The Mission

The Mission is a documentary about John Chau, a young American Christian missionary who was killed while attempting to illegally contact and convert the Sentinelese, one of the most isolated indigenous groups in the world. Using archival footage, diaries, and interviews, the film examines the conflict between religious faith and fanaticism, as well as the ethics of exploration and colonialism. It further looks at the motivations of the evangelical community and the personal impact of the event on Chau's family.

The film was co-directed by Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine, who previously collaborated on Boys State in 2020. For Moss, this project sits between Boys State and his later works, Girls State, War Game, and Teenage Wasteland. McBaine also co-wrote the screenplay and directed Girls State and Teenage Wasteland following this production. The cast features Pam Arlund, Dan Davis, Levi Davis, and Daniel Everett appearing as themselves, with Lawrence Kao and David Shih providing voice work.

Produced by Lightbox Entertainment, Mile End Films, and National Geographic Documentary Films, the movie was released on October 13, 2023. It has received a consistent reception from viewers, holding a rating of 6.3/10 on IMDb from 1,300 votes and a matching 6.3/10 on TMDB based on 27 votes.