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The American Southwest

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The American Southwest is a family-friendly wildlife movie that takes viewers on an unforgettable journey down the mighty Colorado River. Narrated by Quannah Chasinghorse, the film beautifully showcases the region's abundant wildlife, confronts the ecological impacts of dams and water overuse, and advocates for better management of the river. Made in association with Natives Outdoors, the movie incorporates an indigenous storyline and is told through the perspective of some of the Southwest's most charming characters... such as industrious beavers, bugling bull elk, and soaring condors. Between its legendary landscapes and fascinating wildlife, The American Southwest aims to endear millions of people to better cherish, love, and conserve this unique region.
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The American Southwest

Critics Reviews

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M.V. Moorhead Less Hat, Moorhead It's a compelling, even alarming message, and hopefully a call to arms, but happily The American Southwest isn't a downer to watch, partly because it isn't just gorgeous vistas; it has a lively cast of characters. Sep 9, 2025 Full Review Michael J. Casey Metro Arts Can't quite escape the legacy of the Disney-esque narration, but the cinematography is stunning. Rated: 3/5 Sep 6, 2025 Full Review Mark Jackson Epoch Times Fin & Fur Films is a collection of professional creatives passionate about wildlife conservation and 'The American Southwest' is a beautiful, heartfelt example. Rated: 4.5/5 Sep 5, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ben B. Great visuals and wildlife moments — the condors, the beavers, rattlesnake — stick out. The photography alone makes it worth seeing on the biggest screen possible. But I found the pacing uneven: some shots lingered so long that the urgency of the ecological messages lost momentum other times things zipped by too quickly. That said, the story itself is ambitious and the strong editorial sense mostly succeeds in weaving together so many threads: culture, nature, science, conservation. A memorable documentary with a few rough edges. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/11/25 Full Review Mike K. Blew my socks off! What a flick!!! Worth seeing on the silver screen. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/11/25 Full Review Dana Benjamin This documentary finds the perfect balance between light, heartwarming moments and serious themes. It blends humor and beauty with a thoughtful look at water usage and the environmental impact of damming rivers. The American Southwest is both visually stunning and deeply thought-provoking. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/11/25 Full Review Pryce Bailey Ben Masters continues to impress. After Deep in the Heart and The River and the Wall, this is another triumph in storytelling, combining ecological urgency with hope. The direction here pulls no punches: from showing endangered trout and jaguars to the industrious beavers building wetlands, you get the sense of both loss and recovery. I loved how the indigenous perspectives arent just an aside—they are central and respected throughout. Visually, the film is breathtaking — every canyon, river bend, condor in flight looks like a painting. Imperfect? A few of the musical cues felt a little derivative, but it's a minor gripe in an otherwise fantastic film. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/11/25 Full Review Lonna Beautiful nature really enjoyed this! Must see amazing Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/10/25 Full Review James The film is great. A bit overlong. I dock it a half star for the slightly uneven tone. The footage is breathtaking, the stories full of heart, and the film as a whole also packs a surprising gut-punch with both the Indigenous history scene (dare I say the editing was perhaps influenced by Koyaanisqatsi), and the films ending. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/10/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The American Southwest

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Movie Info

Synopsis The American Southwest is a family-friendly wildlife movie that takes viewers on an unforgettable journey down the mighty Colorado River. Narrated by Quannah Chasinghorse, the film beautifully showcases the region's abundant wildlife, confronts the ecological impacts of dams and water overuse, and advocates for better management of the river. Made in association with Natives Outdoors, the movie incorporates an indigenous storyline and is told through the perspective of some of the Southwest's most charming characters... such as industrious beavers, bugling bull elk, and soaring condors. Between its legendary landscapes and fascinating wildlife, The American Southwest aims to endear millions of people to better cherish, love, and conserve this unique region.
Director
Ben Masters
Producer
Katy Baldock, Len Necefer, Ryan Olinger
Screenwriter
Ben Masters
Distributor
Fin & Fur Films
Production Co
Giant Pictures
Rating
G
Genre
Documentary, Nature
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 5, 2025, Limited
Runtime
1h 47m
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