The Lost City (2022)

Last updated:
March 16, 2026

That sequined purple jumpsuit was not made for jungle trekking. Yet, in The Lost City, it becomes an emblem of glittery, chaotic survival. The film brilliantly pairs a cynical author with her well-meaning, himbo cover model. Consequently, their adventure is as funny as it is surprisingly heartfelt.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Kidnapped on a Book Tour

The story introduces Dr. Loretta Sage, a reclusive and brilliant author grieving the loss of her archaeologist husband. She writes popular romance-adventure novels featuring a fictional hero named Dash McMahon. However, Loretta has grown weary of her own work. Her publicist, Beth Hatten, forces her to go on a book tour for her latest novel, The Lost City of D. On tour, she is joined by Alan Caprison, the handsome but vapid cover model who portrays Dash. During a disastrous promotional event, Loretta is abruptly kidnapped. Her captor is the eccentric billionaire Abigail Fairfax, who believes the lost city in Loretta’s book is real and that she can translate the ancient map to its treasure, the Crown of Fire.

The Ill-Fated Rescue

Witnessing the kidnapping, Alan foolishly decides he must become the hero he portrays. Therefore, he contacts Jack Trainer, a former Navy SEAL and all-around human weapon he met through a mutual contact. Jack is the epitome of competence. He tracks Loretta to a remote Atlantic island and single-handedly infiltrates Fairfax’s compound. In a flurry of action, he frees Loretta. However, just as they are about to escape, Jack is shot in the head, seemingly killed instantly. This shocking turn leaves Loretta and a newly arrived Alan completely on their own.

Jungle Survival 101

Now stranded, Loretta and Alan must navigate the dense jungle to reach the nearest town. Their journey is a series of comedic disasters. For instance, Loretta is forced to trek through unforgiving terrain in her ridiculous purple sequined jumpsuit, which eventually gets torn to shreds. Alan, despite his lack of survival skills, shows genuine care for Loretta. This leads to the infamous leech scene, where Alan must pull multiple leeches off his own back and buttocks, forcing Loretta to confront his nudity and her own awkwardness. Through their shared peril, their initial annoyance with each other slowly transforms into a genuine bond.

The Crown of Fire

Meanwhile, Beth refuses to give up on her friend. She flies to the island and enlists the help of a quirky cargo pilot named Oscar. Back in the jungle, Loretta and Alan decipher the final clue and stumble upon the tomb of Calocan and Taha. Inside, they find not a jewel-encrusted crown but a humble monument made of seashells. The true “Crown of Fire” was the love between the king and queen, symbolized by the red seashells they collected. At that moment, Fairfax arrives, having tracked them. He captures the pair, furious that the treasure is not monetary.

Movie Ending

The ending of The Lost City ties everything together in a thrilling, volcanic finale. Fairfax forces Loretta and Alan onto his amphibious boat, intending to leave them entombed in the lost city as the island’s volcano begins to erupt. However, Beth and Oscar arrive just in time, creating a crucial diversion. During the chaos, Loretta uses a crowbar to dislodge one of the boat’s floats, causing it to take on water and sink. As a result, Fairfax is thrown overboard. Alan and Loretta manage to escape the sinking vessel and swim to Oscar’s small boat. They are rescued, sharing a passionate kiss as the volcano erupts behind them. In the end, Fairfax is apprehended by local authorities on the island. The final scenes show Loretta and Alan relaxing on a beach, now a couple, blissfully working on her next book together.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

Yes, there is one mid-credits scene. Loretta and Alan are seen attending a meditation class. They are subsequently surprised to find Jack Trainer is also there, sitting behind them and very much alive. A stunned Alan asks how he survived being shot in the head. Jack calmly explains that he used a meditative technique to “brain-scan” and move his consciousness to a different part of his brain, surviving the catastrophic injury. It is a perfectly absurd explanation that fits the film’s comedic tone, confirming the fan-favorite character’s survival.

Type of Movie

The Lost City is a classic action-adventure romantic comedy. It pays clear homage to films like Romancing the Stone, where a city-dwelling protagonist is thrown into a dangerous a-fish-out-of-water-in-the-jungle scenario. The tone is consistently light, fun, and self-aware. Furthermore, it expertly balances high-stakes action sequences with screwball comedy and the developing romance between its two leads. The film never takes itself too seriously, instead leaning into genre tropes with a wink and a smile.

Cast

Sandra Bullock – Loretta Sage / Dr. Angela Lovemore
Channing Tatum – Alan Caprison / Dash McMahon
Daniel Radcliffe – Abigail Fairfax
Da’Vine Joy Randolph – Beth Hatten
Brad Pitt – Jack Trainer
Oscar Nuñez – Oscar
Patti Harrison – Allison
Bowen Yang – Ray the Moderator

Film Music and Composer

The score for The Lost City was composed by Pinar Toprak. Toprak is a Turkish-American composer known for her powerful work on major blockbusters, most notably Captain Marvel (2019) and the series Stargirl. Her music for this film is appropriately grand and adventurous, perfectly complementing the sweeping jungle vistas and high-octane action. Additionally, the score incorporates lighter, more whimsical melodies that underscore the comedic and romantic moments, effectively balancing the movie’s dual tones.

