Watership Down (1978)

81% of critics liked it
(27 reviews)
82% of users liked it
(32,326 ratings)

Unique in the annals of animated films, Watership Down is a serious, even grim tale that many will find relentless and depressing and others will find poetic and moving. It doesn't pull any punches. Death -- violent, disturbing death -- is ever present, portrayed in a manner that is astonishingly… More Unique in the annals of animated films, Watership Down is a serious, even grim tale that many will find relentless and depressing and others will find poetic and moving. It doesn't pull any punches. Death -- violent, disturbing death -- is ever present, portrayed in a manner that is astonishingly honest for a cartoon. As a result, it is that rare animated film that really aims for a mature audience, despite its superficial funny animal trappings. It has a brilliant opening, most likely created by UPA veteran John Hubley, which in a primitive and simplistic style relates a creation myth as told by rabbits. The style changes thereafter, with beautiful watercolor backgrounds and a more natural approach to character animation. Unfortunately, the animation suffers somewhat from this point, becoming a bit sloppy, although it continues to portray the characters' movements as realistically as possible. The character designs themselves are rather too similar, with the result that it is sometimes difficult to tell the various rabbits apart. The story is also sometimes told in too-broad strokes, leaving those unfamiliar with the novel confused as to exactly what has happened and, more importantly, why. However, these flaws are redeemed by some unforgettable sequences, including a chilling segment detailing the destruction of the rabbits' warren and a devastatingly sad end sequence in which the Black Rabbit of Death gently takes one of the heroes away with it. Voiced by a fine cast, with stellar work from John Hurt and Richard Briers, Watership Down is an imperfect film with some of the most powerful moments ever created for the genre. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Martin Rosen
Genres: Drama, Animation, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Nov 1, 1978 Wide
On DVD: Mar 26, 2002

Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
A rare movie that keeps kids on the edge of their chairs without inducing in their parents an overwhelming desire to escape theirs for a smoke in the lobby.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
A brief spark of imagination survives in a prologue sequence, designed by the great John Hubley before he was fired from the film. The rest is blandness.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
I never felt myself caught up in the story line, no matter how multilayered it was. A near-miss for me.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...lovely to look at and fun to listen to, but dull and lethargic in spots, too, and sometimes brutally savage.
Richard Luck, Film4
A beautifully realised animation, Watership Down ultimately works because it doesn't dilute the violence and drama of Adams' book with a rose-tinted lens.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Expertly and realistically animated, this version of the popular novel didn't seem to have an audience.
Rob Humanick, Projection Booth
The rabbits' interactions mirror those of human behavior, and so too does the film possess a startlingly tangible sense of death.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Artful, pretty forgotten (and it should not be) animation of best seller.
, Time Out
The 'camera' takes a conventionally objective viewpoint, perpetually rolling over rolling countryside, which effectively robs the plot of all its terror and tension.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
Classic non-children's animated film.
Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star
Cuts so deep on so many ethereal levels that you can flip to nearly any page in the history book and see a parallel.
Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer
Don't listen to anybody who writes it off as a 'cartoon about bunnies.' Stunning beauty, smart scripting, a splendid score ... this is a serious film for serious moviegoers.
Staci Layne Wilson, StaciWilson.com
Click to read the article.
Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide
Richard Adams's unforgettable, much-loved tale is honorably brought to life in a low-key, realistic animated style well suited to the naturalism and mature tone of the book.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A respectful screen version of Richard Adams' bestselling novel.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Directors C

Watership Down shows faithfulness and outmost respect for the novel. I admire the choice to go in the direction of adults for a film that features bunnies. It's amazing how a cartoon can really push the barriers for emotional impact. It's suprisingly gory (it was a pleasant… More
Watership Down shows faithfulness and outmost respect for the novel. I admire the choice to go in the direction of adults for a film that features bunnies. It's amazing how a cartoon can really push the barriers for emotional impact. It's suprisingly gory (it was a pleasant one). I cry when I watch Watership Down. It's an underated animated jewel that one day will be appreciated for it's majesty. An absolute classic, among my favorite films.
Matthew R

