Eden

Ron Howard assembles an A-list cast for this throwback survival drama

Watch if you like: The Lost City of Z, The Terror, The Revenant, Lord of the Flies, The White Lotus

Schmear’s Verdict: Though flawed and occasionally overwrought, Ron Howard's Eden is an engaging, star-powered throwback that showcases his knack for compelling drama and big performances, even as it loses steam toward the end.

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Ron Howard may not be one of the best directors in the world anymore, but he’s still one of the most popular ones—Hillbilly Elegy vaulted to the top of Netflix amidst this summer’s JD Vance-ness.

Howard’s career clout and good-guy nature helped him put together an all-star cast for Eden, an old-fashioned survival drama inspired by true events and written by Noah Pink. Though often frustrating and sometimes overwritten, the film is a mostly gripping throwback anchored by strong performers clearly excited to be acting on location, away from green screens.