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Poster for Bears

2014 | 78 min | Documentary

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It earned strong reviews (90% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz and soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for the curious. If you loved Earth, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Eye-opening.
The pace
Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 18 min.
What might put you off
Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Filmmakers Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey chronicle a year in the lives of an Alaskan brown bear named Sky and her cubs, Scout and Amber. Their saga begins as the bears emerge from hibernation at the end of winter. As time passes, the bear family must work together to find food and stay safe from other predators, especially other bears. Although their world is exciting, it is also risky, and the cubs' survival hinges on family togetherness.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    90% on Rotten Tomatoes, 68 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.4 out of 10

  • AwardsWeak

    0 wins and 2 nominations from smaller awards and festivals

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $21 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 17K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Keith Scholey, Alastair Fothergill

  • John C. ReillySelf - Narrator (voice)