Common Sense Media Review
By Alistair Lawrence
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tale of peril and survival in historical explorer docu.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Endurance
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
This documentary profiles British explorer Ernest Shackleton and the effort to recover his missing ship, the ENDURANCE, over a century later.
Is It Any Good?
A documentary in two parts that run parallel to one another, this film details Shackleton's famous Antarctic expedition in the 1910s and the 2022 mission to locate his missing ship. Initially Endurance's two timelines make for an awkward fit, with no overarching narration to tie them together and provide a broader historical context. But the care and attention taken by the filmmakers to tell the story of the Endurance's voyage through the many historic accounts, and surviving images and video, bring this story to life in compelling fashion. It also leaves no doubt about what hardships the Endurance's crew had to navigate and what drove Shackleton to succeed, forging his legend in the process.
Understandably, it's harder to imbue the modern-day mission to find the Endurance with the same striking visuals and plot twists, but talking heads such as leading maritime archaeologist Mensun Bound and his international colleagues are open and passionate about their work, often relating what drives them back to candid personal and professional reasons. More detailed and dramatic accounts of Shackleton's life and work exist, but Endurance is a well-crafted primer for anyone with little knowledge about the man and this episode of maritime history that captures all involved at a unique moment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the life and career of Ernest Shackleton as discussed in Endurance. Did you know about him before watching the film? What do you think motivated Shackleton? What character strengths did he and his crew need to have in order to survive?
What similarities existed between Shackleton and the crew trying to find his missing ship? What makes people choose work that takes them out of their comfort zone?
Discuss the lack of diversity in Shackleton's crew. Why do you think this was the case? Do you think there are more opportunities for a more diverse group of people today? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : November 1, 2024
- Cast : Mensun Bound , John Shears , Nicolas Vincent
- Directors : Jimmy Chin , Natalie Hewit , Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Director(s)
- Studios : Disney+ , National Geographic
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : Adventures , History
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Perseverance
- Run time : 103 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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