Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Big-hearted, beautiful docu about matriarchal elephant herd.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Elephant Queen
What's the Story?
THE ELEPHANT QUEEN is the result of filmmakers Mark Deeble's and Victoria Stone's (who happen to be married) spending four years filming wildlife in Kenya. Narrated by Chiwetel Ejiofor, the movie chronicles the yearlong journey of Athena, a 50-year-old elephant matriarch who must guide her herd of females and juveniles on a perilous trek to find water. Athena is a super tusker (elephants whose tusks eventually reach the ground); her herd includes young male Wei-Wei and newborn Mimi. They must work together to dig out a waterhole before a storm; the project also helps many smaller animals (including dung beetles, geese, and frogs), which makes the elephants a "keystone species." But eventually, the green season turns dry, and scarcity forces Athena to decide whether the herd should take a dangerous 100-mile journey or stay put and risk starvation in order to give Mimi more time to grow.
Is It Any Good?
Gorgeously shot, fabulously narrated, and surprisingly poignant, this documentary is an inspiring tribute to the power of motherhood and community on the African savanna. Deeble, Stone, and their tight-knit crew committed four years to conceiving and shooting The Elephant Queen, with a year dedicated solely to Athena and her herd. As Athena and the younger generations of females and little ones frolic in their watering hole and live peacefully with their neighbors during green season, it seems like life is idyllic. But as the climate dries the vegetation that's their food supply, the film shows how precarious surviving can be, even for large creatures. Expect a few tear-jerking moments as baby Mimi has trouble acclimating and suffers from failure to thrive once her mother's milk dries up.
The beauty of this film is that while it concentrates on the elephant herd, it also explores all the surrounding animals that benefit from the elephants' presence -- from the tiniest of dung beetles to the cutest of Egyptian geese (one of whom, Steven, is a scene-stealing wanderer). There are also frisky foam-nest tree frogs, patient bullfrogs, and beautiful birds. Deeble's impressive cinematography is immediate and immersive, giving viewers a close-up view of the various animals and their life cycles. Ejiofor's narration proves as suited to narration as voice-over legend Morgan Freeman's; the filmmakers chose an ideal actor to voice their wildlife narrative. Families with kids of all ages will find something to love in this tender, terrific documentary.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the enduring popularity of wildlife documentaries. What's appealing about nature films? Talk about some of your favorite animal documentaries.
The filmmakers have discussed how The Elephant Queen explores the importance of female wisdom and leadership. How is Athena a laudable matriarch? What character strengths does she exhibit?
The narration gives animals names (like scientists do with animals they're tracking) and explains their behavior, but it doesn't attribute any dialogue to the animals. How does that compare to other nature movies you've seen?
Elephants are endangered. How does this film impact how you feel about the importance of elephants and the need for conservation?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 18, 2019
- On DVD or streaming : November 1, 2019
- Cast : Chiwetel Ejiofor
- Directors : Mark Deeble , Victoria Stone
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Apple TV / Apple Original Films
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : STEM , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Character Strengths : Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 96 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some thematic material
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate