The Lost Bus Review: Thrilling But Thin

The Lost Bus, directed by Paul Greengrass, has many thrilling moments but struggles to maintain interest due to a bloated script.

Right out of the gate, our hero, Kevin McKay (Matthew McConaughey, of Interstellar), is struggling. His mother, Sherry (Kay McConaughey), is ill. His son, Shaun (Levi McConaughey), would rather be with his mother than with Kevin. When he asks his boss, Ruby (Ashlie Atkinson, of BlacKkKlansman), for more shifts, he is flatly turned down. Even his dog is dying from fast-spreading cancer. At every turn, he faces another hit.

When a wildfire breaks out and a group of children is stuck there because their parents are unable to pick them up early, Kevin is reluctant to turn around and get them. But as the only empty bus near the school, he grudgingly agrees to make the trek back. Teacher Mary Ludwig (America Ferrera, of Barbie) helps the group of 22 children onto the bus, and they make their way to the school agreed upon for an emergency pickup. However, that school is also evacuated due to the quickly spreading fire, and when they arrive, Kevin and Mary find themselves trapped in a raging inferno, seemingly with no escape.

Despite the fact that we know the end of the story, The Lost Bus still manages to provide a good deal of tension as we follow these characters along their harrowing journey. The scenes of the rapidly spreading fire, coupled with the sounds of children screaming to be kept safe, all while our hero is wondering what is happening with his own family, make for a compelling watch. However, the first 30 minutes or so of the film take so much time getting to the main story that by the time we reach that aspect, we are already worn out from the relentless tragedy that this man is experiencing.

Part of what hurts this movie is how overstuffed the script feels. In addition to the opening salvo that sets up just how dire the situation is for Kevin, we also have long stretches showing how quickly the fire is spreading and the firefighters’ efforts to contain it. While I understand the desire to honor those who worked to save others, these tense scenes wear out a viewer before you even get to the bus. Given the title is The Lost Bus, it would make sense to put all of the energy into that, rather than spreading things so thin at the top. 

Another aspect that damages the movie is the decision to limit its theatrical release and instead air it as a streaming movie on Apple TV+. This isn’t exactly an issue with the film itself, but The Lost Bus is a movie that would benefit from the intended sound design in a cinema and the ability to fully immerse yourself in the viewing experience, rather than watching from your couch at home. Again, this isn’t the fault of Greengrass, but rather of the executives who treat this as content rather than art.

When the film finally settles into the main story, that is when it works best, thanks to committed performances from both Ferrera and McConaughey. There is a genuine sense of friendship and trust that is built between these two characters, which grows as they each take on traits of the other. Mary, whose primary focus is on remaining calm and keeping the children safe, is willing to take larger risks as the events warrant them, and Kevin, who just wants to get home to his family, begins to care more deeply about the safety of the children. The two actors, who spent time with their real-life counterparts, manage to keep this movie tense, without falling over the edge into melodrama.

The Lost Bus highlights moments of true heroism, but it largely overlooks the cause of the tragedy. Following the fire, PG&E pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter and paid a settlement of $13.5 billion. This is acknowledged in some text at the end of the film, and with a throwaway line from Yul Vazquez as Chief Martinez. If there was any aspect that could have used more time, it was that. This, paired with the somewhat relentless awfulness that precedes it, makes the film somehow both overwhelming and underwhelming at the same time.

The Lost Bus will be available to stream globally on Apple TV+ from October 3, 2025.

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