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Gorillas in the Mist

Play trailer Poster for Gorillas in the Mist PG-13 1988 2h 9m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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84% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
This film is an adaptation of wildlife expert Dian Fossey's autobiography. Midwesterner Fossey leaves the United States for Africa, where she studies the gorillas of Rwanda and Uganda. As Fossey develops a bond with the animals, she also becomes wary of the poachers who prey on them. Fearing that the gorillas will go extinct if humans continue to hunt them, she organizes a defense league to protect the animals; in doing so, though, she puts herself in a perilous situation.
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Gorillas in the Mist

Critics Reviews

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Henry Sheehan Chicago Reader 05/11/2022
2/4
Gorillas in the Mist does a good job of relating the high points of Fossey's life... Go to Full Review
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 03/07/2003
3/4
There were moments when I felt a touch of awe. Those moments, which are genuine, make the movie worth seeing. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 03/20/2021
3.5/4
It's hard to make a concrete declaration when Ellen Ripley is right there on the resume, but it's likely that Sigourney Weaver's greatest performance can be found in Gorillas in the Mist. Go to Full Review
Andrea Beach Common Sense Media 05/02/2017
3/5
Gripping biopic has violence, animals in peril. Go to Full Review
Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com 07/05/2008
4/5
Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault 04/09/2007
C
This is a movie for masochists. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Michael D @MichaelX 7h A circuitous route brought us here: David Attenborough’s chimp documentary, then the Oscar-winning doc "Virunga", and finally this 1988 classic I’d somehow never seen. Directed by the masterful Michael Apted, it’s a fairly standard late-1980s biopic, hitting the pertinent beats of Dian Fossey’s extraordinary story without fully diving into what made her so prickly and singular. That’s a mild frustration, but no matter; Sigourney Weaver delivers another bravura performance, making Fossey vivid and compelling even when the script doesn’t quite earn it. Bryan Brown is solid as real-life photographer Bob Campbell, and John Omirah Miluwi brings quiet dignity to Sembagare, her trusted tracker. The seamless blend of real gorilla footage with Rick Baker’s remarkable gorilla suits remains impressive even today. Against formidable odds, Fossey’s dedication helped save the mountain gorilla from the brink of extinction. See more austen S @Filmbuff101 Jul 20 A compelling story with fictional elements that is a good based on true story account. It has good pacing and build. The film has the emotional impact enough to warrant interest in the actual real life story. See more Per S @RT83737705 Oct 7 An alleged biographical film about the woman who basically saved the Mountain Gorilla species from extinction, and her near 20 years in the Rwanda mountains. The little live footage there is of Sigourney Weaver interacting with real gorillas is amazing, the otherwise quite realistic gorilla suits are not. However well intensional, in total there are too many fictional twists and too much romantic nonsense to a life story that was dramatic enough in reality. See more Marco L @decatur555 03/15/2025 (CASTELLANO) Sigourney Weaver se sale en Gorilas en la niebla. Esta película no se queda en contarte la vida de Dian Fossey, te hace vivir su pasión y su lucha por los gorilas en Ruanda, que estaban en peligro por los cazadores. La actuación de Sigourney Weaver es de otro nivel, porque no la muestra como una heroína perfecta, sino que te enseña sus luces y sus sombras. Eso le da a la película una profundidad que no se ve en cualquier biopic. Lo mejor de la película es cómo te hace sentir la conexión entre Fossey y los gorilas. Cuando ves a Weaver con ellos, te sientes como si estuvieras allí, sintiendo el mismo respeto y fascinación que ella. Su interpretación es intensa y llena de matices, sosteniendo el peso de la historia de principio a fin. No es casualidad que fuera nominada al Oscar por este papel. El problema llega cuando el guion intenta encajar su historia en una estructura demasiado convencional. Lo del romance en la película no me convenció mucho. Le quita fuerza al personaje de Fossey, que ya de por sí es súper interesante y podría haber llevado toda la historia. Además, la película a veces se hace un poco larga, sobre todo en la segunda parte. A nivel visual, el filme es impresionante. La fotografía captura la majestuosidad de los paisajes africanos y la vida de los gorilas con un realismo que refuerza el mensaje ecologista de la película. También sabe mostrar sin edulcorar cómo la lucha de Fossey contra la caza furtiva se vuelve cada vez más solitaria y obsesiva, reflejando la dureza de su cruzada sin idealizarla. En definitiva, Gorilas en la niebla es un homenaje a una mujer que entregó su vida a una causa crucial. No es una película perfecta, pero lo que consigue transmitir la hace inolvidable. (ENGLISH) Sigourney Weaver is outstanding in Gorillas in the Mist. This movie doesn’t just tell you about Dian Fossey’s life—it makes you feel her passion and fight for the gorillas in Rwanda, who were in danger because of poachers. Weaver’s performance is on another level, portraying Fossey not as a flawless heroine but as a complex person with strengths and weaknesses. That depth makes the movie stand out from typical biopics. The best part of the film is how it makes you feel the connection between Fossey and the gorillas. When you watch Weaver interact with them, you feel like you're there, experiencing the same awe and respect she does. Her performance is intense and nuanced, carrying the film from start to finish. It’s no surprise she was nominated for an Oscar for this role. The film’s biggest issue is how the script tries to fit Fossey’s story into a conventional structure. The romance subplot doesn’t add much; if anything, it weakens Fossey’s character, who is already fascinating enough to carry the whole film. Also, the second half of the movie feels a bit drawn out at times. Visually, the film is stunning. The cinematography captures the grandeur of the African landscapes and the lives of the gorillas with a realism that strengthens its environmental message. It also doesn’t sugarcoat how Fossey’s battle against poaching became increasingly lonely and obsessive, showing the harsh reality of her mission without romanticizing it. In the end, Gorillas in the Mist is a tribute to a woman who dedicated her life to a crucial cause. It may not be a perfect film, but the emotions it conveys make it unforgettable. See more Zahara B @Zahara 12/12/2024 An absolute must see!! Very intense and moving, and of course the acting was superb. See more John A @ExcessMale 11/22/2024 Weaver's fiery portrayal of a real-life wildlife activist is the beating heart of this somewhat halfhearted biopic that isn't as stirring as one may reasonably expect given the subject matter. See more Read all reviews
Gorillas in the Mist

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Movie Info

Synopsis This film is an adaptation of wildlife expert Dian Fossey's autobiography. Midwesterner Fossey leaves the United States for Africa, where she studies the gorillas of Rwanda and Uganda. As Fossey develops a bond with the animals, she also becomes wary of the poachers who prey on them. Fearing that the gorillas will go extinct if humans continue to hunt them, she organizes a defense league to protect the animals; in doing so, though, she puts herself in a perilous situation.
Director
Michael Apted
Producer
Terence A. Clegg, Arne Glimcher
Screenwriter
Anna Hamilton Phelan
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Warner Bros., Guber-Peters Company, Universal Pictures
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 23, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$22.6M
Runtime
2h 9m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo