Becoming Cousteau

PG-13

Released Oct 22, 2021

1h 33m

Documentary

Biography

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98%

60 Reviews

Tomatometer

84%

50+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Kelly Diana

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/29/21

Full Review

Linda J

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/27/21

Full Review

Tom C

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

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/26/21

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Nancy H

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/24/21

Full Review

JKP

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/24/21

Full Review

Kelly R

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!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/24/21

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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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Phil Hoad

Guardian

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

Rated: 3/5

Nov 10, 2021

Full Review

Marina Ashioti

Little White Lies

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

Rated: 3/5

Nov 9, 2021

Full Review

David Stratton

The Australian

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

Rated: 3.5/5

Oct 30, 2021

Full Review

Mark R. Leeper

Mark Leeper's Reviews

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.

Rated: 6/10

Sep 16, 2022

Full Review

Erick Estrada

Cinegarage

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]

Jun 30, 2022

Full Review

Tom O'Brien

Next Best Picture

Getting access to the Cousteau archives provided Garbus the chance to create a celebrity-oriented doc that didn't have to rely on familiar footage or a parade of talking heads, and that alone helps to make "Becoming Cousteau" stand apart from the pack.

Rated: 7/10

Jun 15, 2022

Full Review

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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: Carolyn Bernstein, Julie Gaither, Ryan Harrington
Screenwriter: Mark Monroe, Pax Wassermann, Mark Monroe, Pax Wassermann
Distributor: Picturehouse
Production Co: National Geographic, Story Syndicate, National Geographic Documentary Films, 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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