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Watership Down

Play trailer Poster for Watership Down PG 1978 1h 32m Kids & Family Adventure Animation Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
83% Tomatometer 36 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
When a young rabbit named Fiver has a prophetic vision that the end of his warren is near, he persuades seven other rabbits to leave with him in search of a new home. Several obstacles impede their progress, including predators, a rat-filled cemetery and a speeding river. Upon arriving at their final destination, a hill dubbed Watership Down, the rabbits find that their journey is still far from over. Realistically drawn, this British animated film carries an emotional weight.
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Watership Down

Watership Down

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Critics Consensus

Aimed at adults perhaps more than children, this is a respectful, beautifully animated adaptation of Richard Adams' beloved book.

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Critics Reviews

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Kevin Maher The Times (UK) Nov 27, 2024
5/5
What follows is a landmark moment in British animation in a fearless adaptation of a Richard Adams novel directed by Martin Rosen, exploring the Homeric themes of conflict, slaughter, genocide and the clash of civilisations, but with rabbits. Go to Full Review
Peter Bradshaw Guardian Oct 23, 2024
4/5
A band of rabbits must leave their warren to find safety in a film that, even in a digital age, still has the bloody force to scare young minds. Go to Full Review
Tasha Robinson The Dissolve Feb 23, 2015
4/5
It's a work deeply enamored with its source material, and determined to do right by it, even if it means frightening kids, baffling parents, and embracing whatever style works. Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Nov 25, 2024
4/5
…Watership Down has a violent edge that reflects nature, which some might find at odds with the cutie patootie animation, but surely that’s exactly the point…it’s got a tough, environmentally sound message that was hard-hitting in 1978, and still is now. Go to Full Review
Carson Timar ButteredPopcorn Aug 28, 2022
C
Trying to forge a relationship with the film ends up feeling like an overall empty experience. Go to Full Review
Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube) Feb 21, 2019
8/10
I love the book and I think... that this is a worthy adaptation. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Huntin P @PaxVobiscum80 6 days ago Warning: this animated movie about bunny rabbits is not suitable for adults. Kids will take it in stride. Their eyes will open in wonder and amazement. It is, surprisingly, adults who recoil in horror, saying OMG! They let me watch that when I was a kid?! Watership Down serves to remind us that childhood is a completely different developmental stage in life from adulthood. Children have a different mindset, have their own society. You could even say they have different souls from adults. And the movie? Some wild rabbits depart their warren and go in search of a new beginning, after one of them, a seer, prophecies that the warren will be destroyed. Their travels bring many challenges and great danger, but also fresh opportunities and a new purpose. This movie has both great beauty and great horror in it. Some of its images are visionary, and will haunt your memory for life. The rabbits display great courage and spirituality, because, let's face it, they are not rabbits at all, just us! See more B P @Bradster69 Sep 11, 2026 Definitely Recommend It See more Robert P @Superbad Sep 5, 2026 A Classic animated movie worthy of a *4.5* star review! See more Ken N @Strahan Sep 4, 2026 Classic movie, a must see. It irritates me how many 2 and less star ratings there are with people saying "not a kids movie!" Don't ding the movie because of that; maybe do a little research before you pick a movie eh? Yes, if this was being rated for kids, it gets like 1 star because it will scare the bejeezus out of them lol. But you need to approach it as a movie for adults that just happens to be animated; and in that respect, it's very good. See more Anthony F @Anthony999 Apr 27, 2026 Highest recommendation! Superb animated adaption of Richard Adam’s classic novel that rightfully tales its place among the greatest animated feature of all time. Far too violent for small children, but older kids - and adults - will love it. See more Indigo O @RT59761170 Mar 8, 2026 10/10. An animated classic for sure. I really like how realistic the movements and behaviors of the rabbits were in this movie. It wasn't completely accurate to the book, but it was a really good interpretation and I don't mind the subtle changes. The opening and ending scenes are especially memorable for me, even years later. See more Read all reviews
Watership Down

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Movie Info

Synopsis When a young rabbit named Fiver has a prophetic vision that the end of his warren is near, he persuades seven other rabbits to leave with him in search of a new home. Several obstacles impede their progress, including predators, a rat-filled cemetery and a speeding river. Upon arriving at their final destination, a hill dubbed Watership Down, the rabbits find that their journey is still far from over. Realistically drawn, this British animated film carries an emotional weight.
Director
Martin Rosen
Producer
Martin Rosen
Screenwriter
Martin Rosen
Production Co
Warner Bros. Animation
Rating
PG
Genre
Kids & Family, Adventure, Animation
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 1, 1978, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 11, 2017
Runtime
1h 32m
Sound Mix
Surround
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