Amazingly shot and superbly narrated by Morgan Freeman. This is a great window into what happens in the real wild to what normally would be seen as otherwise adorable creatures that walk funny. It shows what life as a penguin is like without getting too graphic. There are, however, some emotional moments that you may want to make sure you touch base with your kids.
March of the Penguins
(2005, Rated G, Documentary, Starring Morgan Freeman)
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Most Recent Reviews
Parent & Educator Reviewers Say | Kid Reviewers Say
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
a MUST see but be aware it's "realistic"
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Sensitive children of 8 and up
After hearing NPR's Terry Gross interview with the creators of the movie Earth opening on Earthday 2009, I thought back about my two boys reaction to the beautiful and inspiring "March of the Penguin". All three of us enjoyed it in 2005, but the attack and death scenes were quite upsetting to my then 6 year old who still loves penguins. As gorgeous as "March of the Penguin" and its gripping story, he has not asked to see it again. This coming from a precocious and sensitive child who has watched "Ratatouille" and "Finding Nemo" at least 12 times, including all of the special features in the DVDs!
- I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
Good, short, family movie
Educational and entertaining for the whole family
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
boooorrrrriiiiiinnnngggg
the movie is so boring
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
boring
boring the movie is very boring
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
Preview it and then enjoy with your kids!
After reading several reviews saying this wasn't really a kids movie, my husband and I decided to watch it ourselves on dvd before we let the kids watch it. Good thing. It is an amazing movie and really beautiful, but it's not something most kids can watch without a lot of explanation. I decided to watch it alone with my six year old (without her 3 & 2 year old sisters). Before we watched I warned her about some of the scary and sad things. She was scared and sad at each of these, but handled it well because she was prepared. What I hadn't prepared her for, because it hadn't occured to me, was the ending. When she heard that most of the penguins will never see their parents again she burst into tears! It took some time for me to explain that the penguins weren't sad about it. I tried to do so without saying "They're only penguins!" I must also add that she was on the verge of being bored during many parts of the movie. It took some convincing to get her to continue watching. I know she enjoyed it, but she did not ask to watch it again, unlike most movies that she watches over and over. Overall, really nice and educational, but to be watched together on DVD.
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
Documentary, interesting but not action movie
My son is 5 and doesn't still for much. He was very interested in this. We watched it at home on dvd which was good since he had lots of questions. He is very into animals and although there were some sad moments in the penguins struggle with some explanation about the animal world he took it well. If your child is into alot of action, it will not appeal to him/her. Well done, some cute, funny moments and it makes you respect animals more.
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
Hypnotic
I couldn't peel my eyes off this movie. If you have kids who really enjoy movies about animals, this may be right up their alley. The narration by Morgan Freeman is warm and inviting, which is a stark contrast to the harsh realities that these penguins deal with. The only negative thing I can say about this movie is that it may not hold some children's attention.
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Awesome
March of the Penguins is a great movie, not boring like kids might think.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Finally a movie for even our smallest child
This was entertaining for the entire family, educational and beautiful to watch. Enough humor in the script to keep the audience listening. Even our 2-year-old didn't worry about the only "violence" - a scene involving seals v. penquins...very adeptly handled.
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
I rate this title off for age 11 and give itgive me a break
This is not a movie for a 5 year old to watch - More of a scientific film - advertised more as a childrens movie - Kind of graphic when it comes to birds mateing!
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Penguins are Cool
I brought my almost 6 yr old to see this film yesterday and for someone who usually handles violence and other mishaps of nature fairly well; she was covering her eyes and gasping at points (granted she's also quite the drama queen). After the mommy penguin was eaten by the seal and she realized that that meant that the baby penguin wouldn't have food... I actually asked her if she needed to leave... but she insisted on staying so she could discover what happened to the penguins. After much discussion (good thing we went to a matinee)... she left the movie with the impression that penguins are cool (no pun intended).
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
Incredible!!!
My son (nearly 5) had begged me for weeks to take him to this movie, but I had resisted thinking it might be too upsetting for him, since I had read that things die (eggs freeze, some penquins die or get eaten by predators). But after discussing that he would see these things and that that's how nature works, the big animals have to eat the little animals, we went ahead. I thought they did a good job of not assigning human characteristics to the penguins. Most of it was portrayed fairly matter-of-factly and when something sad was portrayed, it wasn't dwelt on. He loved it! I only got teary in one part (I usually sob through animal movies), but overall I was amazed by the pictures I was seeing! The cinematography was incredible and I just kept wondering what the crew must have had to endure to get these amazing images. You know your own child and how sensitive he or she is, so use your own judgement and be prepared to explain or comfort. Mine seemed to do surprisingly well. We really enjoyed it and had to come home and order a book about penquins!
