"Wild Horse Nine" ("Caballo salvaje nueve" in Spanish), the new film by British director Martin McDonagh, opened in Chilean cinemas on Thursday 5 November 2026 and is set almost entirely on Rapa Nui, where it was shot over three months with a 150-person crew. That is what the studio says in material circulated by Aquí te dateamos, and the listings reported by El Reportero de Iquique place it in "practically every cinema in Chile" from that week.
The story follows two CIA agents, Chris (John Malkovich) and Lee (Sam Rockwell), sent to Easter Island shortly before Chile's September 1973 coup. The cast also includes Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits, Parker Posey and actresses Mariana Di Girolamo and Ailín Salas, according to Cine O'culto. It is a UK-US-Chile co-production that competed for the Golden Lion at the 83rd Venice Film Festival.
View the data as a table
| Months of shooting on the island | 3 |
| Crew members | 150 |
| Days at sea from the mainland | min. 10 |
How "Wild Horse Nine" was shot on Rapa Nui
McDonagh said he visited the island 12 or 13 years before filming, looking for an "interesting and remote" setting. The crew and the period vehicles arrived by ship from the mainland, a voyage of at least ten days, according to Infobae and Aquí te dateamos. Producer Graham Broadbent explained that filming took place with island representatives and two archaeologists present at all times, and that everything brought to the island was removed afterwards because Rapa Nui is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In El Tiempo, McDonagh described the island as "remote, beautiful and spiritual" and said the team shared the script in advance and followed the community's guidance around the moai. Steve Buscemi summed up the contrast with usual tourism: "Tourists go for two or three days."
| Fact sheet | Detail |
|---|---|
| Spanish title | Caballo salvaje nueve |
| Director | Martin McDonagh |
| Main cast | John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Mariana Di Girolamo, Ailín Salas, Tom Waits, Parker Posey |
| Production | Blueprint Pictures, Film4 and Searchlight Pictures (UK, US and Chile) |
| Running time | About 118 minutes |
| Music and cinematography | Carter Burwell; Ben Davis |
| Shoot | About three months on Rapa Nui, with a 150-person crew |
| Release in Chile | Thursday 5 November 2026 |
Sources: Cine O'culto, Aquí te dateamos and El Reportero de Iquique, November 2026.
The film's road to its release in Chile
- 12 or 13 years earlierMcDonagh visits Rapa NuiHe looks for a remote setting for a story yet to be written.
- ShootThree months on the island150 people, with island representatives and two archaeologists.
- September 2026World premiere in VeniceIn competition for the Golden Lion at the 83rd edition.
- September-October 2026Telluride, Toronto, LondresInternational festival run.
- 5 November 2026Release in Chilean cinemas
After Venice, the film screened at the Telluride, Toronto and London festivals, and in November its commercial release began in Latin America; it also reached Peruvian cinemas on 5 November, according to Cine O'culto. International press mentions it among this awards season's contenders.
What to know before visiting Rapa Nui after seeing the film
The film shows what makes Easter Island unique: free-roaming horses on open grassland, volcanic cliffs and moai facing the sea. If it makes you want to go, these are the basic rules:
| Topic | Requirement or advice | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Entering the island | Single Entry Form (FUI), return ticket and a booking with a tourism service registered with Sernatur | Chile Travel |
| Maximum stay | 30 days | Chile Travel |
| Rapa Nui National Park | Paid ticket and mandatory visits with a guide accredited by Ma'u Henua, the community that manages it | Rapa Nui National Park |
| Getting there | Flight from Santiago to Mataveri airport, about five hours | Airlines |
The horses that give the film its title are part of the landscape: they roam freely and cross roads, so drive carefully, especially at night. To prepare your trip, see our guides on what to know before travelling to Rapa Nui and what the moai mean, and our guide to Easter Island tours, with the guided visits the park requires.
Rapa Nui on screen: why it matters for tourism
Films shot in a destination often spark interest in visiting it, a phenomenon the industry calls film tourism. Rapa Nui already welcomes visitors from all over the world and has strict rules to protect its heritage, so the challenge is not attracting more people but making sure those who come do so respectfully. The production itself set that example by filming with archaeologists and removing everything it brought.
Does your hotel, tour or operator on Rapa Nui want to reach travellers preparing their visit to the island?
See advertising optionsFrequently asked questions
Where was "Wild Horse Nine" filmed?
Almost entirely on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), over about three months, with a 150-person crew, according to the studio.
When was "Wild Horse Nine" released in Chile?
On Thursday 5 November 2026, in cinemas across the country. Its world premiere was at the Venice Film Festival in September 2026.
Who stars in "Wild Horse Nine"?
John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits, Parker Posey and actresses Mariana Di Girolamo and Ailín Salas.
What do you need to travel to Rapa Nui?
The Single Entry Form, a return ticket and a booking at accommodation registered with Sernatur. The maximum stay is 30 days and national park sites are visited with an accredited guide.
