Blackfish (film)
| Company type | Documentary film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | Gabriela Cowperthwaite |
| Products | Documentary film |
Blackfish is a 2013 American documentary film directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite. This film centers on Tilikum, an orca kept at SeaWorld, and explores the controversies related to orcas in captivity. It made its debut at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2013, before being picked up by Magnolia Pictures and CNN Films for broader distribution. The documentary received a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Documentary.
Synopsis
The film investigates the confinement of Tilikum, an orca linked to three human fatalities, while addressing the broader consequences of holding orcas in captivity. It traces Tilikum’s capture near Iceland in 1983 and discusses his reported mistreatment by other captive orcas at Sealand of the Pacific, which Cowperthwaite suggests may have influenced his aggressive behavior.
Featuring insights from Lori Marino, director of science at the Nonhuman Rights Project, the documentary disputes SeaWorld's assertion that captive orca lifespans are comparable to those in the wild—generally 30 years for males and 50 for females—arguing this claim is misleading. Former SeaWorld trainers, such as John Hargrove, recount their personal encounters with Tilikum and other captive whales.
The narrative contends that orcas caught from the wild at a young age endure significant stress, and that lifelong captivity—including forced performances and breeding—can provoke hostility toward humans and fellow orcas. The film presents footage of Tilikum attacking trainers and other whales, corroborated by eyewitness accounts.
Development
Following the February 2010 death of Tilikum's trainer Dawn Brancheau, Cowperthwaite initiated this project, responding to assertions that Brancheau’s ponytail provoked the orca. She disputed this explanation, stating there was "more to this story."
The documentary premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2013, subsequently acquired by Magnolia Pictures and CNN Films for extended release.
Release
Blackfish had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2013. Magnolia Pictures and CNN Films obtained distribution rights for the United States and released it on July 19, 2013. Internationally, Dogwoof Pictures secured rights, distributing to various markets including deals with Netflix for the UK, Scandinavia, and Latin America (later transferred to Universal), as well as with Universal Pictures covering Asia, Africa, Portugal, Italy, and Central and Eastern Europe. In 2021, Netflix unexpectedly removed Blackfish from its streaming catalog.
Critical response
With a 98% approval rating based on 133 reviews and an average score of 8/10 on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is described as "an intense, passionate documentary that alters perceptions of performing killer whales." On Metacritic, it earned a score of 83 out of 100 from 33 critics, signifying "universal acclaim." The Deseret News praised it as "a compelling example of documentary filmmaking at its best."
Box office
During a theatrical run lasting 14 weeks, Blackfish generated $2,073,582 in box office revenue within North America.
Trainer reactions
Bridgette Pirtle, a former trainer at SeaWorld, initially commended the film's direction and message but later expressed that the finished product was "a complete '180' from what was originally shown to me." Mark Simmons, who was among Tilikum's earliest trainers, criticized the documentary for selectively editing his remarks to support its narrative.
Michael Scarpuzzi, vice president of zoological operations at SeaWorld San Diego, contended that the film dramatizes the circumstances surrounding trainer Dawn Brancheau’s death while overlooking SeaWorld’s advancements in animal care and safety measures. He highlighted the company’s upgraded facilities and protocols designed to promote safer animal handling and educational demonstrations.
In January 2014, Brancheau’s relatives clarified that they were not involved with the film and felt it misrepresented her life and experiences.
SeaWorld's official response
SeaWorld Entertainment chose not to participate in the making of Blackfish and subsequently labeled the documentary as inaccurate and misleading. The company underscored its commitment to rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing hundreds of wild animals annually, alongside substantial investments in conservation initiatives and scientific research. SeaWorld issued an open letter challenging the claims presented in the film.
In turn, groups such as the Oceanic Preservation Society and The Orca Project criticized SeaWorld’s rebuttal, while marine scientist Debbie Giles disputed the company's statements. SeaWorld has characterized Blackfish as propaganda.
A 2013 survey by the Orlando Business Journal revealed that most participants were not convinced by the documentary; however, more than half of the responses originated from a single IP address associated with SeaWorld. The company explained these votes came from employees dedicated to supporting its mission.
To address public concerns, SeaWorld created a "Truth About Blackfish" webpage aimed at exposing what it considered inaccuracies in the film; this page has since been taken down.
In February 2014, SeaWorld lodged a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor, alleging unethical behavior by an Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigator linked to the filmmakers; these allegations were denied.
Starting in mid-2014, SeaWorld launched several public relations initiatives—including Awesome Ocean, Stand With Sea World, and I Love SeaWorld—to counteract negative publicity and restore its brand image. These campaigns sought to communicate the company’s conservation efforts clearly and reduce damage caused by ongoing public scrutiny.
