The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou Image
Metascore
62 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 38 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 201 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, Owen Wilson
  • Summary: Internationally famous oceanographer Steve Zissou (Murray) and his crew set sail on an expedition to hunt down the mysterious, elusive, possibly non-existent Jaguar Shark that killed Zissou's partner during the documentary filming of their latest adventure. (Touchstone Pictures)

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 38
  3. Negative: 2 out of 38
  1. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    100
    The director of "Rushmore" and "The Royal Tenenbaums" scores his most funny-sad movie to date.
  2. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Sheri Linden
    80
    Wonderfully weird and wistful adventure-comedy about a fish-out-of-water oceanographer.
  3. Empire
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not credited)
    60
    The garish, exotic, retro styling is Anderson at his visual best. In terms of character and sensibility, though, this is sadly Anderson at his worst.
  4. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Jack Mathews
    38
    If there's anything more tiresome in film today than hip irony, it is forced irony, and here comes a boatload with Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou.

See all 38 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 85 out of 131
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 131
  3. Negative: 37 out of 131
  1. hootis
    10
    If you think the trailer is funny, then you will like this movie a lot. if not then you probably won't like the movie, its kinda funny because your not sure if its serious or not and follows a wierd niche of humor which i happen to like a lot. And it keeps finding ways to catch you off guard while still fitting with the consistent humor… Expand
  2. JockM.
    8
    I grew up watching Jaques Cousteau(sp?) films. I really enjoyed this film for the nostalgia value alone. It faithfully captures the atmosphere of the documentaries and then takes us behind the scenes to see the absurd, vain and scientifically bankrupt process by which they were produced. The plot is about as thin as tracing paper, but this is more than made up for by superbly sensitive portrails from the principal players. Top flick in my book!… Expand
  3. Tokyochuchu
    7
    The Life Aquatic is colorful, poignant and very, very funny. It has a high level of random insanity that never fails to induce chuckles. The cast is magnificent, the script is awesome and stuffed full of quotable lines and the effects are hilariously charming. This is one of Anderson's best movies and a must see for Bill Murray fans.… Expand
  4. RitaP.
    4
    Was disappointed by this especially after the royal tenebaums i was expecting a lot more from Wes Anderson.

See all 131 User Reviews

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