Becoming Cousteau

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2:19

Becoming Cousteau

PG-13

2021

1h 33m

Documentary

Biography

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98%

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61 Reviews

81%

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50+ Ratings

Adventurer, filmmaker, inventor, author, unlikely celebrity and conservationist: For over four decades, Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his explorations under the ocean became synonymous with a love of science and the natural world. As he learned to protect the environment, he brought the whole world with him, sounding alarms more than 50 years ago about the warming seas and our planet's vulnerability. In BECOMING COUSTEAU, from National Geographic Documentary Films, two-time Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker LIZ GARBUS takes an inside look at Cousteau and his life, his iconic films and inventions, and the experiences that made him the 20th century's most unique and renowned environmental voice -- and the man who inspired generations to protect the Earth.

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Critics Consensus

As visually thrilling as it is edifying, Becoming Cousteau pays fitting tribute to a pioneering explorer and environmental advocate.

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Phil Hoad

Guardian

Nov 10, 2021

3/5

Becoming Cousteau is no hagiography, but greater distance might have also allowed Garbus to reflect more on the man's environmental legacy.

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Marina Ashioti

Little White Lies

Nov 9, 2021

3/5

A nuanced portrait of an oceanographer whose warnings are more prescient than ever.

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David Stratton

The Australian

Oct 30, 2021

3.5/5

He appears to have been a remarkable man, and Becoming Costeau, this detailed portrait of him, does him full justice.

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Caroline Frost

Radio Times

Apr 9, 2026

4/5

Never mind dry lectures on sustainability, just show this film, with its gorgeous and ground-breaking marine footage, over and over again in schools.

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Mark R. Leeper

Mark Leeper's Reviews

Sep 16, 2022

6/10

BECOMING COUSTEAU is a biography of Jacques-Yves Cousteau. Caveat: The subtitles for French-speakers are very badly done, with white-on-white making them hard to read.

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Erick Estrada

Cinegarage

Jun 30, 2022

A "simple" account of [Cousteau's] life and work... that brings forth the weighty and uncomfortable central idea: Was Cousteau the first marine environmentalist of consequence? [Full review in Spanish]

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Kelly Diana

Oct 29, 2021

A beautiful, bittersweet movie, about a true legend. The film takes us into the life of Cousteau, his passion for the sea and the environment, and his personal challenges of being a father and a mentor to thousands of people in the world.

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Linda J

Oct 27, 2021

I loved the old footage when he was a young man. His ambition to do good and help the environment is inspiring. Such a caring, kind man

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Tom C

Oct 26, 2021

Shows a hero, warts and all. But his first family ( except Phillipe and the Madame) gets largely left out.

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Nancy H

Oct 24, 2021

Amazing documentary account of Cousteau's evolution from an adventurer to an environmental activist.

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JKP

Oct 24, 2021

I now feel like I know the Man! Great snapshot of his real life aboard the Calyso

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Kelly R

Oct 24, 2021

An enthralling overview of the life of my first hero. It made me remember the way I felt watching his shows as a kid and left me wanting to dive deeper, if you'll forgive the pun!

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Liz Garbus

Director

Vincent Cassel

Narrator

Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Self

Mark Monroe

Writer

Pax Wassermann

Writer

Mridu Chandra

Producer

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Becoming Cousteau: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Adventurer, filmmaker, inventor, author, unlikely celebrity and conservationist: For over four decades, Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his explorations under the ocean became synonymous with a love of science and the natural world. As he learned to protect the environment, he brought the whole world with him, sounding alarms more than 50 years ago about the warming seas and our planet's vulnerability. In BECOMING COUSTEAU, from National Geographic Documentary Films, two-time Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker LIZ GARBUS takes an inside look at Cousteau and his life, his iconic films and inventions, and the experiences that made him the 20th century's most unique and renowned environmental voice -- and the man who inspired generations to protect the Earth.

Director: Liz Garbus
Producer: Mridu Chandra, Dan Cogan, Liz Garbus, Evan Hayes
Screenwriter: Mark Monroe, Pax Wassermann, Mark Monroe, Pax Wassermann
Distributor: Picturehouse
Production Co: National Geographic Documentary Films, National Geographic, Story Syndicate, ACE Content
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Strong Language|Some Disturbing Images|Smoking)
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 22, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 24, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA): $230.5K
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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