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Trailer

Beasts of the Southern Wild

2012Movie1 h 33 minPG-13

Drama
79
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.2Metacritic867.5Rotten Tomatoes87%76%

A deeply moving, wondrous drama movie about growing up and family, with standout cinematography and world-building.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Where to watch

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Not for laughs.

Movies with

Story

I gotta take care of mine.

Hushpuppy, an intrepid six-year-old girl, lives with her father, Wink, in 'the Bathtub', a southern Delta community at the edge of the world. Wink’s tough love prepares her for the unraveling of the universe—for a time when he’s no longer there to protect her. When Wink contracts a mysterious illness, nature flies out of whack—temperatures rise and the ice caps melt, unleashing an army of prehistoric creatures called aurochs. With the waters rising, the aurochs coming, and Wink’s health fading, Hushpuppy goes in search of her lost mother.

Feels like

  • Southern Gothic
  • Fantasy Drama
  • Coming-of-Age Story
  • Environmental Themes
  • Magical Realism
  • Strong Female Lead
  • Visually Stunning
  • Family Bonds

Cast

5 of 5

Crew

Directed by
Benh Zeitlin
Written by
Lucy Alibar, Benh Zeitlin
Produced by
Dan Janvey, Josh Penn, Michael Gottwald
Music by
Dan Romer, Benh Zeitlin

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

June 29, 2012 · 1 h 33 min · PG-13

Released
June 29, 2012
Runtime
1 h 33 min
Age rating
PG-13
Content
Violence
Genres
Drama, Fantasy, Adventure
Original language
English
Made in
Canada, United States
Budget
$2 million
Box office
$21 million
Available in
31 countries

Tropes

Incurable Cough of Death, Only Sane Man, Hands-Off Parenting +9

  • Incurable Cough of Death
  • Only Sane Man
  • Hands-Off Parenting
  • Disaster Scavengers
  • Solar Punk
  • Doomed Hometown
  • Call a Smeerp a "Rabbit"
  • Heartbeat Soundtrack
  • Abusive Parents
  • Bittersweet Ending
  • Amphibious Automobile
  • Parental Abandonment

12 of 30 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Beasts of the Southern Wild?"

Questions about Beasts of the Southern Wild

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Beasts of the Southern Wild?

HBO MaxThe RokuCinemax

In the United States, Beasts of the Southern Wild streams on HBO Max and Cinemax, and it is free with ads on The Roku. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 11 other countries.

Is Beasts of the Southern Wild worth watching?

79
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 79 (IMDb 7.2, Rotten Tomatoes 87%, and Metacritic 86). Critics rate it higher (87 out of 100) than audiences (74).

Is Beasts of the Southern Wild okay for kids?

PG-13Violence

Yes: it's rated PG-13 in the United States for violence, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Is Beasts of the Southern Wild plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on pathos (9 of 10) and character depth (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Was Beasts of the Southern Wild a box office hit?

Budget$2 million
Box office$21 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $2 million to make and earned $21 million worldwide, 11.7 times its budget.

What tropes does Beasts of the Southern Wild use?

Incurable Cough of DeathOnly Sane ManHands-Off ParentingDisaster ScavengersSolar PunkDoomed HometownCall a Smeerp a "Rabbit"Heartbeat SoundtrackAbusive ParentsBittersweet EndingAmphibious AutomobileParental Abandonmentand 18 more

TV Tropes lists 30 tropes for it, including Incurable Cough of Death, Only Sane Man, and Hands-Off Parenting.