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IMDbPro

The Cove

  • 20092009
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
50K
YOUR RATING
The Cove (2009)
Using state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists, led by renown dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry, infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan to expose both a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health.
Play trailer2:17
2 Videos
37 Photos
  • Documentary
  • Biography
  • Crime
Using state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists, led by renowned dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry, infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan to expose both a shocking instance of animal abuse a... Read allUsing state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists, led by renowned dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry, infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan to expose both a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health.Using state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists, led by renowned dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry, infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan to expose both a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health.
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
50K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Louie Psihoyos
  • Writer
    • Mark Monroe
  • Stars
    • Richard O'Barry
    • Louie Psihoyos
    • Hardy Jones
Top credits
  • Director
    • Louie Psihoyos
  • Writer
    • Mark Monroe
  • Stars
    • Richard O'Barry
    • Louie Psihoyos
    • Hardy Jones
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 152User reviews
    • 175Critic reviews
    • 84Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 39 wins & 18 nominations total

    Videos2

    The Cove -- Final Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 2:17
    The Cove -- Final Theatrical Trailer
    The Cove: Trailer
    Trailer 2:00
    The Cove: Trailer

    Photos37

    The Cove (2009)
    The Cove (2009)
    The Cove (2009)
    Richard O'Barry in The Cove (2009)
    The Cove (2009)
    The Cove (2009)
    Charles Hambleton in The Cove (2009)
    The Cove (2009)
    The Cove (2009)
    The Cove (2009)
    The Cove (2009)
    The Cove (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard O'Barry
    Richard O'Barry
    • Self - Earth Island Instituteas Self - Earth Island Institute
    • (as Ric O'Barry)
    Louie Psihoyos
    Louie Psihoyos
    • Self - Co-Founder, Oceanic Preservation Societyas Self - Co-Founder, Oceanic Preservation Society
    Hardy Jones
    • Selfas Self
    Michael Illiff
    • Self - Institute of Antartica and Southern Ocean Studies, University of Tasmaniaas Self - Institute of Antartica and Southern Ocean Studies, University of Tasmania
    Joji Morishita
    • Selfas Self
    Ian Campbell
    • Selfas Self
    Paul Watson
    Paul Watson
    • Selfas Self
    • (as Captain Paul Watson)
    Doug DeMaster
    • Self - U.S. Deputy Commissioner for the IWCas Self - U.S. Deputy Commissioner for the IWC
    • (as Doug DeMaster Ph.D.)
    Dave Rastovich
    • Self - Co-Founder, Surfers for Cetaceansas Self - Co-Founder, Surfers for Cetaceans
    Charles Hambleton
    Charles Hambleton
    • Selfas Self
    Hayato Sakurai
    • Selfas Self
    Kazutaka Sangen
    • Selfas Self
    Simon Hutchins
    • Selfas Self
    Joe Chisholm
    • Selfas Self
    Mandy-Rae Cruikshank
    • Selfas Self…
    Kirk Krack
    • Selfas Self…
    Roger Payne
    Roger Payne
    • Selfas Self
    Hideki Moronuki
    • Selfas Self
    • Director
      • Louie Psihoyos
    • Writer
      • Mark Monroe
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      People Concerned for the Ocean, a local Taiji activist group, distributed DVDs in March of 2011 of the film, dubbed in Japanese, to all 3,500 residents of Taiji.
    • Quotes

      Richard O'Barry: The thing that turned me around was the death of Flipper, of Cathy. She was really depressed. I could feel it. I could see it. And she committed suicide in my arms. That's a very strong word, suicide. But you have to understand dolphins and other whales are not automatic air breathers, like we are. Every breath they take is a conscious effort. And so they can end their life whenever life becomes too unbearable by not taking the next breath. And it's in that context I use the word suicide. She did that. She swam into my arms, looked me right in the eye, and took a breath... and didn't take another one.

    • Crazy credits
      After the end credits there is a humorous scene involving the team's Whale Blimp and local police.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Paul O'Grady Show: Episode dated 15 October 2009 (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      Magic
      Written by J. Ralph

      Performed by The Rumor Mill

      Published by Tubby & The Spaniard Music Publishing

    User reviews152

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Powerful, disturbing and will make you want to take action
    Words can hardly describe how powerful this documentary is, and the lengths to which human cruelty can extend to. Louie Psihoyos and his team infiltrate a secret cove near Taiji, Japan and expose a brutal instance of animal cruelty. This film opens your eyes to the truly devastating fates of thousands of dolphins, who are slaughtered without remorse.Being an animal lover, and my dream to become a zoologist, this film has really inspired me to be active and do whatever necessary to protect the beauty of our planet. Alongside Ric O Barry, Psihoyos is able to clearly point out the error of these marvelous creatures in captivity, and how they deserve to be free, just like any other creature.

    If you are one of those people that see my ways, then you'll be affected deeply too to take action. Forget the damn critics, this isn't a Hollywood blockbuster, this is a way of life for us and what we've become...what we've turned into.

    Support the cause to stop this.
    helpful•80
    23
    • animalz619
    • Nov 28, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 7, 2009 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Facebook
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • The Rising
    • Filming locations
      • Tokyo, Japan
    • Production companies
      • Diamond Docs
      • Fish Films
      • Oceanic Preservation Society
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $857,005
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $57,640
      • Aug 2, 2009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,187,434
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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