DocumentaryYear2013Duration1h 23mIMDb8.1

Blackfish

DocumentaryDramaThriller

A documentary following the controversial captivity of killer whales, and its dangers for both humans and whales.

Trailer

Cast

Gabriela Cowperthwaite

Director

Tilikum

Self - Killer Whale

Dave Duffus

Self - OSHA Expert Witness, Whale Researcher

Samantha Berg

Self - Former SeaWorld Trainer

JH

John Hargrove

Self - Former SeaWorld Trainer

MS

Mark Simmons

Self - Former SeaWorld Trainer

KA

Kim Ashdown

Self - Former SeaWorld Trainer

DG

Dean Gomersall

Self - Former SeaWorld Trainer

James Earl Jones

Self - SeaWorld Commercial Actor

S

Shamu

Self - Killer Whale

CR

Carol Ray

Self - Former SeaWorld Trainer

JJ

John Jett

Self - Tilikum Former SeaWorld Trainer

DB

Dawn Brancheau

Self - SeaWorld Senior Trainer & Victim

JV

Jeffrey Ventre

Self - Former SeaWorld Trainer

TT

Thomas Tobin

Self - SeaWorld Paramedic

JP

Jim Payne

Self - Local TV Reporter

MS

Martha Sugalski

Self - Local TV Reporter

Whoopi Goldberg

Self

DK

David Kirby

Self - Author 'Death at SeaWorld'

Gabriela Cowperthwaite

Writer

EB

Eli B. Despres

Writer

TZ

Tim Zimmermann

Writer

Comments

10 Comments

JulesMar 13, 2026

Qenehelo NtepeMay 29, 2023

source: Blackfish

Zahrae SaherNov 22, 2022

Founded in 1964 by Milton C. Shedd, Ken Norris and David DeMott, Sea World was the newest theme park attraction in the 60's. It was a theme park attraction that was different for the 60's and even now due to it's marine life theme. From it's popular roller coaster Kraken in Orlando, Florida to the Madagascar Live! Operation:Vacation show in San Diego, California, this points to why Sea World is so successful. That said, Blackfish by CNN is made for the whole world to show us what is underneath the surface of this company and some of their wrongdoings. Blackfish makes it's main points through Tilikum the 12,000 pound killer whale who has had 21 offspring and has helped make Sea World successful but has also been responsible for three deaths. Tilikum is a whale that has put his mark on Sea World and now will always define it. Through the use of nets and hooks, Tilkum was wrongfully captured off the cost of Iceland in 1983. I don't think there is anyway a whale or any other type of marine animal for that matter should be taken away from a place where they grew up or where their family is and taken to a Sea World park. It is like taking a human being out of their house and putting them in far away place without any hope of ever getting back. To learn information about Tilikum, we see interviews with the former trainers of this whale. These are great and informative interviews that show the power, love and intelligence of this whale. They also point to more of Sea World's wrongdoings. The biggest point Blackfish makes is about the deaths caused by Tililkum that we do see through some scary scenes. One involved a 1991 incident with the trainer Keltie Byrne, another is a strange 1999 incident that involved Daniel Dukes and also an incident in 2010 involving the now well- known trainer, Dawn Brancheau. Afterwards, you cannot look at this large mammal the same but also there are many holes in place in these stories. Where was security in the Daniel Dukes incident where he got in the Tilikum's tank? Dawn Brancheau's story has obviously been covered up many times by Sea World. There is a lot interesting information out there that we really still need to learn. Also included in this film, are some fun commercials from Sea World. We see a family from Detroit from the 90's doing a promotion, a first time baby whale shown in 1994 and it's fun to look back at this. We also learn about whales' brain which was unexpected. It's the little things like this shows off some Sea World nostalgia and you can see that director Gabriela Cowperthwaite has done her homework. Blackfish is one-sided but it is a film we need. It is great for what it tells us and it's effect on us. Frankly, nothing in this will want to make you go back to Sea World again. Blackfish is a chilling documentary that can't be always full explained but it is nothing short of amazing. Even though it is a documentary, Blackfish is still no doubt one of the top films of 2013.

