Water for Elephants
Seen it?2011 | 122 min | Drama, Romance
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It was a solid box office hit. 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 romantics.
- The mood
- Warm and romantic.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 2 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
In this captivating Depression-era melodrama, impetuous veterinary student Jacob Jankowski joins a celebrated circus as an animal caretaker but faces a wrenching dilemma when he's transfixed by angelic married performer Marlena.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsSolid
60% on Rotten Tomatoes, 52 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.9 out of 10
- AwardsBelow par
3 wins and 8 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$117 million worldwide on a $38 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 253K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Love Me Love Me
Weeknight WatchAnother romance, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
The Edge of Love
Monday Morning MaybeAnother drama. Fair warning: it's a Monday Morning Maybe.
EO
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed drama that fewer people know today.
Two Moon Junction Monday Morning MaybeAnother drama. Fair warning: it's a Monday Morning Maybe.
Untamed Heart Weeknight WatchAnother drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Francis Lawrence
- Robert PattinsonJacob Jankowski
- Reese WitherspoonMarlena Rosenbluth
- Christoph WaltzAugust Rosenbluth
- Paul SchneiderCharlie
- Jim NortonCamel
- Hal HolbrookOld Jacob
- Donna W. ScottBarbara
- Richard BrakeGrady
- Stephen Monroe TaylorWade
- Mark PovinelliKinko / Walter