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Born to Be Wild

Play trailer Poster for Born to Be Wild PG Released Mar 31, 1995 1h 40m Kids & Family Drama Adventure Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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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.
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Born to Be Wild

Critics Reviews

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John Hartl Seattle Times 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... Jul 13, 2020 Full Review Stephen Holden New York Times The film's biggest mistake is in going after the heartstrings instead of the funnybone. May 21, 2003 Full Review Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times 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. Oct 30, 2001 Full Review Mal Vincent The Virginian-Pilot Most of the chances for humor are downplayed in favor of a heavy-handed, sentimental effort. Rated: 1.5/4 Jul 13, 2020 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Dec 18, 2004 Full Review Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Rated: 1/5 Oct 25, 2002 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Zander G This movie taught me many valuable lessons about relationships and friendship! Would recommend for someone Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/07/24 Full Review Audience Member 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. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review steve d Forgettable version of a story told a million times before. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member literally best movie I have ever seen Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/28/18 Full Review Audience Member Good movie overall with a funny & heart-warming message for the whole family to enjoy Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member wrong synopsis morons. great movie from my childhood. the bond between a Young youth and gorilla is very fun, funny and touching. I highly recommend this for the family. also featuring John C McGinley with a kooky role. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Born to Be Wild

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Born to Be Wild

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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
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