The story isn't groundbreaking-it's about an ordinary man doing his job until it becomes his duty to survive a wildfire. Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera deliver strong performances, though a bit more character development would have helped before the story dives straight into its main arc. But they both deliver, and truly were one of the best parts of the movie. If you're familiar with Paul Greengrass's work, none of this will surprise you-the shaky cam, the intense moments, and all the trademarks he's been perfecting as a filmmaker for years.

I made it to the end but only because I listened to most of it while averting my gaze away from the tv. Mr. Greengrass. Would you please "splurge" on a steadicam for once in your life. This is a story that is literally close to home for me but this film is jumping the shark in terms of camera jostling.

Perspective, mountain pass with howling 80mph+ winds, camera operated is if by the world's greatest Tai Chi master. Perspective, sitting in business office, bring in the world's greatest drunk sailor! Wtf?

Almost all phones nowadays & indeed the Mk.1 human eyeball have much, much better image stabilization then what this movie wants you to believe is possible. IMO it's the laziest possible way to try & create tension in a film & why you won't see it as a featured element in truly timeless classics.

At it's core, it's a serviceable and basic survival thriller of a natural disaster between humans and the terrifying works of fire nature.

When it comes to thrills and tension, director Paul Greengrass understands how to build it throughout. Greengrass's direction on the atmosphere, the tension, and the thrilling sequences between the dangerous moments are well-executed. Alongside with some good camerawork and the sound designs are great, especially when sequences of the fire is displayed and the anxiety built throughout.

Matthew McConaughey's strong performance is dedication alongside with the other performances. On the writing, it's pretty basic as the movie does follow a lot of the cliched tropes of survival thrillers, especially with how it's structure and the character development. Many of the characters are pretty one noted and cliched, which makes some of the pacing pretty uneven and dialogue moments pretty rough. There are also some really bad CGI that is distracting, and some uses of shaky cam that comes off as pretty annoying.

Overall, Paul Greengrass knows how to build tension and this movie does have some great moments. However, Greengrass really needs to work on character development.

If it hadn't been for Matthew and America, this would've been a much lesser movie. They were able to convey a complexity and depth to their characters that made the movie actually interesting. I doubt many others could've added as much.

The suspense mostly worked, but good lord the hyper-excessive use of shaky camera shots was outright off-putting. Lots of unnecessary, not useful moments that the editor and director should've left on the cutting room floor. Would've made a much tighter and better movie.

That said, it wasn't horrible. I didn't feel like I wasted my viewing time, or mostly didn't.