March of the Penguins

G

Released Jun 24, 2005

1 hr. 20 min.

Documentary

List

94%

181 Reviews

Tomatometer

81%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

At the end of each Antarctic summer, the emperor penguins of the South Pole journey to their traditional breeding grounds in a fascinating mating ritual that is captured in this documentary by intrepid filmmaker Luc Jacquet. The journey across frozen tundra proves to be the simplest part of the ritual, as after the egg is hatched, the female must delicately transfer it to the male and make her way back to the distant sea to nourish herself and bring back food to her newborn chick.

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Critics Consensus

Only the most hardened soul won't be moved by this heartwarming doc.

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Di G

Amazing movie. Loved it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/02/23

Full Review

StephenPaul C

The greatest 01 hour: and 20 minutes ever of real animals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/09/23

Full Review

Shioka O

Wonderful documentation. Such an adorable and noble animal emperor penguin is. Dramatic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Thomas M

The best documentary movie ever made!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/26/22

Full Review

kyle e

March of the Penguins is a truly remarkable film, that wasn't helped by its misleading advertising. I admit I wasn't expecting what I saw, in fact it was better than what I was expecting. I loved the documentary style it was shot in. I loved the beautiful photography and the breathtaking sceneries. I loved the poignant and haunting music. I loved the cleverly written narration and thought that Morgan Freeman narrated perfectly. Asdides from the visuals were the penguins themselves, they were so cute and immediately lovable, then again I may biased as I love penguins. The film is quite leisurely in pace, but I liked that, it gave an elegiac and thoughtful feel to the film. In conclusion, March of the Penguins really is an astounding documentary-like film. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Tony S

Touching and beautiful showcase of an annual cycle of some the most unique animals on the planet. With their elaborate quirks and ability to adapt. And although you never see them, aside from the credits, the filming crew must be commended for sticking with them, it's really hard to imagine how difficult it must have been to film this ritual, in the weather, where even some of the penguins give out.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/05/21

Full Review

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Luc Jacquet

Director

Morgan Freeman

Narrator

Jordan Roberts

Writer

Yves Darondeau

Producer

Christophe Lioud

Producer

Emmanuel Priou

Producer

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Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

Watch them march to the very extremes of extremis, though, and it's easy to feel awe. Life must beget life, whatever the cost.

Aug 5, 2013

Full Review

J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Some of the eggs and chicks freeze, and the parents' cries are painful to hear (probably more for us than for them).

Aug 5, 2013

Full Review

Christy Lemire

Associated Press

French director Luc Jacquet and a team of incredibly brave (and heavily bundled) documentary filmmakers captured this complicated mating ritual with strikingly crisp photography that's both grand and intimate.

Aug 5, 2013

Full Review

Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

With sparse narration by Morgan Freeman, written by Jordan Roberts, and beauteous orchestrations led by conductor Jeff Schindler, Jacquet lets the magic of the penguins speak for itself.

Nov 13, 2019

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)

Almost painfully straightforward.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 5, 2019

Full Review

Total Film

A touch David-Attenborough-TV-special in places, but beautifully filmed and dripping with drama, joy and heartbreak.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 5, 2013

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

At the end of each Antarctic summer, the emperor penguins of the South Pole journey to their traditional breeding grounds in a fascinating mating ritual that is captured in this documentary by intrepid filmmaker Luc Jacquet. The journey across frozen tundra proves to be the simplest part of the ritual, as after the egg is hatched, the female must delicately transfer it to the male and make her way back to the distant sea to nourish herself and bring back food to her newborn chick.

Director: Luc Jacquet
Executive Producer: Ilann Girard
Screenwriter: Jordan Roberts
Distributor: Warner Independent, National Geographic
Production Co: Buena Vista International [us], Bonne Pioche Télévision
Rating: G
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 24, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 15, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $77.4M
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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