Metascore

Universal acclaim - based on 35 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 116 Ratings

  • Starring: Amie Huguenard, Timothy Treadwell
  • Summary: In his mesmerizing new film, acclaimed director Werner Herzog explores the life and death of amateur grizzly bear expert and wildlife preservationist Timothy Treadwell. (Lions Gate Films)
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 35
  2. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Brilliant, poetic, and utterly unique.
  2. Werner Herzog's magnificent tragedy, Grizzly Man, a Shakespearean character study that packs the sheer terror of "The Blair Witch Project."
  3. 80
    Herzog wants us to see a deluded nobility in this quest. Treadwell's flawed dreams were, in the end, all too human.
  4. The film is repetitious. Herzog has varied the original footage with some interviews that he conducted with a former Treadwell girlfriend and some other friends and observers. Still, an hour of it would have been more effective than the present feature length.

See all 35 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 61
  2. Negative: 16 out of 61
  1. Selina
    10
    Undoubtly, this film was AMAZING. Grizzly Man shows the ideal footage of a man whose courage and determination got him his calling. He proved that bears are not killers, and brought some brilliant footage in the making. This truly is a beautiful nature film, and I recommend it for any nature lover. Although, yes, Timothy was somewhat loony, but I respect his decision in life. I know that there's a one and a million chance that someone will survive thirteen years without weapons among one of the most dangerous animals on this planet. I enjoyed this film and admired Treadwell's skill, devotion, and humor. This film is truly a masterpiece. The stuff he captured is simply wonderful. HOWEVER, I do not respect Herzog. I think he twisted it around a bit. Some directors do that. He probably made Tim look more than he was. We don't care about his opinion- at least I don't. I wish that this movie was more about the nature and beauty Treadwell captured rather than the stupid opinions of Herzog. Expand
  2. MattB
    8
    Half way through this film I thought it was the funniest mockumentary since Spinal Tap- if it wasn't for the bear footage. The fascinating thing about this documentary is that all the participants are hilarious, overblown, and larger than life. Christiphor Guest et al would be hard pushed to CREATE characters and lines as funny as these. Do people like this really exist? The ex girlfriend recounting her and Timothy's meeting in a restaurant and the macabre coroner talking about body parts, not to mention the helicopter pilot's complete lack of emotion and Treadwell's mania are some of the elements that lend themselves to one of the most bizarre documentaries I have ever seen. Bravo! Expand
  3. 7
    Almost a guaranteed hit story here to start with lol.... Guy goes out to remote bear infested place, stays there for months for 3yrs, gets 15mins of fame, then gets eaten by bear .... along with being slightly nuts and a borderline social outcast ?? Come on how can you lose. Well.... Herzog's commentary was hit and miss and some holes for sure

    but I was entertained solid 7

    PS - background music was interesting also
    Expand
  4. SpankyV.
    4
    Goofball movie. Guy is a nut case. Why is awards go to the "kookiest"movies? Oh yeah, the people giving the awards are kooks.

See all 61 User Reviews

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