THE LOST BUS (APPLE TV+) (2025)

SYNOPSIS: Directed by Academy Award-nominee Paul Greengrass and inspired by real events, “The Lost Bus” is a white-knuckle ride through one of America’s deadliest wildfires, as a wayward school bus driver (Academy Award-winner Matthew McConaughey) and a dedicated school teacher (Emmy, SAG and Golden Globe Award-winner America Ferrera) battle to save 22 children from the terrifying inferno. 

MOVIE REVIEW:

Paul Greengrass’ penchant for bringing real-life disaster dramas (United 93, Captain Phillips) to the screen translates once again in The Lost Bus- a survival drama inspired by the devastating 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California.

After a brief hiatus, Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey returns as Kevin McKay, a down-and-out school bus driver having perhaps the worst day of his life. His teenage son is sick and left at home with his disabled mother, while a raging wildfire rapidly closes in. Amid the chaos, Kevin is dispatched to evacuate more than twenty children and their teacher, Mary Ludwig (America Ferrera), from a local school.

The Lost Bus is one of those based-on-true-events dramas that impresses more through its visual spectacle than its storytelling. That’s not to say that writers Greengrass and Brad Ingelsby fail to inject drama into the two-hour runtime — far from it. Several side characters make a strong impression despite limited screen time, notably Cal Fire Battalion Chief Ray Martinez (Yul Vazquez), the central coordinating authority, and school bus dispatcher Ruby Bishop (Ashlie Atkinson), who does everything she can to send a rescue bus despite the encroaching inferno.

At its heart, however, the story belongs to Kevin and Mary as they struggle to navigate a bus full of terrified children through roads surrounded by fire. It’s a feat that borders on implausible given the fierce winds and spreading flames, yet McConaughey and Ferrera ground their characters with grit and authenticity. McConaughey’s Kevin is a flawed man seeking redemption — a weary soul burdened by mistakes but driven by compassion. Ferrera, though given less to work with, matches him with a spirited performance, especially in a tense, well-staged sequence where she risks her life to fetch water for the children.

On the technical front, The Lost Bus is top-tier. Greengrass and his team deliver a stunning combination of CGI, stagecraft and practical effects that recreate the terror of the wildfire with visceral realism. Many scenes unfold with the immediacy of a docudrama — another Greengrass hallmark — and the bus sequences are so claustrophobic you can almost feel the heat, tension and desperation of those trapped inside.

Ultimately, The Lost Bus is a disaster film that demands to be seen on the big screen. While its story occasionally veers toward Hollywood dramatization, it’s anchored by strong performances and superb craftsmanship. It’s a gripping, human-centered tale about everyday heroes and a stirring reminder of resilience and selflessness in the face of unimaginable catastrophe.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee