The Shape of Water

Name: The Shape of Water
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Thriller, Fantasy, Horror
Released: December 1, 2017
Duration: 123 min
Rating: 87
Cast: Cyndy Day, David Hewlett, Doug Jones, John Kapelos, Lauren Lee Smith

2017

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 53 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 978 Ratings

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7.0

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7.0	Your Score
7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 978 Ratings

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The Shape Of Water

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Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: December 1, 2017 | R

Starring: Cyndy Day, David Hewlett, Doug Jones, John Kapelos, Lauren Lee Smith, Michael Shannon, Michael Stuhlbarg, Morgan Kelly, Nick Searcy, Nigel Bennett, Octavia Spencer, Richard Jenkins, Sally Hawkins, Stewart Arnott

Summary: Set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1963. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of silence and isolation. Elisa's life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment.

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, Thriller, Fantasy, Horror, Romance, War

Rating: R

Runtime: 123 min

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Awards & Rankings

19	#19 Best Movie of 2017
18	#18 Most Discussed Movie of 2017
16	#16 Most Shared Movie of 2017

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

The Telegraph Robbie Collin

Aug 31, 2017

Like the best bath you’ve ever had, it sends tingles coursing through every part of you that other films don’t reach. Read full review

100

Kenneth Turan

Dec 7, 2017

The Shape of Water is a wonder to behold. Magical, thrilling and romantic to the core, a sensual and fantastical fairy tale with moral overtones, it’s a film that plays by all the rules and none of them, going its own way with fierce abandon. Read full review

100

Olly Richards

Feb 12, 2018

Describe it and this sounds completely weird and a bit creepy, like some extremely niche fetish porn with a budget. Watch it and it’s magical; fantastic in all senses. It’s the biggest risk of del Toro’s career and it could not have paid off more. Read full review

Marc Savlov

Dec 6, 2017

A romance of fantastique proportions, a cautionary tale that revels in throwing caution to the wind, and a de facto monster movie with loose but loving ties to director Jack Arnold’s classic "Creature From the Black Lagoon" and Cocteau’s "Beauty and the Beast," del Toro’s latest is a masterpiece of compassion and insight into the (in)human condition and the transformative power of love. Read full review

Peter Travers

Nov 29, 2017

The result is an acting duet that will haunt your dreams and break your heart. Read full review

John Bleasdale

Aug 31, 2017

It's witty, smart and brilliantly played, plumbing the sub-aqueous depths of our psyches, our histories and desires. Read full review

Rex Reed

Dec 19, 2017

The more I try to find some kind of justifiable meaning and relevance, the more I find The Shape of Water a loopy, lunkheaded load of drivel. Not as stupid and pointless as that other critically overrated piece of junk "Get Out," but determined to go down trying. I call this one "Maudie Meets the Creature From the Black Lagoon." Read full review

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User Reviews

PAYAMFURY

Dec 3, 2017

گیلرمو دل تورو کارگردان توتنمند و عالی این روز های سینما است.او از وقتی که پسر جهنمی رو ساخت مشهور شد و این فیلم رومنس و هیجان انگیز عالی که با بازی عالی مایکل شنون است فیلم شهکاری رو ارائه میدهد.گیلرمو دل تورو کارگردان توتنمند و عالی این روز های سینما است.او از وقتی که پسر جهنمی رو ساخت مشهور شد و این فیلم رومنس و هیجان انگیز عالی که با بازی عالی مایکل شنون است فیلم شهکاری رو ارائه میدهد.

20 of 61 users found this helpful2041

MrScallops

Jun 19, 2019

With "The Shape of Water" del Toro proves that he still knows how to enchant audiences with his magical and gritty fairy tales for adults. This modern day Beauty and the Beast-story takes amazing performances and a playful script and couples it with real-world issues to create one of theWith "The Shape of Water" del Toro proves that he still knows how to enchant audiences with his magical and gritty fairy tales for adults. This modern day Beauty and the Beast-story takes amazing performances and a playful script and couples it with real-world issues to create one of the most original movies in several years.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

temptershell

Jan 27, 2018

I waited for this film for a very long time. Not necessarily for this title but in this form because Tim Burton's latest productions did not delight as much as any del Toro project and that's why The Shape of Water is a production for me. Honestly, I was hoping for something darker but theI waited for this film for a very long time. Not necessarily for this title but in this form because Tim Burton's latest productions did not delight as much as any del Toro project and that's why The Shape of Water is a production for me. Honestly, I was hoping for something darker but the convention of delicate urban fantasy also appealed to me.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

pnoyfilmtvadik

Feb 25, 2018

Another beauty-and-the-beast re-interpretation combined with voice or platform for society's underdogs. Nothing new. The highlight of the film for me is how del Torro gradually elevated the pacing of the film. Character introduction and revelation is not too dull but the rest is good.Another beauty-and-the-beast re-interpretation combined with voice or platform for society's underdogs. Nothing new. The highlight of the film for me is how del Torro gradually elevated the pacing of the film. Character introduction and revelation is not too dull but the rest is good. Left me feeling light after leaving the cinema.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

nameless

Jan 3, 2018

This is such an individual film that I could have rated it green just as easly. The problem is that it is a Hollywood film for the first hour and then transforms into an Art film for the second hour. Art Films are fine but we all know that Art Films are as formulaic as Hollywood films. ThereThis is such an individual film that I could have rated it green just as easly. The problem is that it is a Hollywood film for the first hour and then transforms into an Art film for the second hour. Art Films are fine but we all know that Art Films are as formulaic as Hollywood films. There are some incredible scenes but the film really is a bunch of incredible scenes, it isn't a sum of its parts. Yes, her acting supports the film, she will be nomiated because she carries the film. It is a passion film of Del Toro but lacks the cohesiveness of Pan's Labyrinth. I'm waiting for the next Pacific Rim.… Expand

3 of 9 users found this helpful36

JParisi

Dec 8, 2018

Liking this film depends on your ability to 'hear' the love story at its center. I didn't. If the artistry of the visuals was complemented by a better story and supporting cast it would have been better.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Wayfarer86

Jul 1, 2020

This really is total leftist SJW tripe. The entire movie is about how a straight white patriarchal male is essentially evil. Thats about the jist of it. Interspecie wierd fish sex totally on the menu though.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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