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Microcosmos

Play trailer Poster for Microcosmos G 1996 1h 17m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
97% Tomatometer 33 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
It may appear tiny to the human eye, but there is no denying that the insect kingdom -- as captured by the filmmakers behind this documentary -- is as dramatic, action-packed and beautiful as any other. Indeed, using a variety of film techniques and an inspired score, the moving image of a beetle pushing a ball of dung takes on the mythic quality of Sisyphus with his boulder. Meanwhile, endless caterpillar caravans suggest, amazingly, the rhythm of modern highways during rush hour.

Critics Reviews

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Steven D. Greydanus Decent Films 03/02/2004
A
Astonishingly up-close and personal look at an infinitesimal world as alien as anything captured by the Mars rovers… a world of strange fascination and unexpected beauty. Go to Full Review
Andy Seiler USA Today 01/01/2000
3.5/4
A movie with a quirky vision. Go to Full Review
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 01/01/2000
4/4
Microcosmos is an amazing film that allows us to peer deeply into the insect world and marvel at creatures we casually condemn to squishing. Go to Full Review
Tom Meek Cambridge Day 04/23/2021
The capture and camerawork is so perfect you feel like a Lilliputian observer in a Jurassic Park of sorts. Go to Full Review
Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid 04/29/2017
3.5/4
The movie is rated G, and it's very much recommended to children who are fascinated with all things squirmy. Go to Full Review
Tracy Moore Common Sense Media 02/11/2015
5/5
Breathtaking docu zooms in on insect life in vivid color. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Black S 04/01/2022 An hour and a half of pure magic and immersion in an incredibly exciting world See more delysid d 05/17/2020 one of the better documentaries ive seen See more 04/05/2020 Enter the world of insects. This is a nature documentary with some pretty extreme close-ups. Supported by great music work and only a few sentences from the narrator we are mostly on or own - we observe, digest and kind of create your own stories for the scenes. Plenty of cool animals here, some very fascinating. Some very interesting and cool scenes - nature surely knows have to keep your eyes open with it's weird creatures. This is nearly 25 years old now, and technically it should be way off the level of newer productiones as we today are blessed with all those amazing BBC-productions in recent years. Imporessively enough it doesn't lack much - it's still a very imoressive piece of work. I'm glad it's not a very long film. It's kind of tiresome to watch insects over, and over again - but with only 75 minutes of playtime it's a fairly easy watch with all it's colors and the typical animalistic fights for survival. Nice little film, but not as mindblowing as it probably was twenty years ago. 7 out of 10 dung beetles. See more CNGaming 03/09/2020 I absolutely loved this movie as a kid, I managed to get the anniversary BluRay recently and it's a beautiful transfer. See more 07/13/2015 I'd seen this years ago and it still holds up as fascinating. The film is essentially a series of super close-up shorts of various bugs and other small creatures in their natural habitat, doing everything form eating, sleeping, reproducing, fighting or just walking around. The vibrant photography and elegant editing are what make this film so hypnotic and compelling to watch. I was kind of disappointed that it didn't hold my kids interest (I think it also kind of grossed them out), but I at least couldn't take my eyes off the film. See more 01/01/2015 Brillant throughout. The narrative and cinematography are superb. A must see that you'll watch again and again. See more Read all reviews
Microcosmos

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis It may appear tiny to the human eye, but there is no denying that the insect kingdom -- as captured by the filmmakers behind this documentary -- is as dramatic, action-packed and beautiful as any other. Indeed, using a variety of film techniques and an inspired score, the moving image of a beetle pushing a ball of dung takes on the mythic quality of Sisyphus with his boulder. Meanwhile, endless caterpillar caravans suggest, amazingly, the rhythm of modern highways during rush hour.
Director
Claude Nuridsany, Marie Pérennou
Producer
Christophe Barratier, Yvette Mallet, Jacques Perrin
Screenwriter
Claude Nuridsany, Marie Pérennou
Distributor
Miramax Films
Production Co
Miramax
Rating
G
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 11, 1996, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 22, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.7M
Runtime
1h 17m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)