The Penguin King

PG

2012

1h 18m

Adventure

Drama

List

54%

Tomatometer

13 Reviews

55%

Audience Score

500+ Ratings

A penguin battles his way from adolescence to adulthood before a tragedy makes him king of the entire colony.

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Chris Packham

Village Voice

The film is a klutzy rearrangement of documentary footage into a forced story arc narrated in first person by Tim Allen.

Dec 4, 2013

Full Review

John DeFore

Hollywood Reporter

This mainstream theatrical release is inferior to its shorter educational-film cousin.

Dec 2, 2013

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

There are some nice images of the teeming penguin population, and great fun to be had witnessing the love life, and indeed sex life, of penguins.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 25, 2012

Full Review

Daniel Green

CineVue

Attenborough's commentary is tailored yet never condescending to its audience, more educational than it is patronising.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 5, 2019

Full Review

Sandie Angulo Chen

Common Sense Media

Nature docu follows King penguin's quest to raise a family.

Rated: 3/5

May 31, 2013

Full Review

Allan Hunter

Daily Express (UK)

The 3D film is a celebration of their remarkable tenacity with enough high dramas and cute moments to keep you enthralled.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 26, 2012

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Audience Member

so cute and blubbery and cuddly so cute and fluffy

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/02/19

Full Review

Audience Member

Good imagery but story was very stitched together

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I adore penguins, I love them with all my heart. So after I received the Blu-ray for Christmas, I just had to set up all of my cuddly toy penguins on the sofa so we could watch this together. It was a great experience to see such stunning photography in beautiful resolution. Those familiar with penguins wont be too surprised by anything in this documentary, but Attenborough's voice echoes with authority. The film also contains some extraordinarily delicate moments such as penguin realising the egg he has been incubating is actually a rock. I just wanted to curl up and cry. Seeing these creatures in their natural habitat really does slap a smile on my face and I hope to see more penguin documentaries in the future. It's a heartwarming tale about a penguin finding love and raising his child.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Beautiful... Gripping...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

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Anthony Geffen

Director

Sias Wilson

Director

David Attenborough

Narrator

Sias Wilson

Writer

David Attenborough

Writer

Anthony Geffen

Producer

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Synopsis

A penguin battles his way from adolescence to adulthood before a tragedy makes him king of the entire colony.

Director: Anthony Geffen, Sias Wilson
Screenwriter: Sias Wilson, David Attenborough
Production Co: Atlantic Productions
Rating: PG (Brief Mild Language)
Genre: Adventure, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 2, 2017
Runtime: 1h 18m