Overview
A haunting exploration of teenage life that spirals into chaos and tragedy.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- observational
- uneasy
- foreboding
- serious film discussion
- social issue cinema viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film’s formally bold, naturalistic depiction of teenage routines and school violence, while finding its restrained approach emotionally and thematically challenging.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film follows multiple students through their daily routines, returning to shared events from different viewpoints.
Long, patient passages track students walking, eating, talking, and moving through school without explanatory exposition.
Alex and Eric are presented as seemingly ordinary teenagers whose routines and plans gradually converge on mass violence.
Everyday activities, school corridors, firearms, and the students’ movements acquire ominous significance as the day progresses.
Films like Elephant, and why
We Need to Talk About Kevin
shared school setting, teenage alienation, and unsettling examination of youth violence
Polytechnique
shared fragmented perspectives, adolescent isolation, and social realism surrounding a school shooting
The Class
shared coming-of-age drama, institutional pressure, and escalating teenage violence
Bully
shared naturalistic teen performances, social observation, and disturbing school violence
Movie Details
- Director
- Gus Van Sant
- Release Date
- 2003-09-20
- Runtime
- 81 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (2176)
Cast
- Alex Frost
- Eric Deulen
- John Robinson
- Elias McConnell
- Jordan Taylor
- Carrie Finklea
- Nicole George
- Brittany Mountain
- Alicia Miles
- Kristen Hicks
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Elephant about?
- Gus Van Sant’s stark portrait of an ordinary school day slowly converging on an act of devastating teenage violence.
- What is Elephant like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Elephant as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Elephant violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Elephant as graphic.
- What did critics think of Elephant?
- Critics broadly praised the film’s formally bold, naturalistic depiction of teenage routines and school violence, while finding its restrained approach emotionally and thematically challenging.
- Which films are like Elephant?
- Films with a similar feel include We Need to Talk About Kevin, Polytechnique, The Class, and Bully.
- How long is Elephant?
- Elephant runs 81 minutes.
- Where can I watch Elephant?
- In United States, Elephant is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube.
