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Becoming Cousteau

Play trailer 2:19 Poster for Becoming Cousteau PG-13 2021 1h 33m Documentary Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
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98% Tomatometer 60 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 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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Becoming Cousteau

Becoming Cousteau

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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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Critics Reviews

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Phil Hoad Guardian 11/10/2021
3/5
Becoming Cousteau is no hagiography, but greater distance might have also allowed Garbus to reflect more on the man's environmental legacy. Go to Full Review Marina Ashioti Little White Lies 11/09/2021
3/5
A nuanced portrait of an oceanographer whose warnings are more prescient than ever. Go to Full Review David Stratton The Australian 10/30/2021
3.5/5
He appears to have been a remarkable man, and Becoming Costeau, this detailed portrait of him, does him full justice. Go to Full Review Mark R. Leeper Mark Leeper's Reviews 09/16/2022
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. Go to Full Review Erick Estrada Cinegarage 06/30/2022
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] Go to Full Review Tom O'Brien Next Best Picture 06/15/2022
7/10
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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kelly Diana 10/29/2021 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. See more Linda J 10/27/2021 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 See more Tom C 10/26/2021 Shows a hero, warts and all. But his first family ( except Phillipe and the Madame) gets largely left out. See more Nancy H 10/24/2021 Amazing documentary account of Cousteau's evolution from an adventurer to an environmental activist. See more JKP 10/24/2021 I now feel like I know the Man! Great snapshot of his real life aboard the Calyso See more Kelly R 10/24/2021 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! See more Read all reviews
Becoming Cousteau

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Cast & Crew

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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

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Becoming Cousteau

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Movie Info

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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