Blackfish
Blackfish

Movie spotlight

Blackfish

2013
Movie
83 min
English

Notorious killer whale Tilikum is responsible for the deaths of three individuals, including a top killer whale trainer. Blackfish shows the sometimes devastating consequences of keeping such intelligent and sentient creatures in captivity.

Insights

IMDb8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes98%
Metacritic83/100
Google Users94%
Director: Gabriela CowperthwaiteGenres: Documentary, Crime, Drama

Plot Summary

Blackfish is a 2013 American documentary film released by Magnolia Pictures. Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, the film interweaves the story of Tilikum, an orca whale held by SeaWorld, with interviews from former SeaWorld trainers and whale researchers. It critically examines the captivity of orcas and the consequences of keeping these intelligent, social creatures in small tanks, ultimately questioning the ethics of marine parks.

Critical Reception

Blackfish was met with widespread critical acclaim, praised for its investigative journalism, emotional impact, and powerful message. The documentary spurred significant public debate about animal welfare in marine parks and led to decreased attendance at SeaWorld parks, as well as a significant shift in public perception regarding orca captivity. It is widely considered one of the most impactful documentaries of its time.

What Reviewers Say

  • A devastating and ultimately infuriating look at the plight of captive orcas.

  • A powerful exposé that effectively uses interviews and archival footage to highlight the dangers and ethical concerns of keeping marine mammals in captivity.

  • Harrowing and deeply moving, 'Blackfish' is a must-watch documentary that has had a tangible impact on public discourse.

Google audience: Google users overwhelmingly praised 'Blackfish' for its eye-opening investigation into the treatment of orca whales and the ethical implications of marine parks. Many reviewers found the documentary incredibly moving and informative, urging others to watch it to understand the impact of captivity on these intelligent animals.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Documentary, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.

Fun Fact

Following the release of 'Blackfish,' several bands and artists, including Willie Nelson, Cheap Trick, and the Beach Boys, canceled their performances at SeaWorld parks due to public pressure and ethical concerns raised by the documentary.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
badelf

badelf

The dark side of Free Willy. Lately (mid-2023), there have been Orca attacks on boats in the Med. My theory is this: The Orcas are highly intelligent and have a fantastic communication system. The few who eventually were freed from SeaWorld...

j0ng

j0ng

Great documentary. I had known about Orca attacks in captivity before watching it, but this film really drove home the point. Free Willy!

Kenneth Axel Carlsson

Kenneth Axel Car...

This is a documentary about how humans keep orcas (killer whales) as pets to entertain at places such as SeaWorld. It is centered around one vicious attack by a killer whale named Tilikum, but actually takes us around the world as well as i...