Awards and nominations
SeaWorld
SeaWorld disclosed a loss of $15.9 million, with CEO Jim Atchison attributing the decline to elevated ticket costs and unfavorable weather conditions. Visitor numbers at SeaWorld parks and Busch Gardens dropped by 5% during the first nine months of 2013, although the influence of the documentary remained uncertain. The company nonetheless reported record-breaking attendance across its three marine parks in the final quarter of 2013.
The film triggered legislative initiatives: New York State Senator Greg Ball advocated for prohibiting orca captivity, while California Assemblyman Richard Bloom introduced the Orca Welfare and Safety Act aimed at ending orca captivity for entertainment purposes. In June 2014, Congressmen Adam Schiff and Jared Huffman secured a bipartisan amendment mandating the USDA to revise cetacean captivity regulations and allocated $1 million for research into the effects of marine mammal captivity; Schiff acknowledged that Blackfish had heightened public awareness on the issue.
Southwest Airlines encountered mounting calls to terminate its 26-year collaboration with SeaWorld; despite initially maintaining the partnership, it concluded in July 2014 due to evolving corporate priorities and activist campaigns.
In the second quarter of 2014, SeaWorld experienced a 1–2% decline in both attendance and revenue relative to the prior year, accompanied by a 33% plunge in stock value. By November, attendance had decreased by 5.2%, profits shrank by 28%, and stock prices had halved year-over-year.
September 2014 saw the Rosen Law Firm initiate a securities class action lawsuit accusing SeaWorld of misleading investors by attributing attendance declines to factors unrelated to Blackfish and associated controversies.
In August 2014, SeaWorld admitted that Blackfish negatively impacted revenues at its San Diego location. On December 11, CEO Jim Atchison resigned amid a 44% decline in share price throughout 2014; David D'Alessandro was appointed as interim CEO.
During Q2 2015, SeaWorld reported a 3% decrease in revenue, an 84% drop in net income, and a 1.6% reduction in attendance to 6.48 million guests.
By November 2015, SeaWorld declared it would discontinue killer whale shows at its San Diego park. In March 2016, the company stopped orca breeding programs and phased out live orca performances, citing shifts in societal attitudes.
In 2018, SeaWorld along with former CEO Atchison paid over $5 million to resolve federal allegations that they concealed Blackfish's detrimental business effects from shareholders; Atchison reportedly sold stock early in 2014 to mask revenue shortfalls.
Other media
The documentary influenced prominent musicians—including Heart, Barenaked Ladies, Willie Nelson, Martina McBride, .38 Special, Cheap Trick, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, The Beach Boys, Trace Adkins, and Trisha Yearwood—to cancel their performances at the "Bands, Brew & BBQ" events held at SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa during 2014.
Following the release of Blackfish, Disney/Pixar revised the ending of Finding Dory after director Andrew Stanton and chief creative officer John Lasseter consulted with Gabriela Cowperthwaite, modifying how a marine park was portrayed.
Scenes featuring SeaWorld were removed from the film Paper Towns, adapted from John Green's novel. Producer Wyck Godfrey remarked that the documentary rendered visits to SeaWorld "somewhat less playful."
Director Colin Trevorrow acknowledged Blackfish as an inspiration for his 2015 film Jurassic World, influencing its animal rights themes, the creation of the hybrid dinosaur Indominus rex, and its fictional theme park modeled after Tilikum and SeaWorld respectively.
Soundtrack
Composer Jeff Beal crafted the original musical score, recording with a small orchestra at his residence in Agoura Hills. Although no physical CDs were produced, the soundtrack is available for digital download via iTunes. In July 2016, the Hollywood Chamber Orchestra performed a live-to-picture concert version of Beal’s score at the Montalban Theater under his conduction.
Home media
The documentary Blackfish was released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 26, 2013, in the UK (Region 2, PAL) and later on November 12, 2013, in the United States.
It premiered on CNN on October 24, 2013, followed by an Anderson Cooper special featuring appearances from Jack Hanna, Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Naomi Rose, and Jack Hurley. CNN also aired a Crossfire episode featuring associate producer Tim Zimmermann debating conservationist Grey Stafford.
In the UK, Blackfish was broadcast on BBC Four on November 21, 2013, as part of the documentary series Storyville.
See also
- Animal attacks
- Killer whale attacks on humans
- Incidents at SeaWorld parks
- Non-human animal personhood
- Nonhuman Rights Project
- The Walrus and the Whistleblower
- The Whale (2011 film)
- Orca (film)
- Who Killed Miracle?
External links
- Articles with short description
- 2013 films
- 2013 documentary films
- 2010s American films
- 2010s English-language films
- CNN Films productions
- Documentaries on animal rights
- English-language documentaries
- Films directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite
- Scores composed by Jeff Beal
- Films set in theme parks
- Oceanaria
- Satellite Award recipients
- SeaWorld Orlando
- United Parks & Resorts
- Films set in Florida
- Documentaries about whales
- Media covering animal attacks