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Watership Down

  • 1978
  • G
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
41K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,971
447
Watership Down (1978)
Hoping to escape destruction by human developers and save their community, a colony of rabbits, led by Hazel and Fiver, seek out a safe place to set up a new warren.
Play trailer3:27
1 Video
99+ Photos
Adult AnimationHand-Drawn AnimationAdventureAnimationDramaThriller

Hoping to escape destruction by human developers and save their community, a colony of rabbits, led by Hazel and Fiver, seek out a safe place to set up a new warren.Hoping to escape destruction by human developers and save their community, a colony of rabbits, led by Hazel and Fiver, seek out a safe place to set up a new warren.Hoping to escape destruction by human developers and save their community, a colony of rabbits, led by Hazel and Fiver, seek out a safe place to set up a new warren.

  • Directors
    • Martin Rosen
    • John Hubley
  • Writers
    • Richard Adams
    • Martin Rosen
    • John Hubley
  • Stars
    • John Hurt
    • Richard Briers
    • Ralph Richardson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    41K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,971
    447
    • Directors
      • Martin Rosen
      • John Hubley
    • Writers
      • Richard Adams
      • Martin Rosen
      • John Hubley
    • Stars
      • John Hurt
      • Richard Briers
      • Ralph Richardson
    • 247User reviews
    • 84Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 3:27
    Official Trailer

    Photos203

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    + 197
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    Top cast21

    Edit
    John Hurt
    John Hurt
    • Hazel
    • (voice)
    Richard Briers
    Richard Briers
    • Fiver
    • (voice)
    Ralph Richardson
    Ralph Richardson
    • Chief Rabbit
    • (voice)
    Michael Graham Cox
    Michael Graham Cox
    • Bigwig
    • (voice)
    • (as Michael Graham-Cox)
    John Bennett
    John Bennett
    • Capt. Holly
    • (voice)
    Simon Cadell
    Simon Cadell
    • Blackberry
    • (voice)
    Terence Rigby
    Terence Rigby
    • Silver
    • (voice)
    Roy Kinnear
    Roy Kinnear
    • Pipkin
    • (voice)
    Richard O'Callaghan
    Richard O'Callaghan
    • Dandelion
    • (voice)
    Denholm Elliott
    Denholm Elliott
    • Cowslip
    • (voice)
    Lynn Farleigh
    Lynn Farleigh
    • Cat
    • (voice)
    • (as Lyn Farleigh)
    Mary Maddox
    • Clover
    • (voice)
    Zero Mostel
    Zero Mostel
    • Kehaar
    • (voice)
    Harry Andrews
    Harry Andrews
    • Gen. Woundwort
    • (voice)
    Hannah Gordon
    Hannah Gordon
    • Hyzenthlay
    • (voice)
    Nigel Hawthorne
    Nigel Hawthorne
    • Capt. Campion
    • (voice)
    • (as Nigel Hawthorn)
    Clifton Jones
    Clifton Jones
    • Blackavar
    • (voice)
    Derek Griffiths
    • Vervain
    • (voice)
    • …
    • Directors
      • Martin Rosen
      • John Hubley
    • Writers
      • Richard Adams
      • Martin Rosen
      • John Hubley
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The British Board of Film Classification had received complaints about this movie for over four decades after its release, due to the board's decision to classify it U (suitable for all). The BBFC admitted in 2012 that it had "received complaints about the suitability of Watership Down at U almost every year since its classification". On August 4, 2022, the film was re-rated PG after 44 years.
    • Goofs
      In Holly's flashback of his time in Efrafa - which occurs long before the other rabbits have even heard of Efrafa - Bigwig can be clearly seen talking with the Efrafan rabbits (this was taken from a scene later in the movie).
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Narrator: All the world will be your enemy, Prince of a Thousand enemies. And when they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you; digger, listener, runner, Prince with the swift warning. Be cunning, and full of tricks, and your people will never be destroyed.

    • Alternate versions
      The BFI restoration (2024) includes 2 animation error fixes:
      • Bigwig no longer disappears then reappears on screen as the rabbits enter the shed near the cemetery.
      • Hyzenthlay no longer disappears when she begins hiding behind the electricity pylon before the others travel to the farm to get the dog
      A lot of the animation is tidied up and the colours improved. For some reason when Cowslip tells the poem about the stream and the camera tilts up toward the ceiling, his head still disappears before it has a chance to completely go off screen.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Paradise Alley, Magic, Midnight Express, Watership Down, Comes a Horseman (1978)
    • Soundtracks
      Bright Eyes
      Composed by Mike Batt

      Sung by Art Garfunkel

      Arranged by Angela Morley (uncredited)

    User reviews247

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10

    Excellent animated film--more for older children and adults

    British animated film about a bunch of rabbits leaving their old warren (which one psychic rabbit can tell is going to be destroyed) and searching for a new one. The movie recounts their adventures searching for one.

    It may sound like a movie ideal for little kids--but it really isn't. It's an excellent adaptation of Richard Adams book which was written more for teenagers and adults. It's an ecological tale of how men are destroying the earth and (inadvertently it seems) killing innocent wildlife. It's also a very interesting story about how a group of rabbits survive on their own.

    The animation is excellent--right up there with Walt Disney. The score is great, the script intelligent and the voices used perfectly match the characters. However, as I said, this isn't really for little kids. The story is dead serious and the only humor is provided by the bird Kehaar (who I personally found very annoying although Zero Mostel DOES have fun with the voice). Also, at the end, it gets very violent and quite bloody. When I saw it in a theatre in 1978 one small kid was in tears by the conclusion. So, use your own judgment but I would never let a small kid see this. This is perfect for teenagers and adults. A 10.
    • preppy-3
    • Sep 5, 2006
    • Permalink

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    FAQ18

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 1, 1980 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Les garennes de Watership Down
    • Production companies
      • Nepenthe Productions
      • Watership Productions
      • Blue Sky Animation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $21,641
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1(original aspect ratio)

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