This is possibly one of those innovative animated tales that is nowhere near recognized for the strength and creativity it has. Watership Down is a story that makes Bambi looked entirely phoned in and misguided (not saying it is). Strong in voice acting and stunning artwork, this film… More
This is possibly one of those innovative animated tales that is nowhere near recognized for the strength and creativity it has. Watership Down is a story that makes Bambi looked entirely phoned in and misguided (not saying it is). Strong in voice acting and stunning artwork, this film starts off just a little lacking in the animation department, but that changes less than ten minutes in, for you are taken away by the complexity, drama and overall tension of the story and environment. And not only this, the film is created in such a way that it is far more suitable for adults than children, even if it is centered around a collection of rabbits and their search for a new home. Most likely where Charles Grosvenor got the plotline for his much more "kids-friendly" film Once Upon A Forest, Watership Down is edgy, dramatic, truly beautiful and wonderfully engrossing, one of the best animated films I have ever seen.
Stuart B

Such a great movie, loved it as a kid and still stands up today. Brings a tear to my everytime I watch it.
Ken S

Like Dark Crystal and Wizard of Oz, it's one of those classic kids films that's almost guaranteed to scar your children for life.
Anthony L

A beautiful and brutal animation, Watership down is a classic tale for older kids. I just have to think about the song bright eyes and I?m soon welling up!
Film C

loved it gr8 film little kids wouldnt understand it actually made me cry reli good film though
Curtis L

Classic Animation coupled with a great story and cute bunnies...not to mention much throat ripping. It was sad to see my favorite parts of the book either skipped or gone through so fast that something that took 100 pages in the book last for 5 minutes at best. Still, you got to fit… More
Classic Animation coupled with a great story and cute bunnies...not to mention much throat ripping. It was sad to see my favorite parts of the book either skipped or gone through so fast that something that took 100 pages in the book last for 5 minutes at best. Still, you got to fit it all into a movie. I just wish they had done more with El-harairharah and the Black Rabbit of Inle. Instead they had some dumb psychedelic floating bunny song by Art garfunkle.
Ross C

Dark and powerful animation that both scared and captivated me as a child. One of the best adventure animations ever, following the travels of a bunch of rabbits seeking out a utopia in the English countryside. A Christmas favourite with the classic Art Garfunkel theme "Bright… More
Dark and powerful animation that both scared and captivated me as a child. One of the best adventure animations ever, following the travels of a bunch of rabbits seeking out a utopia in the English countryside. A Christmas favourite with the classic Art Garfunkel theme "Bright Eyes".
Drew S

MOST TERRIFYING MOVIE OF MY LIFE. Also, when I read the book, it took me 100 pages to realize it was about rabbits. Fuck off I was 9.
A B

Nicely drawn animation. It's rather violent and scary for young children, not to mention that it is quite boring. I would rather watch Ice Age.
Dean !

A timeless classic with a great voice cast. If a cartoon could make you cry this would be it!
Daniel H

Unique animation and vision of a classic book, which shows its age and its attempts to lower an adult story down to a childs level at times... but nevertheless captures its rather adult themes. It made me run out of my room at age 7 yelling at my parents "Why are you letting me… More
Unique animation and vision of a classic book, which shows its age and its attempts to lower an adult story down to a childs level at times... but nevertheless captures its rather adult themes. It made me run out of my room at age 7 yelling at my parents "Why are you letting me watch a film about DEATH!?!" Frankly, that is exactly what the movie should have done to a young child: it got the subject matter pretty dead-on.
xGary X

The classic childrens book still holds emotional resonance, and the superior voice cast and imaginative visuals make it a cut above the usual family fare.
Dillon L

I think children will be horrified at the amount of gore depicted in this kids flick, but 'Watership Down' is entertaining and is a good story based on a well written book.
Dannielle A

I saw this in my childhood and it was too bloody for me. I did not fully appreciate it until I grew older. Now I think it is a masterpiece and very well-made in every way. The rabbit characters are personified and full of life. My favorites were Hazel, Bigwig, and Fiver.
Marcus W

It hasn't aged well and the story is lacking, but it's the darkness of it that really hits you. For an animated tale about rabbits searching for a new home, it's grim and goes places no Disney film ever will. Some might argue that nature is cruel, others might argue… More
It hasn't aged well and the story is lacking, but it's the darkness of it that really hits you. For an animated tale about rabbits searching for a new home, it's grim and goes places no Disney film ever will. Some might argue that nature is cruel, others might argue that this is TOO dark for small children. I found it even darker than Grave of the Fireflies. Very difficult to recommend.
Sunil J

Does a pretty good job of capturing the spirit of the book.
Eduardo C

"All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies, and whenevet they catch you they will kill you. But first, they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, Prince with the Swift Warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be… More
"All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies, and whenevet they catch you they will kill you. But first, they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, Prince with the Swift Warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed."
Lea L

Great movie..
Sarah B

Heartbreaking.