Directed by Paul Greengrass.
The Lost Bus was released in the United States on October 3, 2025.
Distributed by: Apple Original Films (through Apple TV+).
Movie Review
The Lost Bus (2025) is a powerful disaster drama that tells the true story of the 2018 Camp Fire evacuation.
Starring Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera, the movie shows how ordinary people face impossible decisions during a deadly wildfire.
Directed by Paul Greengrass, the film feels very real and emotional, capturing both the chaos and courage of survival.
McConaughey gives a strong, heartfelt performance, while Ferrera brings warmth and strength to her role.
The film’s intense moments and realistic effects make you feel like you’re there.
Some parts feel a bit slow, but the story pays off with a powerful message about human bravery and hope.
The Lost Bus isn’t just about escaping danger, it’s about the strength of community and the will to survive when everything seems lost.
Ratings
• IMDb: 6.9/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
• Google Audience Score: 64% liked this movie.
The Lost Bus (2025) Actors
Matthew McConaughey as Kevin McKay
DOB: November 4, 1969.
Bio: Academy Award-winning American actor and producer from Uvalde, Texas.
He first rose to prominence in the 1990s with breakout roles in Dazed and Confused and a string of leading-man turns in studio films.
By the 2010s, he reinvented his career with what critics dubbed the “McConaissance,” delivering powerful, grounded performances in prestige projects.
Role: Kevin McKay is the film’s emotional anchor.
He is a school bus driver who, during the devastating Camp Fire, becomes responsible for guiding 22 elementary school children to safety while also facing his own personal struggles.
McConaughey plays him with quiet grit and emotional depth, embodying an ordinary working-class man thrust into extraordinary circumstances.
What to Expect: Anchoring performance, quiet grit, intense close-quarters sequences and a central moral steadiness even when the action becomes frantic.
Interesting facts: McConaughey’s son Levi appears in the film in a supporting role, and his mother reportedly makes a cameo as Kevin’s mother.
Levi is said to have auditioned under a different name to ensure he was judged on his own merits rather than family ties.
Notable Works: Dallas Buyers Club (Academy Award for Best Actor), Interstellar, True Detective.
America Ferrera as Mary Ludwig
DOB: April 18, 1984.
Bio: American actress, producer, and activist who first rose to prominence with her award-winning role in Ugly Betty (2006–2010).
She earned a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for that performance, becoming one of the first Latina actresses to achieve such recognition in U.S. television.
Role: Mary Ludwig is the teacher on the school bus. She is calm, resourceful, and morally steadfast.
Ferrera’s Mary acts as a co-leader alongside Kevin McKay, helping to keep the children safe and improvising under life-and-death circumstances during the chaos of the Camp Fire.
What to Expect: A warm, no-nonsense performance that balances maternal care with steely resolve in crisis scenes.
Interesting facts: Ferrera was attached early in development and has spoken about wanting to honor the real-life educators and first responders the story depicts.
Notable Works: Ugly Betty, Real Women Have Curves, Barbie (2023), How to Train Your Dragon film series (voice of Astrid).
Yul Vázquez as Ray Martinez (Cal Fire Division chief)
DOB: March 18, 1965.
Bio: Cuban-American actor and musician with a career spanning film, television, and stage.
He is known for his versatility, often portraying sharp, morally complex supporting characters as well as authority figures.
His work blends intensity with grounded realism, and he has appeared in a wide range of projects from major films to prestige TV.
Role: As Cal Fire Division Chief Ray Martinez, Vázquez represents the official emergency response during the chaos of the Camp Fire.
His character embodies the tactical and bureaucratic challenges of coordinating a large-scale disaster response while lives hang in the balance.
What to Expect: Precise, pragmatic leadership scenes and a believable representation of fire-service command decisions under pressure.
Interesting facts: Vázquez has a background in both onscreen drama and music which informs his precise yet energetic screen presence.
Notable Works: Captain Phillips (2013), American Gangster (2007), Severance (Apple TV+), Runaway Bride.
Ashlie Atkinson as Ruby (bus depot dispatcher)
DOB: August 6, 1977.
Bio: American actor with roots in theater, film, and television.
She trained at Barnard College and later the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, building a strong stage background before transitioning to screen work.