Filming Locations

The film was shot almost entirely in the Dominican Republic. Specifically, primary locations included the provinces of Samaná, Santo Domingo, and Monte Plata. These locations were essential for creating the movie’s lush and convincing jungle environment. The verdant landscapes, cascading waterfalls, and remote villages provided a spectacular and authentic backdrop for Loretta and Alan’s adventure. Consequently, the setting feels like a character in its own right, both beautiful and perilous.

Awards and Nominations

While not a major contender in prestigious awards circuits like the Oscars, The Lost City performed well with audiences and popular-vote awards. For instance, it won the People’s Choice Award for The Comedy Movie of 2022. In addition, the film received nominations at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards for Best Comedy and at the MTV Movie & TV Awards for Best Comedic Performance (Ryan Reynolds, despite not being in the film, in a comical mix-up) and Best Team (Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum).

Behind the Scenes Insights

Brad Pitt’s memorable cameo as Jack Trainer was the result of a friendly deal. He agreed to do the part after Sandra Bullock agreed to appear in his film, Bullet Train (2022).
The infamous leech scene was reportedly Channing Tatum’s idea. He thought it would be a hilarious way to showcase his character’s vulnerability and create a memorable comedic set piece.
Sandra Bullock, who also served as a producer, was initially hesitant about the sequined purple jumpsuit. However, she came to see it as a vital symbol of Loretta’s character arc, starting as impractical and ending as a tattered badge of honor.
Daniel Radcliffe specifically wanted to play a villain who was outwardly polite and charming but inwardly petulant and unhinged, enjoying the contrast in the character.

Inspirations and References

The film’s primary and most obvious inspiration is the 1984 classic Romancing the Stone, which also features a romance novelist caught up in a real jungle adventure. The creators have openly acknowledged this influence. Beyond that, The Lost City serves as a loving parody of the entire romance novel genre. It satirizes the over-the-top covers, the heroic archetypes, and the passionate prose while simultaneously crafting a story that embraces the genre’s core appeal: escapism, adventure, and of course, romance.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There are no known alternate endings for The Lost City. The narrative arc leading to the volcano escape and Loretta and Alan becoming a couple was the intended conclusion from the start. The home media release does include a handful of deleted scenes. However, these scenes are mostly short comedic extensions or slightly different versions of existing conversations. None of the cut content significantly alters the plot or changes the understanding of any character’s journey.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The Lost City is not an adaptation of a book. It is a wholly original story conceived by Seth Gordon. The screenplay was then written by Oren Uziel, Dana Fox, and the film’s directors, Adam Nee and Aaron Nee. The plot cleverly uses the idea of a fictional book, The Lost City of D, as its central plot device, but the film itself is based on an original concept.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The Leech Scene: A pinnacle of physical comedy where Alan forces a horrified Loretta to help remove leeches from his backside, solidifying their awkward but growing bond.
Jack Trainer’s Rescue: Brad Pitt’s hyper-competent character dismantling Fairfax’s mercenary force in a fluid, explosive sequence is a standout action moment.
The Hammock: A quiet, pivotal scene where Loretta and Alan share a cramped hammock, finally opening up to one another about their past traumas and insecurities.

Iconic Quotes

Loretta: “Why are you so handsome?”
Alan: “My dad was a weatherman.”
Beth: “He’s not Dash, he’s a cover model who got a head injury at a Body-ody-ody-ody-ody workout class.”
Allison: “This is my favorite part of the book. Where he can’t find his clothes, so he’s just… so naked.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The film’s original working title was The Lost City of D. This title was ultimately repurposed to be the title of Loretta’s in-universe novel.
The romance novel covers seen in the film are meticulously designed parodies of real-life romance novels from the 1980s and 90s, complete with dramatic fonts and Fabio-esque poses.
When Beth is trying to get help, you can briefly see her sending text messages to someone listed as “Nana.” This small detail adds a charming layer to her character’s resourcefulness.

Trivia

Sandra Bullock not only starred but also served as one of the film’s main producers, playing a key role in its development.
Channing Tatum grew his hair out for months before filming to achieve the perfect long, flowing locks required for his character, Dash.
This was the first major studio film for directors Adam and Aaron Nee, whose previous feature was the indie Mark Twain-inspired crime comedy Band of Robbers (2015).

Why Watch?

For pure entertainment, this film absolutely delivers. The electric chemistry between Bullock and Tatum is a joy to watch. Moreover, it offers a fun, self-aware adventure that never takes itself too seriously. It is simply perfect escapist fun from start to finish.

The Lost City (2022)