7.3/10
354,283
1,594 user 996 critic

The Shape of Water (2017)

Trailer
1:49 | Trailer
At a top secret research facility in the 1960s, a lonely janitor forms a unique relationship with an amphibious creature that is being held in captivity.

Director:

Guillermo del Toro

Writers:

Guillermo del Toro (screenplay by), Vanessa Taylor (screenplay by) | 1 more credit »
Popularity
226 ( 343)
Won 4 Oscars. Another 134 wins & 349 nominations. See more awards »

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Photos

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sally Hawkins ... Elisa Esposito
Michael Shannon ... Richard Strickland
Richard Jenkins ... Giles
Octavia Spencer ... Zelda Fuller
Michael Stuhlbarg ... Dr. Robert Hoffstetler
Doug Jones ... Amphibian Man
David Hewlett ... Fleming
Nick Searcy ... General Hoyt
Stewart Arnott ... Bernard
Nigel Bennett ... Mihalkov
Lauren Lee Smith ... Elaine Strickland
Martin Roach ... Brewster Fuller
Allegra Fulton ... Yolanda
John Kapelos ... Mr. Arzoumanian
Morgan Kelly ... Pie Guy
Learn more

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Storyline

From master storyteller Guillermo del Toro comes THE SHAPE OF WATER, an otherworldly fable set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1962. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of isolation. Elisa's life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment. Rounding out the cast are Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Doug Jones. Written by Fox Searchlight Pictures

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

A Fairy Tale for Troubled Times See more »


Certificate:

14A | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The vinyl records Elisa shows the creature are "The Great Benny Goodman" and "Glenn Miller Plays Selections from The Glenn Miller Story and Other Hits." Both were released in 1956. See more »

Goofs

When Strickland (Shannon) drives home from the dealer's with a new Cadillac, the car has a regulation Maryland license plate. A temporary cardboard plate would have been issued for the first couple of weeks of ownership. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Giles: If I spoke about it - if I did - what would I tell you? I wonder. Would I tell you about the time? It happened a long time ago, it seems. In the last days of a fair prince's reign. Or would I tell you about the place? A small city near the coast, but far from everything else. Or, I don't know... Would I tell you about her? The princess without voice. Or perhaps I would just warn you, about the truth of these facts. And the tale of love and loss. And the monster, who tried to ...
See more »

Crazy Credits

The opening credits roll over footage of a flooded apartment. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Honest Trailers: Showgirls (2018) See more »

Soundtracks

The Spirit of V.M.I.
Written by Benjamin Bowering
From the motion picture Mardi Gras (1958)
Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
See more »

User Reviews

 
Hollywood Hype
22 February 2019 | by jdbuzzSee all my reviews

Graphically, this movie does attract your attention. The rest is fairly drab and dour however. A slow and largely hackneyed plot that reaches no great heights but never quite scrapes the bottom of the barrel.

It is described as a romantic, dark fantasy and I think this should have prompted me to lower my expectations. It's a chic flick disguised as something else, though I must say - even my wife rues the loss of two hours and three minutes of her life.

I would class it is a 'mystery movie'. The mystery being - why was it made, how did it win the 'Best Picture' award at the Oscars and why did I waste my time watching it?


55 of 96 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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Details

Official Sites:

Fox Searchlight | Official Facebook | See more »

Country:

USA | Canada

Release Date:

8 December 2017 (Canada) See more »

Also Known As:

La forme de l'eau See more »

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

$19,400,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$166,564, 3 December 2017

Gross USA:

$63,859,435

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$195,333,312
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

D-Cinema 48kHz 5.1

Color:

Color | Black and White (dream sequence)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »

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