FAQ for
Into the Wild (2007) More at IMDbPro »

The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags have been used sparingly in order to make the page more readable.

For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for Into the Wild can be found here.

Yes. Into the Wild (1996) is a biography of Christopher McCandless, written by American writer and mountaineer Jon Krakauer. The book is an expansion of "Death of an Innocent", an article also by Jon Krakauer that appeared in the January 1993 issue of Outside.

Those who have both seen the movie and read the book generally conclude that the movie has "Hollywoodized" the novel. Arguably, however, the novel's implicit (and often explicit) approval of and admiration for Chris McCandless's actions was balanced in the movie with his focused shortcomings to create a more sympathetic and realistic character and to provide the emotional arc of the narrative. While most of the events in the two media are similar, the tone and texture of each is unique.

McCandless's odyssey began in May 1990 and ended in August 1992.