Role: Ruby is the dispatcher at the bus depot, acting as the voice of calm and authority in the chaos of the evacuation.
She manages communication lines, provides instructions, and serves as a lifeline for those in the field.
What to Expect: Grounded, scene-stealing support work that lends authenticity to the film’s procedure and logistics moments.
Interesting facts: Atkinson has extensive stage credits, particularly Off-Broadway, and is also known for her improvisational instincts, which she often weaves into her screen roles.
Notable Works: BlacKkKlansman (2018), Mr. Robot (2015–2019), Juanita.
Levi McConaughey as Shaun McKay
DOB: July 7, 2008.
Bio: Levi McConaughey is the son of actor Matthew McConaughey and model Camila Alves.
The Lost Bus marks his breakout acting role and his first credited screen appearance.
Despite his famous surname, Levi reportedly auditioned without it so casting could evaluate him on performance alone.
Role: Shaun is Kevin McKay’s son, a smaller role that carries significant emotional weight.
He serves as a reminder of Kevin’s personal stakes, grounding the character’s heroism in family ties and underscoring the vulnerability beneath the action.
What to Expect: Natural younger-actor work, simple domestic beats, and a sense of familial grounding that raises the tension of Kevin’s choices.
Interesting facts: Levi auditioned under a different name to avoid nepotism and was cast on merit; his casting was later confirmed publicly by McConaughey and press.
Notable Works: First major credited film appearance.
Kay McCabe McConaughey as Sherry McKay
DOB: January 7, 1932.
Bio: Kay McConaughey, affectionately known as “Kay” or “K-Mac,” is the mother of actor Matthew McConaughey.
She has appeared occasionally in documentaries and public appearances but is best known for her family ties and outspoken personality.
Role: Sherry McKay is Kevin’s disabled mother.
Her presence introduces a private caregiving responsibility that adds weight to Kevin’s character, showing the strain of balancing duty to family with an unfolding public crisis.
What to Expect: Quiet domestic moments that make Kevin’s choices and sacrifices feel more immediate and real.
Interesting facts: Casting Kay alongside Matthew and Levi McConaughey made headlines for creating a real-life family ensemble.
The production reportedly took care to support her on set, emphasizing comfort and authenticity in her scenes.
Notable Works: Small acting / public appearances; notable here mainly for the family connection.
Kate (or Katie) Wharton as Jen Kissoon (Cal Fire battalion chief)
DOB: N/A.
Bio: An actor with experience in television and independent film, noted for her ability to bring grounded, authentic energy to supporting roles.
Her casting in The Lost Bus drew attention from local press, particularly because of her connection to Northern California communities close to where the production filmed.
Role: Jen Kissoon is a Cal Fire battalion chief tasked with coordinating evacuation and emergency response during the Camp Fire.
Wharton portrays her with procedural precision and authority, capturing the urgency and professionalism of first responders working under extreme pressure.
What to Expect: No-nonsense leadership scenes and credible boots-on-the-ground emergency work.
Interesting facts: Wharton’s casting was highlighted by regional outlets because she has ties to communities near where production shot and she consulted with real first responders.
Notable Works: TV and supporting film credits.
Danny McCarthy as Matt McKenzie
DOB: February 9, 1969.
Bio: American character actor with a rich background in stage and screen.
Known for his steady, grounded presence, McCarthy has built a career portraying everyday professionals, educators, and authority figures in both drama and suspense-driven projects.
Role: Matt McKenzie, a teacher who steps up as a calm and steady presence during the fire evacuation.
McKenzie is both caregiver and protector, embodying the quiet resilience of educators suddenly placed in life-or-death circumstances.
What to Expect: Dependable support work, heartfelt teacherly instincts and credible crisis reaction scenes.
Interesting facts: McCarthy’s extensive stage experience enhances his ability to handle dialogue-driven, emotionally charged scenes with subtlety and realism.
Notable Works: Prison Break (Agent Hale), Boardwalk Empire (Agent Sebso), Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
Spencer Watson as Elliot Hopkins
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Spencer Watson is an emerging actor with experience in stage and independent productions.
He was highlighted in regional press for his authenticity in portraying first responders, drawing on practical training that shaped his on-screen work.
Role: Elliot Hopkins, a firefighter and emergency responder whose decisions on the ground directly affect the survival of Kevin McKay and the children.
