Penguin Bloom

2020

1h 35m

Drama

List

67%

Tomatometer

87 Reviews

82%

Audience Score

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.

Read Critics Reviews

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

Full Review

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Arthur A

I loved the performances of all the cast including the magpie, but it's disturbing. Naomi Watt's' acting is next level. She's able to portray a paraplegic person so realistically and all of the supporting cast is really good. Great movie!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/28/23

Full Review

Ball S

Penguin Bloom isn't much more than a collection of bog standard disability narrative tropes filtered partially through the lenses of the people surrounding the person affected.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/09/23

Full Review

O C

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/09/23

Full Review

Ming

A little boring movie.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

04/09/23

Full Review

Davjs C

Good content, good and worth watching

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/29/23

Full Review

Ceta P

A heartwarming and inspiring true story brought to life by Naomi Watts' brilliant performance and stunning visuals

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/19/23

Full Review

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Glendyn Ivin

Director

Naomi Watts

Sam

Andrew Lincoln

Cameron

Jacki Weaver

Jan

Rachel House

Gaye Hatfield

Leeanna Walsman

Kylie

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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: Made Up Stories, Broadtalk
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 27, 2021
Runtime: 1h 35m

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