The Mission
“One will trust in the power of prayer. One will believe in the might of the sword.”
Synopsis
When a Spanish Jesuit goes into the South American wilderness to build a mission in the hope of converting the Indians of the region, a slave hunter is converted and joins his mission. When Spain sells the colony to Portugal, they are forced to defend all they have built against the Portuguese aggressors.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2014-07-09
Top Cast
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Robert De Niro
Rodrigo Mendoza
Jeremy Irons
Father Gabriel
Ray McAnally
Cardinal Altamirano
Aidan Quinn
Felipe Mendoza
Liam Neeson
Father John Fielding
Cherie Lunghi
Carlotta
Ronald Pickup
Hontar
Chuck Low
Don Cabeza
Bercelio Moya
Indian Boy
Sigifredo Ismare
Witch Doctor
Daniel Berrigan
Sebastian
Carlos Duplat Sanjuan
Portuguese Commander
Fred Melamed
Don Cabeza (voice) (uncredited)
Rolf Gray
Un jeune jésuite
Tony Lawn
Père Provincial
Monirak Sisowath
Ibaye
Asuncion Ontiveros
Le chef indien
Alejandrino Moya
Le lieutenant
Release History & Theatrical Window
Cannes Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
October 31, 1986
Wide Cinema Exhibition
May 13, 2003
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$24.5M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$17.2M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.7x
-$7.3M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Roland Joffé
- Screenplay & Story
- Robert Bolt
- Original Score
- Ennio Morricone
- Original Title
- The Mission
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom, France, United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Guarani, Latin, Spanish
- Runtime
- 2h 5m
- Production Budget
- $24.5M
- Worldwide Gross
- $17.2M
- Production Studios
- Goldcrest Films International, Kingsmere, Enigma Productions, Fernando Ghia Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Roland Joffé
Robert Bolt
Ennio Morricone
Chris Menges, Jan Pester, Robin Vidgeon
Jim Clark
David Puttnam, Fernando Ghia, Alejandro Azzano, Felipe López Caballero
Department Leadership Roster
Roland Joffé
Director
David Puttnam
Producer
Fernando Ghia
Producer
Jim Clark
Editor
Robert Bolt
Screenplay
Chris Menges
Director of Photography
Enrico Sabbatini
Costume Design
Stuart Craig
Production Design
Ennio Morricone
Original Music Composer
Vic Armstrong
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Mission.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Mission
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Mission about?
When a Spanish Jesuit goes into the South American wilderness to build a mission in the hope of converting the Indians of the region, a slave hunter is converted and joins his mission. When Spain sells the colony to Portugal, they are forced to defend all they have built against the Portuguese aggressors.
Who directed The Mission?
The Mission was directed by Roland Joffé.
Who stars in The Mission?
The principal cast of The Mission includes Robert De Niro, Jeremy Irons, Ray McAnally, Aidan Quinn, Liam Neeson.
When was The Mission released and how long is it?
The Mission was released in 1986 with a total runtime of 2h 5m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Mission?
The Mission had a reported production budget of $24.5M and grossed $17.2M at the worldwide box office (0.7 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for The Mission?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Mission was composed by Ennio Morricone.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Mission?
The Mission holds official age classifications: AU: PG (Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: TP; US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).