Overview
A heartwarming tale of friendship and resilience between a boy and a dolphin.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- warm
- hopeful
- sincere
- family movie night
- rainy day
What critics said
Critics broadly found it an earnest, sweet, well-told family film that balances emotional appeal with accessible environmental and animal-care themes.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Sawyer’s attachment to the injured dolphin develops into a sustained effort to secure treatment and a prosthetic tail.
Lonely, friendless Sawyer forms a bond with the dolphin and gains purpose through helping its recovery.
Sawyer believes a prosthetic tail can allow the dolphin to swim normally after its tail is removed.
The plot is explicitly based on a true story and incorporates the actual dolphin associated with that case.
Films like Dolphin Tale, and why
Free Willy
family-friendly animal drama centered on empathy, rehabilitation, and a child’s emotional bond with a vulnerable creature
The Black Stallion
earnest children’s drama about compassion, perseverance, and helping an injured animal overcome physical limitations
A Dolphin Tale 2
warm true-story-inspired family film combining animal welfare, mentorship, and an uplifting community effort
Movie Details
- Director
- Charles Martin Smith
- Release Date
- 2011-09-22
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (697)
Cast
- Nathan Gamble
- Cozi Zuehlsdorff
- Harry Connick Jr.
- Austin Stowell
- Morgan Freeman
- Ashley Judd
- Kris Kristofferson
- Ray McKinnon
- Frances Sternhagen
- Nicholas Turner Martin
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Dolphin Tale about?
- A lonely Florida boy rallies compassionate adults and friends to help an injured dolphin regain its independence with a prosthetic tail.
- What is Dolphin Tale like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Dolphin Tale as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Dolphin Tale violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Dolphin Tale as mild.
- What did critics think of Dolphin Tale?
- Critics broadly found it an earnest, sweet, well-told family film that balances emotional appeal with accessible environmental and animal-care themes.
- Which films are like Dolphin Tale?
- Films with a similar feel include Free Willy, The Black Stallion, and A Dolphin Tale 2.
- How long is Dolphin Tale?
- Dolphin Tale runs 113 minutes.
- Where can I watch Dolphin Tale?
- In United States, Dolphin Tale is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
