Blackfish
An impassioned investigation into Tilikum, captive orcas, and the human cost of turning intelligent wildlife into entertainment.
Overview
A gripping exploration of the dark side of marine entertainment and the consequences of captivity.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- impassioned
- disturbing
- mournful
- socially conscious viewing
- environmental film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a gripping, aggressive, and persuasive documentary that reshapes perceptions of performance killer whales.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Interviews and archival material center on Tilikum’s life in captivity and the consequences of keeping orcas in performance facilities.
The film scrutinizes SeaWorld’s training practices and corporate presentation of killer whales while foregrounding former trainers and researchers.
Gabriela Cowperthwaite combines interviews, attack histories, and archival footage in an aggressive, impassioned case against orca captivity.
SeaWorld’s public-facing displays are set against footage and testimony concerning trainer deaths and the conditions experienced by captive orcas.
Films like Blackfish, and why
The Cove
impassioned environmental documentary filmmaking, institutional critique, and emotionally forceful real-world testimony
V kind?
investigative documentary structure, animal welfare themes, and confrontation with an entertainment industry
My Octopus Teacher
nature documentary with a strong ethical argument about human treatment of intelligent animals
Movie Details
- Director
- Gabriela Cowperthwaite
- Release Date
- 2013-06-07
- Runtime
- 83 min
- Rating
- 7.9 / 10 (1218)
Cast
- Dean Gomersall
- Samantha Berg
- John Jett
- John Hargrove
- Carol Ray
- Jeffrey Ventre
- Kim Ashdown
- Ken Balcomb
- Mark Simmons
- Thomas Tobin
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Dox Amazon Channel, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Blackfish about?
- An impassioned investigation into Tilikum, captive orcas, and the human cost of turning intelligent wildlife into entertainment.
- What is Blackfish like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Blackfish as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Blackfish violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Blackfish as moderate.
- What did critics think of Blackfish?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a gripping, aggressive, and persuasive documentary that reshapes perceptions of performance killer whales.
- Which films are like Blackfish?
- Films with a similar feel include The Cove, V kind?, and My Octopus Teacher.
- How long is Blackfish?
- Blackfish runs 83 minutes.
- Where can I watch Blackfish?
- In United States, Blackfish streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Dox Amazon Channel, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel.
