Flipper

Play trailer

Flipper

PG

Released May 17, 1996

1h 36m

Kids & Family

Adventure

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

30%

Tomatometer

20 Reviews

34%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Sandy Ricks (Elijah Wood), a young Chicago teenager, has difficulty adjusting after his parents' divorce. Thinking a vacation will help, his mother sends him to spend the summer with his uncle (Paul Hogan) in the Florida Keys. When he arrives, Ricks has nothing but a bad attitude until a chance encounter with the playful dolphin Flipper and a neighborhood girl (Jessica Wesson) snap him out of it. However, Flipper's life is soon in danger when someone starts dumping toxic waste in the ocean.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Mike Clark

USA Today

Flipper is inoffensive, but it's also asleep in the deep.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Susan Stark

Detroit News

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Hollis Chacona

Austin Chronicle

Rated: 2.5/5

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Mal Vincent

The Virginian-Pilot

There are, though, too many boring scenes with adults talking a lot - and Flipper himself takes too long to make his entrance. What we need is more of Flipper and more underwater photography.

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 2, 2022

Full Review

Brian Costello

Common Sense Media

Warmhearted remake of TV classic has some scary moments.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 24, 2012

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...an inoffensive yet utterly forgettable endeavor.

Rated: 2/4

Feb 7, 2011

Full Review

Read all reviews

Leonard D

It's absolutely aimed at kids, aside from the adults using alcohol, and a brief moment of blood in the ocean. I love dolphins, don't get me wrong, but the pacing could have been allot better. The one scene which always makes me laugh, is when Porters pet pelican is summoned to come into his house, and slurp up the mess which his girlfriend spilled on the floor, so that's a huge positive which I can still take away from this mediocre family summer feature.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/22/24

Full Review

Belinda W

If you're looking for a simple yet endearing story that takes you to an island paradise with Paul Hogan, Elijah Wood, and a dolphin - you're in luck! On top of the adorable story, likeable characters and arcs (except for the villain), and a necessary environmentalist message, the sound design is also extremely well done. This is the type of film that'll stay with you and have you and the family coming back when you need an enjoyable Sunday watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/03/24

Full Review

Thomas R

WTF was that! This movie is not a good way to transform a TV show into a film.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

09/17/23

Full Review

Jake B

I have always enjoyed watching flipper while growing up Flipper is awesome if you love Dolphins like I do.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/07/23

Full Review

StephenPaul C

The greatest 01 hour: and 36 minutes, starring Eliajah Wood and Paul Hogan as a boy and his Australian uncle saving a dolphin named Flipper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/12/23

Full Review

andy h

If you like dolphins and it's actors, it will be a treat, even if the cinematography is spotty and the villain arc is ridiculous.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Alan Shapiro

Director

Elijah Wood

Sandy

Paul Hogan

Porter

Chelsea Field

Cathy

Isaac Hayes

Sheriff Buck Cowan

Jonathan Banks

Dirk Moran

Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain

50%

53%

Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain

Watchlist

Free Willy 3: The Rescue

44%

44%

Free Willy 3: The Rescue

Watchlist

Far From Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog

63%

54%

Far From Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog

Watchlist

Tom and Huck

25%

42%

Tom and Huck

Watchlist

Mighty Joe Young

54%

41%

Mighty Joe Young

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Sandy Ricks (Elijah Wood), a young Chicago teenager, has difficulty adjusting after his parents' divorce. Thinking a vacation will help, his mother sends him to spend the summer with his uncle (Paul Hogan) in the Florida Keys. When he arrives, Ricks has nothing but a bad attitude until a chance encounter with the playful dolphin Flipper and a neighborhood girl (Jessica Wesson) snap him out of it. However, Flipper's life is soon in danger when someone starts dumping toxic waste in the ocean.

Director: Alan Shapiro
Producer: Perry Katz, James J. McNamara
Screenwriter: Ricou Browning, Jack Cowden, Alan Shapiro
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: The Bubble Factory, Universal Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 17, 1996, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 8, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $20.0M
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

Most Popular at Home Now