Hopkins represents the bravery and split-second judgment of first responders working in chaotic, life-threatening conditions.
What to Expect: Intense, physically committed sequences and the portrayal of a responder’s moral and physical strain.
Interesting facts: Watson’s real-world first responder training was incorporated into his performance, a detail noted by local media.
His casting is also part of the production’s effort to highlight community-based talent.
Notable Works: Regional and indie credits; The Lost Bus is a high profile credit.
Nathan Gariety as Toby
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Nathan Gariety is a young actor with a growing list of indie film and television credits.
Known for understated, naturalistic performances, he often plays everyday characters who bring humanity and relatability to larger narratives.
Role: Toby is a local resident caught in the unfolding crisis of the Camp Fire.
Through Toby’s presence, the film expands beyond the central bus rescue to show the ripple effect on individuals and families in the wider community.
What to Expect: Naturalistic, small moments that add texture to the large disaster set pieces.
Interesting facts: Gariety has been noted in indie press for his ability to bring subtlety and truth to smaller roles, making them feel lived-in.
Notable Works: Hold Your Breath and supporting roles in independent films and television projects.
Kimberli Flores as Linda
DOB: N/A.
Bio: American actor and dancer with a strong background in stage and movement training.
She has built her career through guest roles on network television and independent projects, often portraying characters with intensity and emotional agility.
Role: Linda is a local resident whose life is upended by the Camp Fire.
Through her perspective, the film shows how ordinary individuals endure and adapt in moments of overwhelming crisis.
What to Expect: Emotional, physically committed small-but-vital scenes that humanize the disaster’s reach.
Interesting facts: Flores trained extensively in dance and stage combat, which has allowed her to take on physically demanding roles with authenticity.
Notable Works: The Blacklist, NCIS: New Orleans, Chicago P.D.
Olivia Darling Busby as Ava
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Olivia Darling Busby is a young actor who has appeared in family TV projects and is credited here as one of the children on the bus.
She brings genuine child-actor energy and naturalism to the film’s more intimate family moments.
Role: Ava is one of the students on the bus; Olivia’s on-screen presence helps the film keep the children real, scared, and brave in equal measure.
What to Expect: Authentic child reactions, small moments of terror and tenderness that make the rescue feel visceral.
Interesting facts: Olivia previously appeared in family programming and was cast among many child actors for the ensemble of students.
Notable Works: The Really Loud House and other family credits.
More Actors
• Gary Kraus as Sheriff Thomas
• John Messina as Self (inspiration / cameo reference)
• Mac Ericsson as Alex
• Alexander Shimoyama as Benjamin
• Jet James Grant as Brandon
• Autumn Molina as Chloe
• Marian Jones as Ella
• Emmery Davis as Gabriella
• Elizabeth Hsu as Grace
• Audrey Pazienza as Isabelle
• James Anderson Ford as Jacob
• Andrew McMaster as Jack
• William Troy Ford as Jamie
• Kaius Eteeyan as Kai
• Mia Wagenman as Maddie
• Sophie Jane Frick as Maya.
FAQ – The Lost Bus (2025) Movie
Is The Lost Bus based on a true story?
Yes. It dramatizes the 2018 Camp Fire evacuation in Paradise, California, and is inspired by Lizzie Johnson’s book Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire.
Are the real bus driver and teacher involved with the production?
Yes. Reporting says the real Kevin McKay and Mary Ludwig were involved and consulted to help the filmmakers honor the real rescue.
Where can I watch it?
The Lost Bus is available to stream on Apple TV+ following its festival and limited theatrical windows.
What is the runtime and rating?
The runtime is about 129 to 130 minutes and the film is rated R for language.
Where was the movie filmed?
Though set in California, principal photography took place in New Mexico, including locations such as Ruidoso, Santa Fe, Española and Glorieta.
Conclusion
The Lost Bus (2025) is a deeply emotional and gripping survival story that honors real-life heroes of the Camp Fire tragedy.
With strong performances from Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera, it reminds viewers of the courage found in ordinary people during extraordinary times.
The film’s realism, emotional depth, and powerful message make it more than just a disaster movie, it’s a story of hope, humanity, and resilience in the face of devastation.