Water for Elephants

2011

"Love blooms amidst the chaos of circus life."

Also known as: 🇪🇸 ES: Agua para Elefantes^? 🇩🇪 DE: Wasser fuer die Elefanten^? 🇵🇹 PT: Água aos Elefantes^? 🇨🇳 ZH: 大象的眼淚^? 🇷🇴 RO: Apă pentru elefanți All international titles (7) →

Drama Romance 122 min 6.9/10

Synopsis

Water for Elephants is a movie released in 2011.

Water for Elephants is a drama and romance film set during the Great Depression, immersing viewers in the world of a traveling circus. The narrative follows a young veterinary student who, after a personal tragedy, finds himself joining a struggling circus. This new life brings him into contact with a beautiful equestrian performer and her troubled husband, creating a complex web of relationships and emotional struggles. The film explores themes of love, loyalty, and the pursuit of dreams amid adversity. The atmosphere is rich with the vibrant yet precarious life of the circus, capturing both its allure and the harsh realities faced by those who live on the fringes of society. The cinematography and production design contribute to an evocative setting that enhances the story, allowing audiences to glimpse the hope and despair intertwined in the characters' lives. Water for Elephants offers a poignant reflection on the human condition against the backdrop of an extraordinary, yet challenging, environment.

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Parental Guide — Suitable for 13+

13+

Content guidance for parents

Category	Level	Indicator
Violence	2/5
Sexual Content	3/5
Language	2/5
Drugs / Alcohol	2/5
Frightening Elements	2/5

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Detailed explanations

Violence

Some scenes include violence related to animal training and circus life, with brief moments of distress involving animals.

Sexual Content

There are scenes that imply romantic relationships, including some suggestive situations and partial nudity.

Language

Mild profanity is present throughout the film.

Drugs / Alcohol

Characters are shown consuming alcohol and smoking in a few scenes.

Frightening Elements

Some scenes may be intense or emotionally charged, particularly those involving animal behavior and personal conflicts.

Summary for parents:

Water for Elephants is a drama that explores themes of love, loyalty, and the complexities of life in a traveling circus during the Great Depression. While it contains mild violence and sexual content, it ultimately focuses on the emotional journey of the characters.

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Connections with other movies

This movie has thematic and stylistic connections with the following productions:

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Where to Watch Water for Elephants Online

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Box Office

Budget: $38,000,000

Revenue: $117,094,902

Profit $79,094,902

ROI +208.1% (3.1x)

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Cast of Water for Elephants

Robert Pattinson

Jacob Jankowski

Reese Witherspoon

Marlena Rosenbluth

Christoph Waltz

August Rosenbluth

Paul Schneider

Charlie

View Full Cast Cast Filmography

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Keywords

#based on novel or book 610 #great depression 19 #clown 7 #elephant 7 #elefante 4 #circo 2 #elephant trainer 1 #veterinary 1

Production Companies

Fox 2000 Pictures

Dune Entertainment

Ingenious Media

Big Screen Productions

Trivia & Fun Facts about Water for Elephants

4

• In one scene, a vintage train is used to transport the circus, which is a nod to the real-life significance of railroads in the history of American circuses during the early 20th century.

  Easter Egg ai

• Reese Witherspoon, who plays Marlena, originally turned down the role due to her busy schedule, but later agreed after a reassessment of the script and the character's depth.

  Fun Fact ai

• The film shares a thematic connection with 'The Greatest Showman', both exploring the allure and challenges of circus life, as well as the complex relationships within it.

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• The score for 'Water for Elephants' was composed by James Newton Howard, who used a mix of classical instruments and modern sounds to evoke the era's emotional depth.

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