Farah Alhady🌸Nov 22, 2022

Blackfish is a documentary with the sole purpose being to put SeaWorld out of business. In this documentary the filmmakers show many examples of evidence proving SeaWorld's marine life being held captive causes the animals to suffer mentally. The film focuses mainly on Tilikum, one of SeaWorld's most well known orcas. Over the course of his life, Tilikum killed three people, two of whom were killed even before he was brought to SeaWorld and the third being one of SeaWorld's very own trainers, Dawn Brancheau. Many former trainers were brought in and interviewed for the film to give their perspective on their experiences with the way SeaWorld treats their marine life. They also brought in many so called "professionals" to view the footage and give their opinions. The documentary film, Blackfish tries to prove to the viewers that SeaWorld is well overdue of boycotting, and they do a good job showing us that. This film is very biased and the viewer should be aware of that when watching and critiquing it. The whole purpose is to show SeaWorld in a bad light, so of course they would not show the good SeaWorld does for their marine life and the community. In the film they never reveal SeaWorld's side of the stories at all. They show us what a lot of people have to say about the incidents, but they never give us a witness' account. SeaWorld is like a silent killer on trial where he is consistently being put under pressure and not allowed to speak for his cause. We are never told what the actual case report is, we are just told the interviewees' take on the footage they are shown, not even being shown a statement from SeaWorld. This makes this film appear to be very biased because it seems they are afraid to show us any of the actual events in case we may decide on our own who is right. Most, if not all of the former trainers in the film haven't been employed at SeaWorld in over 10 years. This makes them unaware of current conditions at the park as they may have changed in the past decade. These individuals have little to no experience with the orca in question, or the orcas in the park at all for that matter. One of the former trainers, Samantha Berg, mentioned training with Tilikum, but after further research it is found out that she never trained with him and only very briefly worked in the killer whale section of the park. The footage that is meant to be assumed as being Ms. Berg was actually footage shot over 10 years previous to her leaving SeaWorld. Just by viewing the interviews it becomes obvious that the former employees have some sort of resentment towards the park. Animal rights activists masquerading as scientists seems to be yet another way to pull at each viewer and convince us to respect this film. Howard Garret, Lori Marino, and Ken Balcomb are just a few of the activists that were portrayed as being professionals or even scientists specializing in marine life. Each of these people have no experience with orca behavior in captivity. A few of the other "professionals" in the film were also part of a lawsuit against SeaWorld stating that they were going against the 13th amendment, and even calling what SeaWorld is doing an act of slavery. The film also uses statements from David Duffus, who is not a marine life specialist, but instead a professor of geography. An OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) judge even stated "he has no expertise in the training of captive killer whales," referring to David." This film seems to try to hide a lot of truth behind these masks they've created. Overall the documentary Blackfish proves to be very biased in their reasoning. Even just scratching the surface you can see that they use a lot of false testimonies and experiences. They do a very good job making the viewer feel attached and the heartache for the animals through the footage and the stories, but those very stories are twisted to fit their own perception of the reality of the way SeaWorld treats their marine life.

DiNov 22, 2022

This documentary is one of the best docs I've ever seen. Tilikum, the Orca who is the film's focus, is not the only tragic victim in this movie. We feel the loss of Dawn Brancheau & the other trainers killed in this movie acutely. There are scenes of wild orcas that are rapturous & conversely there are scenes with them that are filled with tension & dread. The filmmakers aren't out to shock you with graphic imagery (if any exist). The spoken & written descriptions are horrifying enough. (It is not for children!) I wish I could un-hear the plaintive cries of a mother orca after being separated from her child. That scene had to be in the film, but it is almost --it is-- too much. To call this film one-sided is like calling a film about the horrors of meth addiction, child abuse or the dangers of cigarette smoking biased. How could it be any other way? It is an absolutely unforgettable film. Update 2015: This film is even more powerful if you see it after you had read John Hargrove's book "Beneath The Surface" which explores the film's subject in greater detail. I can't think of a film + book that complement each other so perfectly except maybe "Eight Men Out" & "Into The Wild" (maybe Cheryl Strayed's "Wild" which I haven't read that was adapted into an excellent film).

