The Lost Bus ★★★

Released: 3 October 2025

Director: Paul Greengrass

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera, Yul Vazquez, Ashlie Atkinson

Director Paul Greengrass is certainly no stranger to turning real-life events into thrilling hits like United 93 and Captain Philips. His latest film, The Lost Bus, tells the story of Kevin McKay, a school bus driver who saved a class from some of the deadliest wildfires in California’s history back in 2018. Kevin is down on his luck, struggling with his role and to cater for his family, the fire forcing him to choose between saving his loved ones or his responsibility to the wider community.

It’s a treat to see Matthew McConaughey back in dramatic leading roles following a somewhat quiet period. This is clearly a project close to his heart, involving several members of his family in the cast. He is as dependable as ever as the ordinary man, forced to take extraordinary action to save lives. If there’s one thing Paul Greengrass excels at it it’s staging thrilling action, and the wildfire sequences are devastating, bringing home the risk to life.

Outside of Kevin is where the film falls down a touch, stronger when focusing on Kevin’s work struggles early on. When America Ferrera’s Mary Ludwig and the class enter proceedings, it can prove distracting, with Mary afforded far less development than Kevin alongside an awkward chemistry between the pair. Of course, it’s not all about backstory, but it is hard to root for Mary when we are given little to connect with her, especially given the heavy emphasis on Kevin’s life. At 2hrs 10 this is perhaps a tad overlong with several sequences feeling reminiscent of each other.

In spite of its flaws, The Lost Bus is a rousing recreation of a dark period for California and the town of Paradise, something that will still be fresh in the memory for its residents. Matthew McConaughey gives a commendable lead performance as the trouble everyman hero, facing surmounting odds and a race against time. Whilst it has Greengrass’ typical flair as a director and there is plenty to make The Lost Bus worth a watch, it does fall short of his very best work on say Captain Phillips or the Bourne films.