Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Born to Be Wild

Play trailer Poster for Born to Be Wild PG 1995 1h 40m Kids & Family Drama Adventure Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
0% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 48% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
A young female gorilla is captured in the mountains of Africa and flown to California, where behavioral researcher Margaret Heller (Helen Shaver) begins teaching her sign language. Heller's moody teenage son, Rick (Will Horneff), bonds with the primate, now nicknamed Katie. When cynical circus owner Gus (Peter Boyle) claims Katie to replace the now-dead star of his centerpiece gorilla act, Rick runs away with the gorilla in an attempt to keep her out of Gus' abusive clutches.
Watch on Fandango Stream Now

Where to Watch

Born to Be Wild

Critics Reviews

View More
John Hartl Seattle Times 07/13/2020
Screenwriters Paul Young and John Bunzel... can't decide whether they're making a slapstick comedy or an impassioned ecological statement or just a harmless baby-sitter... Go to Full Review Stephen Holden New York Times 05/21/2003
The film's biggest mistake is in going after the heartstrings instead of the funnybone. Go to Full Review Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times 10/30/2001
It's a shame that the makers of "Born to Be Wild" went to such great lengths to create an absolutely convincing gorilla via technical wizardry only to waste their efforts on such a trite, predictable comedy-adventure. Go to Full Review Mal Vincent The Virginian-Pilot 07/13/2020
1.5/4
Most of the chances for humor are downplayed in favor of a heavy-handed, sentimental effort. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 12/18/2004
2/5
Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette 10/25/2002
1/5
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Deepest Bluest Suede Darius Dick Stinger Apini Emanuel Grouch Nukem III AKA The Rumble AKA Jennyanyany McPoopface Bridgerton AKA The Count of Monte Fisto @RT91120088 05/19/2025 Born to Be Wild: The Zach Harper Story. See more Zander G @RT60640046 05/07/2024 This movie taught me many valuable lessons about relationships and friendship! Would recommend for someone See more 05/23/2022 As a 10 year old in 1995 the final scene when the camera pans away and the gorilla ran off into the wild I ugly cried for the first time watching a movie. See more steve d @RT35616104 07/08/2020 Forgettable version of a story told a million times before. See more 06/28/2018 literally best movie I have ever seen See more 02/15/2015 Good movie overall with a funny & heart-warming message for the whole family to enjoy See more Read all reviews
Born to Be Wild

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

John Gray

Director

Will Horneff

Rick Heller

Helen Shaver

Margaret Heller

Peter Boyle

Gus Charnley

Jean Marie Barnwell

Lacey Carr

Marvin J. McIntyre

Bob the Paramedic

More Like This

View All
Buddy 22% 32% Buddy Watchlist The Amazing Panda Adventure 33% 41% The Amazing Panda Adventure Watchlist Zeus and Roxanne 33% 42% Zeus and Roxanne Watchlist The Adventures of Huck Finn 75% 50% The Adventures of Huck Finn Watchlist How to Eat Fried Worms 60% 47% How to Eat Fried Worms Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Born to Be Wild

Born to Be Wild (1995) Born to Be Wild (1995) Born to Be Wild (1995) Born to Be Wild (1995) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A young female gorilla is captured in the mountains of Africa and flown to California, where behavioral researcher Margaret Heller (Helen Shaver) begins teaching her sign language. Heller's moody teenage son, Rick (Will Horneff), bonds with the primate, now nicknamed Katie. When cynical circus owner Gus (Peter Boyle) claims Katie to replace the now-dead star of his centerpiece gorilla act, Rick runs away with the gorilla in an attempt to keep her out of Gus' abusive clutches.
Director
John Gray
Producer
Jeffrey Silver
Screenwriter
Paul Young, John Bunzel
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Production Co
Warner Brothers, Outlaw Productions
Rating
PG
Genre
Kids & Family, Drama, Adventure, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 31, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$25.8M
Runtime
1h 40m
Sound Mix
Stereo
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings