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Gorillas in the Mist

PG-13 Released Sep 23, 1988 2h 9m Drama List
84% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
This film is an adaptation of wildlife expert Dian Fossey's autobiography. Midwesterner Fossey (Sigourney Weaver) leaves the United States for Africa, where she studies the gorillas of Rwanda and Uganda. As Fossey develops a bond with the animals, she also becomes wary of the poachers who prey on them. Fearing that the gorillas will go extinct if humans continue to hunt them, she organizes a defense league to protect the animals; in doing so, though, she puts herself in a perilous situation.
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Gorillas in the Mist

Critics Reviews

View All (19) Critics Reviews
Henry Sheehan Chicago Reader Gorillas in the Mist does a good job of relating the high points of Fossey's life... Rated: 2/4 May 11, 2022 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times There were moments when I felt a touch of awe. Those moments, which are genuine, make the movie worth seeing. Rated: 3/4 Mar 7, 2003 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy It's hard to make a concrete declaration when Ellen Ripley is right there on the resume, but it's likely that Sigourney Weaver's greatest performance can be found in Gorillas in the Mist. Rated: 3.5/4 Mar 20, 2021 Full Review Andrea Beach Common Sense Media Gripping biopic has violence, animals in peril. Rated: 3/5 May 2, 2017 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Rated: 4/5 Jul 5, 2008 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault This is a movie for masochists. Rated: C Apr 9, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member I remember watching this years ago Found it to be a very fascinating story of a woman determined to protect what meant the world to her Starring Sigourney Weaver directed by the late Michael Apted of ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’ and ‘World Is Not Enough’ Based on the true story of Dian Fossey, an occupational therapist and the woman who traveled to Africa determined to save an endangered group of gorillas Her autobiography tells of her venture to Rwanda and Uganda on the misty jungle mountains in 1966 She became very attached to these animals studying them but also preserving their habitats The biggest challenge though was confronting poachers in the country who wanted to hunt the gorillas down and sell their heads for money The more time Dian spent with the gorillas the more she was eager to save these beautiful animals even if it meant striking back She put together a defense league despite putting her own life in danger, this was also during the Congo Crisis concerning rebel soldiers next to foreign policy A photographer Bob Campbell also joined her cause and fell in love with her Sadly Dian Fossey was died in 1985 and it remains a mystery to this day, still she will forever be remembered as a strong advocate for helping to save these apes from extinction The movie still works incredibly well thanks to Sigourney Weaver’s committed performance, this might be one of her best roles At times it’s very heartbreaking watching the animals suffer at the hands of powerful elites next to currency True this is overly-simplified too But the African setting is beautiful and exotic with Weaver and Apted highlighting the late researcher’s life Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/25/23 Full Review Federico T Primatologist Dian Fossey is played by an outstanding Sigourney Weaver in a role that gained her the Golden Globe award. Lot of criticism has been levelled about the softnening and normalization of Fossey's far from ordinary personality and lacking of in-depth in the inner motives of her life mission (quite oversimplyfing it) and about a certain emphasis on a not so proven love story with photographer Bob Campbell (well interpreted by Bryan Brown, who has an excellent chemistry with the protagonist). Returning from her triumphant reprise of the Ellen Ripley character in 1986's "Aliens", Sigourney Weaver confirms once more to be the most powerful female lead of her time, offering a strong, intense, when needed bold, rendition of this one of a kind conservationist, regardless of the script limitations. The shots and photography of Rwanda settings are magnificient, as extraordinary and touching are the perfect representations of the gorillas. This is a picture that as it is capable of emotionally move you, as it makes you take care so deeply about an environment so estranged from your own, as it makes you become accustomed on how a concrete loving family (bonding humans and animals) can be built on the most unconventional circumstances, has reached its goal. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/05/23 Full Review Donald S Mostly a feel good chick flick with some great scenery. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/04/23 Full Review jelisije j An epic biopic that could have been better if the third act focused more on the paranoia and the cruelty of the late Dian Fossey. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review robert p This film is an adaptation of wildlife expert Dian Fossey's autobiography, by another star of Stage and Screen. A very good movie, I give it a *4* star rating! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A gripping and tragic biopic about a woman's quest to save Gorillas. Weaver once again gives a hell of a performance, in this heartbreaking movie that may be tough for animal lovers to watch. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/07/21 Full Review Read all reviews
Gorillas in the Mist

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Movie Info

Synopsis This film is an adaptation of wildlife expert Dian Fossey's autobiography. Midwesterner Fossey (Sigourney Weaver) leaves the United States for Africa, where she studies the gorillas of Rwanda and Uganda. As Fossey develops a bond with the animals, she also becomes wary of the poachers who prey on them. Fearing that the gorillas will go extinct if humans continue to hunt them, she organizes a defense league to protect the animals; in doing so, though, she puts herself in a perilous situation.
Director
Michael Apted
Producer
Terence A. Clegg, Arne Glimcher
Screenwriter
Anna Hamilton Phelan
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal Pictures, Guber-Peters Company, Warner Bros.
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 23, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$22.6M
Runtime
2h 9m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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