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A Life Illuminated

Play trailer 2:21 Poster for A Life Illuminated Jul 2026 1h 29m Documentary Nature Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 6 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
A LIFE ILLUMINATED follows trailblazing marine biologist Dr. Edie Widder--one of the first women in her field and one of the first humans to explore the ocean's twilight zone--as she descends 3,300 feet into the ocean's darkest depths. From capturing the first-ever footage of the elusive giant squid to unveiling the glowing mysteries of deep-sea bioluminescence, Edie embarks on her most daring quest yet: to document a bioluminescent phenomenon that could forever change how we understand life on Earth.

Critics Reviews

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Cortlyn Kelly RogerEbert.com 4d
3.5/4
Dr. Widder’s infatuation with the "language of light," as captured by Van Zandt, is quite poetic, as it parallels her approach to discovery: looking with "new eyes." Go to Full Review Kate Erbland IndieWire Sep 23
B
She's got way too much to say. And that compulsion -- a genuine, profound desire to share her findings with the world -- makes for a classic, stick-to-your ribs documentary experience about a fascinating person. Go to Full Review Avi Offer NYC Movie Guru Jul 21
Mesmerizing, captivating, profound and inspirational. Go to Full Review Aaron Neuwirth We Live Entertainment Feb 7
Given the really cool looks at life underwater that are rarely seen, let alone the experience of learning about the fascinating life of Dr. Widder, A Life Illuminated is the sort of documentary one hopes for. Go to Full Review Pat Mullen POV Magazine Oct 6
This spectacular adventure reminds one of how small we are in the ocean of life, and all we can do is marvel at the complexity of the world before our eyes. Go to Full Review Andy Howell Film Threat Sep 19
9/10
A Life Illuminated is an incredible film. It takes us to one of the most extreme places on Earth, it reveals previously unseen phenomena, it takes us on the journey of scientific discovery, and it is an inspiration. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Samuel G @RT40782160 8h Good for a 5 out of 5 stars rating! See more Read all reviews
A Life Illuminated

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Cast & Crew

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Tasha Van Zandt

Director

Edie Widder

Self

Tasha Van Zandt

Screenwriter

Tasha Van Zandt

Producer

Sebastian Zeck

Producer

Jessica Harrop

Producer
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A Life Illuminated

A Life Illuminated: Trailer 1 A Life Illuminated: Trailer 1 2:21 View more videos
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A Life Illuminated

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Movie Info

Synopsis A LIFE ILLUMINATED follows trailblazing marine biologist Dr. Edie Widder--one of the first women in her field and one of the first humans to explore the ocean's twilight zone--as she descends 3,300 feet into the ocean's darkest depths. From capturing the first-ever footage of the elusive giant squid to unveiling the glowing mysteries of deep-sea bioluminescence, Edie embarks on her most daring quest yet: to document a bioluminescent phenomenon that could forever change how we understand life on Earth.
Director
Tasha Van Zandt
Producer
Tasha Van Zandt, Sebastian Zeck, Jessica Harrop, Kathryn Everett
Screenwriter
Tasha Van Zandt
Distributor
Fourth Act Film
Production Co
Sandbox Films
Genre
Documentary, Nature
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 24, 2026, Limited
Runtime
1h 29m