la meuf de tiktokNov 22, 2022

This is an excellent film for families, and everyone to watch. If you love Orcas/killer whales, PLEASE watch this movie. This movie has truly changed my life, I have made everyone in my family watch it, and plan to continue to share it with anyone who will listen. It is heart wrenching, breathtaking, horrifying, yet honest. It tells the truth behind how they were caught from the ocean, they were not rescued and taken to sea world, they were captured. They were ripped from their families and some were killed during the process. It also shares a lot of details about their lifespan, former trainers experiences, and more. This movie will make you cry, but also helps you appreciate the beauty and intelligence of killer whales. Please watch this film & share with everyone you know.

فتبينوا ♥️🫀Nov 22, 2022

I have never been a fan of zoos. Watching caged animals pace back and forth neurotically has always bothered me. I must confess we took our kids to Seaworld when they were young. One time was immediately after one orca had killed another in the tank so there was basically no show, the orcas just swam around in the tank because the trainers couldn't get in the water with them. Watching this movie is deeply disturbing. It is cruel to see what these highly intelligent animals are forced to endure. The scene where the mother and baby are separated is heart-wrenching. First, watch this movie. Then, don't ever go to a zoo or sea aquarium again and this will cease to exist.

Samrat sarakarNov 22, 2022

Like many I guess, I've seen and considered myself entertained by the sea creatures at Sea World. I was aware of the death of one of the trainers at one of these shows from some years ago but put it down to being an occupational hazard, a tragic but accidental death. This well-made, provocative documentary takes that sad story as its starting point and digs deeper, painting up a tawdry tale of greed, deception and apparent wilful abandonment of care by the named entertainment company, which significantly declined to comment on any of the major accusations lodged here. From the horrible death of the female trainer in 2010, caught on video, but mercifully cut before she is actually killed, the production traces back the story of the only too well named killer whale and its history of previous attacks on other trainers, caused, allegedly by years of mistreatment of the animal. Sea World's part in a similar European tragedy involving the death of a Spanish trainer only adds to the charge sheet. A host of former trainers now recanting their previously parroted company-speak of how well the animals are treated is a particularly effective device, but there's much good detective work besides. Most of all, the film isn't afraid to point the finger at the multimillion dollar corporation Sea World and while I hesitate to come to a judgement without the accused exercising the right of reply, it's hard not to conclude that this was an accident, if that's the correct word, waiting to happen. The film is happy to confine its aim to Sea World alone, but I'm sure I'm not alone in reconsidering my position on the capture and training of animals for our entertainment not only in water parks, but also of course in circuses and zoos. A sad, sobering, look into an unacceptable mode of entertainment which has surely had its day.

ShekhinahNov 22, 2022

Great documentary its really informative and engaging, I did not feel that at any point that it being repetitive like some documentaries can be. I always thought about animals in captivity and how it was bad for them but after I watched Blackfish it really opened my eye to a whole new level of cruelty that all animals in captivity suffer. It is a shame that the trainers had to learn the hard way the meaning behind the Killer Whales name. I was really surprised how even the trainers were kept in the dark for so long about Tilliky. It is a nice and sobering documentary that encompasses all forms of animal captivity.

Mercy EkeNov 22, 2022

"Blackfish" is one of the greatest films to come along in a decade. The details and research of the never before seen reporting of what goes into making a massive intelligent whale perform tricks in a pool will forever change you. The film calls into question the very moral and ethical considerations of stripping away every normal and natural behavior to Orcas for our entertainment, and the devastating consequences of doing so for both people and the animals. Every person who is considering visiting Sea World or any Marine Park must see this film first. The shiny and fun show your kids might enjoy has a very dark and disturbing reality behind it. This movie marks the beginning of the end of keeping Orcas captive. It would be insanity to continue the confinement of Orcas for human entertainment now that the dirty secrets of Sea World have been made public. The animals do not matter to Sea World, only the profits. This movie causes great emotional pain as it exposes the worst traits of man. Blackfish is a must see film.

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