Tom Hanks is Chuck Noland, a man in a hurry. His job for Federal Express has him traveling the world on a moment's notice, exhorting the company's employees to speed things up--"never turn your back on the clock." When he's suddenly called away for business on Christmas night, his tolerant longtime girlfriend Kelly (Helen Hunt) drives him to the airport. They have their Christmas in the car--and Chuck plunks an engagement ring into her lap right before he gets on the plane, telling her, "I'll be right back." But an unexpected storm cuts the plane's crew off from radio contact and blows them off course. Chuck is the sole survivor of the resulting crash, and washes up on a completely deserted island. Stranded there, he must give up everything that he once took for granted and learn how to survive all alone in the wilderness. From director Robert Zemeckis, CAST AWAY is a story of adventure and discovery surrounding one man's will to stay alive.

Theatrical release: December 22, 2000.

One of the volleyballs used in the film sold at an online auction for $18,400.

Stephen Holden of the New York Times, Richard Roeper (EBERT & ROEPER AND THE MOVIES), and the Austin Chronicle named CAST AWAY one of the 10 best films of 2000.

The New York Film Critics Circle and the Online Film Critics Society named Tom Hanks Best Actor of 2000.

Tom Hanks won the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture--Drama.

The Broadcast Film Critics Association named Wilson the Volleyball Best Inanimate Object of 2000.

Unlike most films, where budget restrictions require shooting the scenes out of order, CAST AWAY was shot in story order. It was also made over a 16-month period with a year-long hiatus in the middle--in which Hanks lost the 55 pounds and grew a beard to show the effects of his time on the island. During this hiatus director Zemeckis made WHAT LIES BENEATH with Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer.

The film was shot in Moscow (where the production shut down Red Square for shooting), at Federal Express headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, in Texas, in Los Angeles (at Sony Pictures Studios and FedEx), and on an uninhabited island in Fiji called Monu-riki.

FedEx founder and owner Fred Smith makes a cameo appearance in the film, which was made with the full support of Federal Express.

CAST AWAY was the highest grossing film released in the year 2000, making over $230 million.

Excerpt: "I'll be right back."--Chuck (Tom Hanks) to Kelly (Helen Hunt).

Blu-ray Disc Features:

Region [unknown]
NTSC
Full Frame - 1.33
Widescreen - 2.35
Audio:
English: DTS 5.1 HD Dolby Surround
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary: Robert Zemeckis and Crew
Trailers: Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Features:
Bookmarks

Tom Hanks: Oscar-winning actor/director/producer
Helen Hunt: American Actress
Nick Searcy: 
Lari White: Actress/ CAST AWAY (2000)
Christopher Noth: American actor, SEX AND THE CITY, LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTE
Viveka Davis: Actress
Valerie Wildman: Actress/"Indictment..."

Robert Zemeckis: American director/screenwriter

Steve Starkey: American Producer/ FORREST GUMP, CAST AWAY
Jack Rapke: Producer, WHAT LIES BENEATH, CAST AWAY
Robert Zemeckis: American director/screenwriter
Tom Hanks: Oscar-winning actor/director/producer

William Broyles: Screenwriter, APOLLO 13

Alan Silvestri: Composer, VAN HELSING (2004)

Arthur Schmidt: Editor, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEA

"...Interwoven with timely observations about the centerless chaos of life in the modern world....Compelling..."
"...Zemeckis does an excellent job of finding visual means to express Chuck's isolation and thought process. Technically, the film is a marvel..."
"...All the island scenes are superb..."
"...Hanks towers....[An] ambitious epic, an existential meditation..." -- Rating: A-
"...Compelling..."
"...A brave move for the helmer....[Hanks] conveys the isolation of his character with little dialogue and just a hint of madness..."
"...CAST AWAY's level of filmmaking is top of the line. Sweeping camera movements and masterful visuals are plentiful..."
"...A bravura solo spin....Thanks to Hanks' abilities, [a volleyball] actually seems to emote..." -- 3.5 out 4 stars