Tommy and the Wildcat (1998): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1998, Tommy and the Wildcat is a drama, adventure and family film directed by Raimo O. Niemi, running about 102 minutes. “Wild animal as a friend, wilderness as hide-out, a great adventure awaits!” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Twelve-year-old Tommy reluctantly moves with his father from the big city to a small Lapp village - the childhood home of his mother, who has recently died. The village is close to the northernmost wildlife reserve in the world, where Tommy's father will be working on a project to release a captive lynx into the wild. The boy gradually falls under the spell of his new surroundings, and discovers that his mother was involved in protecting the local lynx, and, when his father's project fails, and the lynx is about to be sold, he decides to set it free himself. A dramatic series of events ensues, and Tommy, through his brave actions, regains the trust and respect of his family and the village.

Who’s in it. Tommy and the Wildcat stars Konsta Hietanen as Tomi Oksa, Risto Tuorila as Uncle Jouko, Jarmo Mäkinen as Haapala and Antti Virmavirta as Father, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, Tommy and the Wildcat has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Tommy and the Wildcat page.

If you liked it. Fans of Tommy and the Wildcat tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.