Apocalypto
Updated: 12/11/2025, 2:28:11 PM Wikipedia source
Apocalypto () is a 2006 epic historical action-adventure film produced and directed by Mel Gibson, who co-wrote the screenplay with Farhad Safinia. The film features a cast of Indigenous and Mexican actors consisting of Rudy Youngblood, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Sérbulo, Dalia Hernández, Gerardo Taracena, Jonathan Brewer, Rodolfo Palacios, Bernardo Ruiz Juarez, Ammel Rodrigo Mendoza, Ricardo Diaz Mendoza, and Israel Contreras. Set in Yucatán around the year 1511, Apocalypto portrays the hero's journey of a young man named Jaguar Paw, a late Mesoamerican hunter and his fellow tribesmen who are captured by an invading force. After a raid on their village, they are brought on a perilous journey to a Maya city for human sacrifice at a time when the Maya civilization is in decline. Principal photography took place in Mexico from November 21, 2005 to July 2006. All of the indigenous people depicted in the film were Maya. Additionally, all dialogue is in a modern approximation of the ancient language of the setting, and the Indigenous Yucatec Mayan language is spoken with subtitles, which sometimes refer to the language as Mayan. Apocalypto was distributed by Buena Vista Pictures in North America and Icon Film Distribution in the United Kingdom and Australia. The film was a box office success, grossing over $120 million worldwide, and received generally positive reviews, with critics praising Gibson's direction, Dean Semler's cinematography, and the performances of the cast, though the portrayal of Maya civilization and perceived historical inaccuracies were criticized.
Infobox
Directed by
Mel Gibson
Written by
mw- Mel GibsonFarhad Safinia
Produced by
Mel GibsonBruce Davey
Starring
Rudy YoungbloodRaoul TrujilloMayra SérbuloDalia HernándezJonathan BrewerGerardo TaracenaRodolfo PalaciosBernardo Ruiz JuarezAmmel Rodrigo MendozaRicardo Diaz MendozaIsrael Contreras
Cinematography
Dean Semler
Edited by
John Wright
Music by
James Horner
Productioncompanies
Touchstone Pictures Icon Productions
Distributed by
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution (North America)Icon Film Distribution (International)
Release date
December 8, 2006 (2006-12-08)
Running time
138 minutes
Countries
United StatesMexico
Language
Yucatec Maya
Budget
$40 million
Box office
$120.7 million
Tables
· Reception › Awards and nominations
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Category
Best Makeup
Nominee
Aldo Signoretti, Vittorio Sodano
Result
Nominated
Best Sound Editing
Best Sound Editing
Award
Best Sound Editing
Category
Sean McCormack, Kami Asgar
Nominee
Nominated
Best Sound Mixing
Best Sound Mixing
Award
Best Sound Mixing
Category
Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell, Fernando Cámara
Nominee
Nominated
ASC Awards
ASC Awards
Award
ASC Awards
Category
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases
Nominee
Dean Semler
Result
Nominated
BAFTA Awards
BAFTA Awards
Award
BAFTA Awards
Category
Best Film not in the English Language
Nominee
Mel Gibson, Bruce Davey
Result
Nominated
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
Category
BFCA Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Result
Nominated
Central Ohio Film Critics Association
Central Ohio Film Critics Association
Award
Central Ohio Film Critics Association
Category
COFCA Award for Best Cinematography
Nominee
Dean Semler
Result
Won
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Category
CFCA Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Result
Nominated
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards
Category
DFWFCA Award for Best Cinematography
Nominee
Dean Semler
Result
Won
First Americans in the Arts
First Americans in the Arts
Award
First Americans in the Arts
Category
FAITA Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor
Nominee
Rudy Youngblood
Result
Won
FAITA Award for Outstanding Performance by an Supporting Actor
FAITA Award for Outstanding Performance by an Supporting Actor
Award
FAITA Award for Outstanding Performance by an Supporting Actor
Category
Morris Birdyellowhead
Nominee
Won
Trustee Award
Trustee Award
Award
Trustee Award
Category
Mel Gibson
Nominee
Won
Golden Eagle Award
Golden Eagle Award
Award
Golden Eagle Award
Category
Best Foreign Language Film
Result
Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Category
Best Foreign Language Film
Result
Nominated
Golden Reel Awards
Golden Reel Awards
Award
Golden Reel Awards
Category
Best Sound Editing in a Feature Film: Dialogue and Automated Dialogue Replacement
