Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Blackfish

  • 20132013
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 23m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
67K
YOUR RATING
Blackfish (2013)
Notorious killer whale Tilikum is responsible for the deaths of three individuals, including a top animal trainer. Blackfish shows the sometimes devastating consequences of keeping such intelligent and sentient creatures in captivity.
Play trailer2:23
3 Videos
31 Photos
  • Documentary
A documentary following the controversial captivity of killer whales, and its dangers for both humans and whales.A documentary following the controversial captivity of killer whales, and its dangers for both humans and whales.A documentary following the controversial captivity of killer whales, and its dangers for both humans and whales.
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
67K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Gabriela Cowperthwaite
  • Writers
    • Gabriela Cowperthwaite
    • Eli B. Despres
    • Tim Zimmermann
  • Stars
    • Tilikum(archive footage)
    • Dave Duffus
    • Samantha Berg
Top credits
  • Director
    • Gabriela Cowperthwaite
  • Writers
    • Gabriela Cowperthwaite
    • Eli B. Despres
    • Tim Zimmermann
  • Stars
    • Tilikum(archive footage)
    • Dave Duffus
    • Samantha Berg
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 245User reviews
    • 186Critic reviews
    • 83Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 6 wins & 41 nominations total

    Videos3

    Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 2:23
    Theatrical Trailer
    Blackfish
    Promo 2:17
    Blackfish
    Blackfish
    Promo 2:25
    Blackfish

    Photos31

    Blackfish (2013)
    Dave Duffus in Blackfish (2013)
    Samantha Berg, Dean Gomersall, Carol Ray, and Jeffrey Ventre in Blackfish (2013)
    Blackfish (2013)
    Tilikum in Blackfish (2013)
    Tilikum in Blackfish (2013)
    Blackfish (2013)
    Blackfish (2013)
    Erica Rahn, director Gabriela Cowperthwaite and executive producer Judy Bart
    Gabriela Cowperthwaite at an event for Blackfish (2013)
    Blackfish (2013)
    Blackfish (2013)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tilikum
    Tilikum
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Dave Duffus
    Dave Duffus
    • Self - OSHA Expert Witness, Whale Researcheras Self - OSHA Expert Witness, Whale Researcher
    Samantha Berg
    Samantha Berg
    • Self - Former SeaWorld Traineras Self - Former SeaWorld Trainer
    Dean Gomersall
    • Self - Former SeaWorld Traineras Self - Former SeaWorld Trainer
    John Hargrove
    • Self - Former SeaWorld Traineras Self - Former SeaWorld Trainer
    Mark Simmons
    • Self - Former SeaWorld Traineras Self - Former SeaWorld Trainer
    Kim Ashdown
    • Selfas Self
    James Earl Jones
    James Earl Jones
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Shamu
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Carol Ray
    • Self - Former SeaWorld Traineras Self - Former SeaWorld Trainer
    John Jett
    • Self - Fomer SeaWorld Traineras Self - Fomer SeaWorld Trainer
    Dawn Brancheau
    • Self - SeaWorld Traineras Self - SeaWorld Trainer
    • (archive footage)
    Jeffrey Ventre
    • Self - Former SeaWorld Traineras Self - Former SeaWorld Trainer
    Thomas Tobin
    • Selfas Self
    Jim Payne
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Martha Sugalski
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Whoopi Goldberg
    Whoopi Goldberg
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    David Kirby
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    • Director
      • Gabriela Cowperthwaite
    • Writers
      • Gabriela Cowperthwaite
      • Eli B. Despres
      • Tim Zimmermann
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    The Cove
    8.4
    The Cove
    Super Size Me
    7.2
    Super Size Me
    Exit Through the Gift Shop
    8.0
    Exit Through the Gift Shop
    Icarus
    7.9
    Icarus
    Fyre
    7.2
    Fyre
    Bowling for Columbine
    8.0
    Bowling for Columbine
    Free Solo
    8.1
    Free Solo
    Searching for Sugar Man
    8.2
    Searching for Sugar Man
    Tilikum Has Died
    7.1
    Tilikum Has Died
    Citizenfour
    8.0
    Citizenfour
    Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father
    8.5
    Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father
    Black Fish
    Black Fish

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      As of August 2015, Seaworld profits have dropped 84% compared to the period prior to this film's release.
    • Quotes

      Howard Garrett - Orca Researcher: There is no record of an orca doing any harm to a human in the wild.

    • Connections
      Featured in Storyville: Blackfish: The Whale That Killed (2013)

    User reviews245

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Man is the Beast
    Greetings again from the darkness. Dogs, cats, fish, birds, hamsters, ferrets, snakes, and even pigs. We love our pets. We also love our zoos, city aquariums and SeaWorld parks. For many years, we have chosen to believe that the research and educational advances that come from these outlets outweigh any of the negatives involved with keeping wild animals in captivity. Filmmaker Gabriela Cowperthwaite shows us (by focusing on SeaWorld) that it's way past time for us to open our eyes to the cruelty involved with the capture and training of wild animals for entertainment purpose.

    The points made here are not speculation. We witness numerous interviews with "former" SeaWorld trainers. It's clear these people thought they had a bond with their co-performers. Most never even mention the term "killer whale" ... the common moniker for the majestic creatures better known as Orcas. The interviews have great impact, and when combined with startling TV news clips and footage from audience members, it becomes obvious that the huge profits and entertainment offered to families, are quite frankly generated by an immoral and inexcusable business model.

    Most of the story is tied together by the 2010 death of super-trainer Dawn Brancheau by Tilikum, the largest Orca in the SeaWorld group. What we soon learn is that Tilikum was captured in Iceland waters at the age of three, and has since had many incidents resulting in injuries and even three deaths. It's also stated that Tilikum is the head of the family tree for the majority of SeaWorld's performing Orcas.

    Of course, no one can or should blame these incredibly intelligent and emotional and family-oriented creatures. Everything about their existence goes against their natural habitat and way of life. The real issue is ... just because we CAN capture and train these animals, does that mean we SHOULD? If the focus is profits, then the answer is apparently yes. If instead, the focus is respecting nature and valuing other species, then the answer is much different.

    The Cove and Project Nim are two other documentaries that come to mind when thinking about filmmakers attempting to expose the danger in training wild animals. Watching this story had me hanging my head like the fisherman from the 1970's as he helped capture a young whale, as the family members swam nearby crying and screeching. Let's hope director Cowperthwaite's screams are heard. See this movie before deciding to visit another SeaWorld (who couldn't be bothered to comment on camera). There are better ways to teach your kids about nature and there are certainly less cruel forms of entertainment.
    helpful•82
    12
    • ferguson-6
    • Aug 6, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 26, 2013 (Ireland)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Storyville: Blackfish
    • Filming locations
      • Sea World, San Diego, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • CNN Films
      • Manny O Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,073,582
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $75,962
      • Jul 21, 2013
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,303,417
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 23 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Blackfish (2013)
    Top Gap
    What is the Spanish language plot outline for Blackfish (2013)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    Editors' Picks: What to Watch Now on Netflix
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    The Best Movies Coming This Summer
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.