Critic Reviews

• Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter

  A terrific big-screen/3D film about the rescue of baby elephants and orangutans by dedicated humans introduces young people to a strong conservation ethic.

• Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News

  A decent weekend diversion, this IMAX documentary is cute enough to engage your kids, while teaching them the most basic lessons in ecological responsibility.

• Tom Long, Detroit News

  Their stories are touching and inspiring, but let's face it, the visuals are what make this movie. Born to be Wild takes you to places you've never been and makes you wish you had.

• Jennie Punter, Globe and Mail

  The hip soundtrack adds momentum, and the reassuring narration of Morgan Freeman lets us know these lucky orphans will have a fighting chance for survival after taking their first steps -- or swings -- back into the wild.

• Peter Debruge, Variety

  Given the sheer scale of the format, Imax provides an ideal context in which to experience 3D, allowing the eyes to wander about each periphery-filling frame and focus on whatever catches our interest, the way we do in the real world.

• Stephanie Merry, Washington Post

  While there's an important story here - how these two women take in endangered animals with the intention of later releasing them back into the wild - the main attraction is the general adorableness.

• Nell Minow, Beliefnet

  One way or another you'll find yourself saying, "Awwwwww."

• Mike McGranaghan, Aisle Seat

  Incredibly moving. Even if you don't have a three-story screen in your home, the film still works marvelously.

• Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

  Does a remarkable job of putting the viewer right with elephants in the Kenyan savannah and orangutans in the lush jungles of Borneo.

• John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

  For adults, the appeal may be as much about the visual beauty of the landscapes as it is a fascination with the creatures. (Blu-ray Combo edition)

• John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

  It's entertaining, poignant, educational (at least for kids), inspirational, and certainly beautiful to look at.

• Derek Malcolm, This is London

  Few will be unmoved by the two women's courage and persistence, though Morgan Freeman's intoning voiceover is less persuasive.

• Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]

  A nice family outing, this, but those after an in-depth discussion had better look elsewhere.

• Mike Scott, Times-Picayune

  It's just 40 minutes long, but in that short time it produces more "awwww" moments than any feature-length film to hit theaters this year.

• Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile

  Neither soppy nor schmaltzy, Born to Be Wild is a fascinating glimpse into another dimension of our world

• Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile

  There are plenty of ooh and ah moments in this splendid documentary for all ages in which we are privileged to enter a special world where orphaned baby elephants and orang-utans are nurtured

• Tony Macklin, tonymacklin.net

  In Born to be Wild, the milk of human kindness nourishes the animals. And the audience.

• Jennifer Merin, About.com

  Invites you on a thrilling IMAX 3D cinematic safari to wildlife 'orphanages' in Kenya and Borneo, where baby elephants and orangutans are nurtured and trained to return to the wild.

• Robert Levin, Film School Rejects

  Trades on an indisputable fact: Ecologically friendly movies about cute animals are just about impossible to resist.

• Linda Cook, KWQC-TV (Iowa)

  'Born to Be Wild' is one of the finest films of the year. Anyone who ever has loved an animal in a wild environment (or, for that matter, shared a home with one) must see this extraordinary movie about animal rescue.

Read all 25 critic reviews