Penguin Bloom

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Penguin Bloom

2020

1h 35m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

66%

Tomatometer

86 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

In 2013, Samantha Bloom (two-time Academy Award nominee Naomi Watts), her husband Cameron (The Walking Dead's Andrew Lincoln) and their three sons left their home in Australia for a holiday in Thailand. While enjoying a view, Sam fell off of a rooftop due to what was later determined to be a rotted railing... breaking her vertebrae in two places. Paralyzed from the chest down, Sam -- a lifelong outdoorswoman, surfer, and traveler -- was unrecognizable to herself, and spent long months in a depression that made her question who she could be in the world and in her own family. A year later, her children brought home a wounded baby magpie they found. Warily eyeing the black-and-white bird the kids affectionately named "Penguin," Sam bonded with the household's new member, beginning a process of emotional healing that surprised her husband and sons, her mother (Academy Award nominee Jacki Weaver), and herself. PENGUIN BLOOM tells the amazing true story of renewal that occurred when a woman whose life seemed shattered found hope and purpose in her family's love -- and in a bird on its own journey of recovery.

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Critics Consensus

Penguin Bloom's fact-based story could have been adapted with greater nuance, but strong work from Naomi Watts and Andrew Lincoln adds some much-needed heart.

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Robert Levin

Newsday

There's a thin line between feel-good entertainment and hokum. While Penguin Bloom never quite slips into the latter, it comes awfully close.

Rated: 2/4

Feb 5, 2021

Full Review

Thelma Adams

AARP Movies for Grownups

While it's all a bit on the nose, that nose will be running, and hankies coming.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 29, 2021

Full Review

Richard Roeper

Chicago Sun-Times

Watts is such a chameleon of an actress, such a pro at slipping into a vast array of roles without drawing attention to the mechanics of her work, that we almost take for granted how damn good she is - and she delivers beautiful and resonant work as Sam.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 28, 2021

Full Review

M.N. Miller

Music City Drive-In

The heartwarming fuzzy feelings that the genre is built on never take flight for Penguin Bloom.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jan 4, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

It follows a tried-and-true feel-good formula that hits the normal beats and ends right where you expect. Yet it still makes for good viewing because of the heart-warming true story and the wonderful performances that bring it to the screen.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 17, 2022

Full Review

Dan Bayer

Next Best Picture

While the plot may be rote, the high level of craftsmanship keeps it engaging.

Rated: 7/10

May 13, 2022

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Meri S.

A heart felt family drama and how a magpie helped heal them from a tragedy. Based on a true story.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/16/25

Full Review

Carlos Samuel E

Excelente película, te demuestra una historia de aceptación y de seguimiento.muy buena película

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/13/25

Full Review

j F

If you like birds, ocean beaches, great photography, and a heart warming story you got it here!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/18/25

Full Review

Zachary Jacob S

A sweet story! I liked it overall. The acting, cinematography, and score were really solid! It is slow and seems to wander at times. But if you like the idea of a deep (and sometimes depressing) but ultimately uplifting film, I think you might enjoy Penguin Bloom!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/20/24

Full Review

Michael V

THE TRUE STORY OF AN UNLIKELY HERO Penguin Bloom is a 2020 Australian drama film directed by Glendyn Ivin 🦅 It's ok, but I feel mixed about this one 😉 I'd recommend it if you like this genre, but if not then probably give it a miss 👍🏼👎🏼 This is a light family film based on a true story, made interesting by the magpie… When an unlikely ally enters the Bloom family's world in the form of an injured baby magpie they name Penguin, the bird's arrival makes a profound difference in the struggling family's life.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

will b

Good heartwarming film based on a sad true story. An emotional rollercoaster ride, brought a tear to my eyes towards the end.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Glendyn Ivin

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Synopsis

In 2013, Samantha Bloom (two-time Academy Award nominee Naomi Watts), her husband Cameron (The Walking Dead's Andrew Lincoln) and their three sons left their home in Australia for a holiday in Thailand. While enjoying a view, Sam fell off of a rooftop due to what was later determined to be a rotted railing... breaking her vertebrae in two places. Paralyzed from the chest down, Sam -- a lifelong outdoorswoman, surfer, and traveler -- was unrecognizable to herself, and spent long months in a depression that made her question who she could be in the world and in her own family. A year later, her children brought home a wounded baby magpie they found. Warily eyeing the black-and-white bird the kids affectionately named "Penguin," Sam bonded with the household's new member, beginning a process of emotional healing that surprised her husband and sons, her mother (Academy Award nominee Jacki Weaver), and herself. PENGUIN BLOOM tells the amazing true story of renewal that occurred when a woman whose life seemed shattered found hope and purpose in her family's love -- and in a bird on its own journey of recovery.

Director: Glendyn Ivin
Producer: Emma Cooper, Steve Hutensky, Jodi Matterson, Bruna Papandrea, Naomi Watts
Screenwriter: Shaun Grant, Harry Cripps
Production Co: JamTart Productions, Broadtalk, Screen Australia, Made Up Stories, Fifth Season, Create NSW, Roadshow Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 27, 2021
Runtime: 1h 35m

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