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Watership Down

  • 19781978
  • PGPG
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
38K
YOUR RATING
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
AnimationAdventureDrama
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.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
38K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Martin Rosen
    • John Hubley(opening sequence)
  • Writers
    • Richard Adams(novel)
    • John Hubley(uncredited)
    • Martin Rosen
  • Stars
    • John Hurt(voice)
    • Richard Briers(voice)
    • Ralph Richardson(voice)
  • Directors
    • Martin Rosen
    • John Hubley(opening sequence)
  • Writers
    • Richard Adams(novel)
    • John Hubley(uncredited)
    • Martin Rosen
  • Stars
    • John Hurt(voice)
    • Richard Briers(voice)
    • Ralph Richardson(voice)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 233User reviews
    • 73Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 4 nominations

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 3:27
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos199

    Michael Graham Cox in Watership Down (1978)
    John Hurt, Richard Briers, and Roy Kinnear in Watership Down (1978)
    John Hurt, Richard Briers, Michael Graham Cox, Roy Kinnear, and Zero Mostel in Watership Down (1978)
    Michael Graham Cox in Watership Down (1978)
    Watership Down (1978)
    Harry Andrews and Michael Graham Cox in Watership Down (1978)
    John Hurt, Richard Briers, Michael Graham Cox, and Zero Mostel in Watership Down (1978)
    Michael Graham Cox in Watership Down (1978)
    Zero Mostel in Watership Down (1978)
    John Hurt, Richard Briers, Simon Cadell, Michael Graham Cox, Roy Kinnear, and Terence Rigby in Watership Down (1978)
    John Hurt and Roy Kinnear in Watership Down (1978)
    Harry Andrews, Michael Graham Cox, and Zero Mostel in Watership Down (1978)

    Top cast

    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(opening sequence) (uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Richard Adams(novel)
      • John Hubley(uncredited)
      • Martin Rosen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    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.

    • 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 reviews233

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Book has great story, Movie has great music
    Honestly, I didn't even know there was a movie until I was half way done with the book. I was absolutely LOVING the story and trials the rabbits were enduring. Then one day I was at a rental place looking for the Planet of the Apes movies (don't ask) and I saw the cover of Watership Down (movie)! I was very much tempted to renting it, but then I told myself NOT to rent it until you've finished the book. I sure am glad I waited!

    When I closed the back cover to the book, it had taken my breath away in an instant! The storytelling was captivating, heartbreaking, very interesting, and best of all it was easy to read and follow along! (Some books just confuse me from page 1).

    After that, I ran over to the movie rental place and rented the movie. When I watched it the first time, I was pretty much trying to capture the differences from the book, and there were plenty, but overall, it was much better than most book-to-movies. I watched it a second time, this time to enjoy the adventure of Hazel and Bigwig and the rest. That's when I noticed how wonderful the music went along with the feeling and tone. The third time I watched it, I closed my eyes and only listened to the music and dialogue and imagined the movie in my head. I must say I almost cried when Bright Eyes (main theme) played. Watership Down's musical score hits you in just the right place to give you Goosebumps!

    When I returned the rental, I rushed to the Bookstore and bought Richard Adam's other book "The Plague Dogs", which in my opinion was a terrible book because it doesn't get interesting until the very last chapter...but that's a whole different story.

    Overall of the overall, I give the movie a 8/10. The score would have been lower, but the music got to me and now I can't get it out of my head. Someday I'll buy it if it ever comes to DVD in the future.
    helpful•6
    0
    • thomax
    • Jul 10, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 1, 1978 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Watership Down - Unten am Fluß
    • Production companies
      • Nepenthe Productions
      • Watership Productions
      • Embassy Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1(original aspect ratio)

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