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The Shape of Water

  • 2017
  • R
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
461K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,183
209
Doug Jones and Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water (2017)
An other-worldly fairy tale, 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.
Play trailer1:49
47 Videos
99+ Photos
Dark FantasyDark RomanceFairy TaleDramaFantasyRomanceSci-Fi

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.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.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
    • Vanessa Taylor
  • Stars
    • Sally Hawkins
    • Octavia Spencer
    • Michael Shannon
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    461K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,183
    209
    • Director
      • Guillermo del Toro
    • Writers
      • Guillermo del Toro
      • Vanessa Taylor
    • Stars
      • Sally Hawkins
      • Octavia Spencer
      • Michael Shannon
    • 1.7KUser reviews
    • 1KCritic reviews
    • 87Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 4 Oscars
      • 138 wins & 350 nominations total

    Videos47

    New International Trailer
    Trailer 1:49
    New International Trailer
    Red Band Trailer
    Trailer 2:21
    Red Band Trailer
    Red Band Trailer
    Trailer 2:21
    Red Band Trailer
    Trailer
    Trailer 2:02
    Trailer
    Now Playing Everywhere
    Trailer 2:31
    Now Playing Everywhere
    The Shape of Water
    Trailer 2:37
    The Shape of Water
    Unconventional Romances to Stream Now
    Clip 2:41
    Unconventional Romances to Stream Now

    Photos449

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    + 443
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    Top cast52

    Edit
    Sally Hawkins
    Sally Hawkins
    • Elisa Esposito
    Octavia Spencer
    Octavia Spencer
    • Zelda Fuller
    Michael Shannon
    Michael Shannon
    • Richard Strickland
    Doug Jones
    Doug Jones
    • Amphibian Man
    Richard Jenkins
    Richard Jenkins
    • Giles
    Michael Stuhlbarg
    Michael Stuhlbarg
    • Dr. Robert Hoffstetler
    David Hewlett
    David Hewlett
    • Fleming
    Nick Searcy
    Nick Searcy
    • General Hoyt
    Stewart Arnott
    Stewart Arnott
    • Bernard
    Nigel Bennett
    Nigel Bennett
    • Mihalkov
    Lauren Lee Smith
    Lauren Lee Smith
    • Elaine Strickland
    Martin Roach
    Martin Roach
    • Brewster Fuller
    Allegra Fulton
    Allegra Fulton
    • Yolanda
    John Kapelos
    John Kapelos
    • Mr. Arzoumanian
    Morgan Kelly
    Morgan Kelly
    • Pie Guy
    Marvin Kaye
    Marvin Kaye
    • Burly Russian
    Dru Viergever
    Dru Viergever
    • Military Policeman
    Wendy Lyon
    Wendy Lyon
    • Sally (Secretary)
    • Director
      • Guillermo del Toro
    • Writers
      • Guillermo del Toro
      • Vanessa Taylor
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Oscars Best Picture Winners, Ranked

    Oscars Best Picture Winners, Ranked

    See the complete list of Oscars Best Picture winners, ranked by IMDb ratings.
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When The Shape of Water (2017) screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2017, the screening was held in the Elgin Theatre. The interior scenes of the theater in the film were shot in the Elgin Theatre, so as the audience was watching the film, they were seeing the same theater on-screen that they were sitting in.
    • Goofs
      After Richard Strickland's children leave to get on the school bus, Strickland's wife Elaine states she wants to have sex upstairs, but the establishing shot of their house a few seconds earlier does not have a second story.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Giles: If I told you about her, what would I say? That they lived happily ever after? I believe they did. That they were in love? That they remained in love? I'm sure that's true. But when I think of her - of Elisa - the only thing that comes to mind is a poem, whispered by someone in love, hundreds of years ago: "Unable to perceive the shape of You, I find You all around me. Your presence fills my eyes with Your love, It humbles my heart, For You are everywhere."

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits roll over footage of a flooded apartment.
    • Connections
      Featured in FoundFlix: The Shape of Water (2017) Ending Explained + Analysis (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      You'll Never Know
      Music by Harry Warren

      Lyrics by Mack Gordon

      Performed by Renée Fleming & The London Symphony Orchestra

      Arranged & Conducted by Alexandre Desplat

      Recorded & Mixed by Jonathan Allen at Studio de la Grande Armée, Paris

      Assistant: Ludovick Tartavel

      Piano: Frédéric Gaillardet

      Double Bass: Riccardo Del Fra

      Drums: Jeff Boudreaux (as Jeffrey Boudreaux)

      Bass Flute: Alexandre Desplat

      Courtesy of Decca Music Group Limited

      Under license from Universal Music Operations Ltd.

    User reviews1.7K

    Featured review
    8/10

    Haunting.

    "When he looks at me - the way he looks at me. He does not know what I lack or how I am incomplete. He sees me for what I am, as I am."

    This film was strange, yet haunting. Disturbing, yet poetic. I loved the cinematography, the music, and the moral behind this film. Love is not judgemental, and this film leaves you with an ache in your chest.
    • iheartmilkshake
    • Apr 2, 2018
    • Permalink

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    FAQ19

    • How long is The Shape of Water?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 22, 2017 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Mexico
    • Official sites
      • Fox Searchlight
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • American Sign Language
      • Russian
      • French
    • Also known as
      • La forma del agua
    • Filming locations
      • Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Double Dare You (DDY)
      • Fox Searchlight Pictures
      • TSG Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $19,400,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $63,859,435
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $166,564
      • Dec 3, 2017
    • Gross worldwide
      • $195,243,464
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 3 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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