Nominee
Sean McCormack, Kami Asgar, Scott G.G. Haller, Jessica Gallavan, Lisa J. Levine, Linda Folk
Result
Nominated
Best Sound Editing for Music in a Feature Film
Best Sound Editing for Music in a Feature Film
Award
Best Sound Editing for Music in a Feature Film
Category
Dick Bernstein, Jim Henrikson
Nominee
Won
Imagen Awards
Imagen Awards
Award
Imagen Awards
Category
Best Picture
Result
Nominated
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Best Supporting Actor
Category
Gerardo Taracena
Nominee
Won
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actress
Award
Best Supporting Actress
Category
Dalia Hernandez
Nominee
Won
The Hollywood Reporter Key Art Awards
The Hollywood Reporter Key Art Awards
Award
The Hollywood Reporter Key Art Awards
Category
Best Action-Adventure Poster
Result
Nominated
Online Film Critics Society Awards
Online Film Critics Society Awards
Award
Online Film Critics Society Awards
Category
Best Cinematography
Nominee
Dean Semler
Result
Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society
Phoenix Film Critics Society
Award
Phoenix Film Critics Society
Category
PFCS Award for Best Cinematography
Nominee
Dean Semler
Result
Won
Satellite Awards
Satellite Awards
Award
Satellite Awards
Category
Best Motion Picture, Foreign Language
Result
Nominated
Saturn Awards
Saturn Awards
Award
Saturn Awards
Category
Best Director
Result
Nominated
Best International Film
Best International Film
Award
Best International Film
Category
Mel Gibson
Nominee
Nominated
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Awards
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Awards
Award
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Awards
Category
Best Foreign Language Film
Result
Nominated
Huckell Awards
Huckell Awards
Award
Huckell Awards
Category
Best Foreign Movie
Result
Nominated
Latino Business Association
Latino Business Association
Award
Latino Business Association
Category
Chairman's Visionary Award
Nominee
Mel Gibson
Result
Won
| Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| Academy Awards | Best Makeup | Aldo Signoretti, Vittorio Sodano | Nominated |
| Best Sound Editing | Sean McCormack, Kami Asgar | Nominated | |
| Best Sound Mixing | Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell, Fernando Cámara | Nominated | |
| ASC Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases | Dean Semler | Nominated |
| BAFTA Awards | Best Film not in the English Language | Mel Gibson, Bruce Davey | Nominated |
| Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | BFCA Award for Best Foreign Language Film | Nominated | |
| Central Ohio Film Critics Association | COFCA Award for Best Cinematography | Dean Semler | Won |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | CFCA Award for Best Foreign Language Film | Nominated | |
| Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards | DFWFCA Award for Best Cinematography | Dean Semler | Won |
| First Americans in the Arts | FAITA Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor | Rudy Youngblood | Won |
| FAITA Award for Outstanding Performance by an Supporting Actor | Morris Birdyellowhead | Won | |
| Trustee Award | Mel Gibson | Won | |
| Golden Eagle Award | Best Foreign Language Film | Nominated | |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Foreign Language Film | Nominated | |
| Golden Reel Awards | Best Sound Editing in a Feature Film: Dialogue and Automated Dialogue Replacement | Sean McCormack, Kami Asgar, Scott G.G. Haller, Jessica Gallavan, Lisa J. Levine, Linda Folk | Nominated |
| Best Sound Editing for Music in a Feature Film | Dick Bernstein, Jim Henrikson | Won | |
| Imagen Awards | Best Picture | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Gerardo Taracena | Won | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Dalia Hernandez | Won | |
| The Hollywood Reporter Key Art Awards | Best Action-Adventure Poster | Nominated | |
| Online Film Critics Society Awards | Best Cinematography | Dean Semler | Nominated |
| Phoenix Film Critics Society | PFCS Award for Best Cinematography | Dean Semler | Won |
| Satellite Awards | Best Motion Picture, Foreign Language | Nominated | |
| Saturn Awards | Best Director | Nominated | |
| Best International Film | Mel Gibson | Nominated | |
| St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Awards | Best Foreign Language Film | Nominated | |
| Huckell Awards | Best Foreign Movie | Nominated | |
| Latino Business Association | Chairman's Visionary Award | Mel Gibson | Won |
References
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