Dreamin' Wild

Play trailer

2:26

Dreamin' Wild

PG

2023

1h 50m

Biography

Drama

Music

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

62 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Verified Ratings

Dreamin' Wild, the true story of love and redemption, is about what happened to singer/songwriter Donnie Emerson and his family when the album he and his brother recorded as teens was rediscovered after thirty years of obscurity and was suddenly hailed by music critics as a lost masterpiece. While the album's rediscovery brings hopes of second chances, it also brings long-buried emotions as Donnie, his wife Nancy, brother Joe, and father Don Sr. come to terms with the past and their newly found fame.

Critics Consensus

The thoughtful and well-acted Dreamin' Wild honors the creative impulse and the faith it takes to will a dream into reality.

Read Critics Reviews

Stephanie Zacharek

TIME Magazine

09/03/2023

It’s a lot to pack into a seemingly unassuming little movie, but Pohlad—who also directed 2014’s superb Love & Mercy—pulls it off.

Go to Full Review

Brad Wheeler

Globe and Mail

08/23/2023

[The] feelgood story of a long dormant musical dream finally realized was enough to earn major press attention, but is it enough for a feature-length film? Probably not, which is why writer-director Pohlad piled on the melodrama and leaned into clichés.

Go to Full Review

Claudia Puig

FilmWeek (LAist)

08/17/2023

It raises all kinds of familial guilt issues that are really interesting.

Go to Full Review

Kevin Harley

Radio Times

04/12/2025

4/5

Dreamin' Wild reflects gently on family ties, unrealised ambition and the haunting power of music.

Go to Full Review

Sarah Regan

Exclaim!

01/28/2025

7/10

The melodramatics and flashy performance sequences of a typical musical biopic aren't found here.

Go to Full Review

Johnny Loftus

Decider

03/21/2024

Quiet and understated, Dreamin’ Wild is a drama that forgoes the usual music biopic story arc for a story more sensitive to the afterimages that last in our minds, sometimes for decades after the music has stopped.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Jay

08/19/2023

I really enjoyed this film however it is a very slow moving movie with a lot of character reflection. I thought it lasted about 30 minutes too long. If you're not into a slow burn type film then you skip this one.

See more

Chatty Kathy

08/12/2023

Film color was not very well defined, seemed like something I could video! The concept sounded so good but was very disappointing the way it went back and forth and hardly had any singing! More of a families struggles then a comeback for the brother group that made the album! Some great family moments! Would not tell my friends that this was a must see movie! Sorry!

See more

Nicole

08/10/2023

Loved the never give up on a dream storyline.

See more

Candace M

08/10/2023

I very much liked the movie. Casey Affleck was wonderful. Great cast & based on a true story.

See more

Linda H

08/09/2023

Wonderful true story full of famiy and love and music. I am friends of people who were close friends of the Emerson family. This is an authentic story about a great musician who got recognized for the musical gifts he has.

See more

SK

08/09/2023

Enjoyed it but was a. It slow

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Bill Pohlad

Director

Casey Affleck

Donnie

Walton Goggins

Joe

Jack Dylan Grazer

Young Joe

Beau Bridges

Don Sr.

Zooey Deschanel

Nancy

I Can Only Imagine

69%

91%

I Can Only Imagine

Watchlist

TRAILER

for I Can Only Imagine

Unsung Hero

61%

99%

Unsung Hero

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Unsung Hero

A Nashville Wish

%

25%

A Nashville Wish

Watchlist

I Still Believe

50%

98%

I Still Believe

Watchlist

TRAILER

for I Still Believe

Wheeler

56%

59%

Wheeler

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Wheeler

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Dreamin' Wild: Trailer 1

2:26

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Dreamin' Wild, the true story of love and redemption, is about what happened to singer/songwriter Donnie Emerson and his family when the album he and his brother recorded as teens was rediscovered after thirty years of obscurity and was suddenly hailed by music critics as a lost masterpiece. While the album's rediscovery brings hopes of second chances, it also brings long-buried emotions as Donnie, his wife Nancy, brother Joe, and father Don Sr. come to terms with the past and their newly found fame.

Director: Bill Pohlad
Screenwriter: Bill Pohlad
Distributor: Roadside Attractions
Production Co: River Road Entertainment, Innisfree Pictures
Rating: PG (Language and Thematic Elements)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 4, 2023, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $294.4K
Runtime: 1h 50m