March of the Penguins
2005 · Movie · G · 80 min · ★ 7.1 · 87% critics
Each year, a vast colony of emperor penguins sets out across Antarctica on a long trek to reach their breeding grounds. Facing brutal cold, storms, and predators, the parents take turns protecting an egg and traveling back to the ocean for food, all in a determined fight to raise the next generation.
Also known as The Emperor's Journey
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Details
- Original title
- La Marche de l'empereur
- Years
- 2005
- Release date
- 2005-01-26
- Language
- French
- Rated
- G
- Runtime
- 80 min
- Critic score
- 87/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.1/10 (1,219 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want an uplifting, sometimes emotional nature journey with striking icy landscapes and animal behavior up close; Not for you if you dislike slow pacing or sentimental narration—try Oceans for a broader ocean-life focus.
Pros: stunning Antarctic scenery; moving survival story; family-friendly appeal | Cons: slow stretches; heavy-handed narration; overly humanized tone
Themes
- cold
- parent child relationship
- penguin
- brood
- autonomy
- survival
- wildlife
- snow
- antarctica
- struggle for survival
- animals
- nature
- +9 more
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Documentary Feature Film · 2006
- European Film Award – People's Choice Award — Best European Film · 2006 · nominated
Cast & crew
Charles Berling
as Father Penguin (voice)
Romane Bohringer
as Mother Penguin (voice)
Jules Sitruk
as Baby Penguin (voice)
Morgan Freeman
as Narrator
Directed by Luc Jacquet