Synopsis

After the death of their childhood friend, three former companions reunite and discover a map connected to the legendary lost fortune of hijacker D. B. Cooper. They follow the clues into the Oregon wilderness by canoe, hoping to complete their friend's quest. Their adventure soon becomes a chaotic struggle involving dangerous rapids, hostile locals, wild animals, and long-buried secrets.

Factoids & Trivia

• Although the story is set in Oregon, much of the film was shot in New Zealand, including locations near Wellington, Rotorua, Taupo, and the Waikato River.

• The Waikato River was used to represent Oregon's Columbia River during the rafting sequences. Huka Falls near Taupo also appears in the production.

• Many of the outdoor camping scenes were filmed inside a large warehouse rather than entirely in the wilderness.

• The three leads performed most of their own stunts. The most dangerous rapid sequence, involving a Class 5 rapid before the waterfall, was completed by stunt doubles.

• The film draws on the real-world mystery of D. B. Cooper, the unidentified hijacker who parachuted from a Northwest Orient Airlines flight in 1971 after taking ransom money. The FBI officially ended its investigation in 2016.

• Released in the United States on August 20, 2004, the film earned approximately $73 million worldwide against an estimated $19 million budget.

• A direct-to-video follow-up, Without a Paddle: Nature's Calling, was released in 2009. It used a new group of characters and functioned as a standalone sequel.