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it
We left after 20 minutes....
We had not seen anything in the previews that said "documentary" so we were not prepared to watch the Discovery Channel on big screen. Although I as an adult was enjoying the content, the theater full of children between the ages of 2 and 10 were not so interested with the story. There was no attempt made to attract the attention of a young person.They could have made some of the birds stand out as characters that the story followed, allowing them to share their thoughts and feeling through narration. Morgan Freeman has a smooth voice but was a real snooze for the kids. This film should have stayed on the cable station and off of the big screen. When our daughter showed more intrest in walking up and down the stairs and seeing her feet glow under the yellow guide lights we knew it was time to leave. I think that the previews and "G" rating are misleading, make sure to save your ticket stubs for a refund on the way out. ***Note:To be fair, my husband and I will rent this documentary and watch it sans our daughter because it definately captured our attention.
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Parent & Educator Reviewers Say | Kid Reviewers Say
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
This will bore your young kids
But will interest some kids. I love Morgan Freeman, but don't neccissarily love this movie. Yes it's about penguins...but, I don't know. It never hooked me in, I guess. I don't want to sound cold-hearted, but it never touched me, I guess.
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
Adorable, Educational, and Fun!!!!
I was surprised to find the reviews for this movie were all positive! This movie was an amazing movie, and educational too! Now, I have noticed with documentaries (i realize they are just telling us the truth) like to show us something ridiculously CUTE, and then show us it running away from a predator and getting eaten! This was slightly disturbing to me, but then i'm pretty sensitive!!!! Other than that, this movie is fun, cute and educational! It teaches us to persevere, and that animals really do have personalities!!!!!
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
I like it
I love this movie!!!!!!!!!
- I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
adorable and sad.....
This movie was AWESOME!!! It was sad when the sea lion ate a female penguin but exciting when new life came out of the egg.:)
- I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
OMG PENGUINS!!!!!!!!! AND MORGAN FREEMAN!!!!!!!!!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
HORRIBLE
Worst movie ever! WALKED OUT
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
very educacational but try to be awake
i got a little sleepy during the movie but the movie is educational there is nothing to worry about besides the tragic deaths of some penguin chicks but that is it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Very Good Documentary Movie
yep yep yep
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Booooorrrrrrrrrriiiiiinnng!!!
This movie is so boring no kid would really enjoy this. Too much educational fact stuff. *-*
- I rate this title off for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
DONT WATCH IT
this movie was soo boring i turned it off only in 10 minutes BORING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
A heart racin movie
I loved march of the penguins! There are some sad parts like when the egg did not hatch and when the sea lion got 1 penguin.:( It is very educational. It is a great movie for all ages. Young and old. :)
- I rate this title off for age 2 and give it
I killed half my sanity watching this!!!
I HATED THIS MOVIE TO THE MAX!!!!!!It is soooooooooooooo boring!!!!!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Wow!
I have loved this movie so much. Many of my classmates didn't enjoy it but, wow the most inspiring and what i think is the best documentry on earth! I adored the little penguins but was deeply saddened by the ones who died.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Good movie. Really tells a lot about penguins and has greate images. But it's not really my type of movie.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Penguins are so cool!
Definitely get this film. After watching it, my little sister walked like one of the penguins for a long time ... she liked it too! Someday, I want to go to the south pole and see them for real...
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Amazing and beautiful
March of the penguins is a fascinating documentary about the trials that a penguin has to face. Some secenes are funny, some are sad, and some are just plain cute! Some slightly alarming scenes to be aware of...the most, in my opinion, was the part where the mother penguin (her chick dies)tries to steal another penguins chick... It's a desperate, alarming act and i don't blame them for doing it, buts its alarming nonetheless
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Aww... aww... aw... No! The sea lion ate her! *sob*
*sob* Cute documentry... *sob* penguins in love... *sob* go on difficult journeys... *sob* to save the species *sob*. *ahem* Well, it is definitely an all ages film, that is loveable to the core. Violence goes over young kids heads, yet still is reconizeable for older people. It is gorgeous to the core, and you just bond with the cute (wow, I said cute) penguins.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
WHO WOULD PAY $9 to get into this! Should have gone straght to DVD
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
I cried and I laughed
AT first I thought oh wow penguins marching aroung what an interesting movie, but then I got into it and I cried at some of the scenes and laughed at other. Truly a greatt movie the whole family can enjoy together.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
so cute
this movie was a good movie but i was watching it with my brither and he would not shut up!!!!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Awesome!
Me, my brother, and my grandpa all injoyed this great movie!
