Duma (2005)
88%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 4 Oscars
13 wins & 59 nominations total
This is an old-fashioned, richly textured family film that will appeal to children and adults alike
Duma is the perfect movie for anyone who loves adventure, animals, and stunning landscapes. It’s like The Black Stallion, but with a cheetah instead of a horse. And let’s be real, cheetahs are way cooler. The movie is visually breathtaking and will make you feel like you’re right there in the African wilderness. Plus, it’s got some serious suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Just don’t watch it with your little siblings unless you want to deal with some nightmares about lions and alligators. Overall, Duma is a handcrafted masterpiece that deserves way more recognition than it got.
Production Company(ies)
Eisei Gekijo Hakuhodo Nippon Shuppan Hanbai K. K.
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Chatsworth House, Edensor, Derbyshire, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for some mild thematic elements
Year of Release
2005
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby SDDS
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:1h 40m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 30, 2005 Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 16, 2006
Genre(s)
Adventure
Keyword(s)
starring Alexander Michaletos, Eamonn Walker, Campbell Scott, Hope Davis, Mary Makhatho, Nthabiseng Kenoshi, directed by Carroll Ballard, written by Carol Flint, Karen Janszen, adventure, PG, box office gross $860.0K, reviewed by Michael Booth, Nancy Churnin, Philip Kennicott, Ty Burr, Jeff Shannon, John Monaghan, Michael Clark, Heather Boerner, Felix Vasquez Jr., Mary Lasse, Frank Swietek, Cherryl Dawson, Leigh Ann Palone, Xan, Duma, cheetah, Kenya, family film, orphaned animal, wildlife, domestication, coming-of-age, emotional, heartwarming, beautiful scenery, cinematography, child acting, classic feel, south africa landscapes, trained animals
Worldwide gross: $121,616,555
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $185,341,603
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 738
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 20,211,734
US/Canada gross: $38,405,088
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $58,528,714
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,006
US/Canada opening weekend: $2,804,000
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $4,273,249
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,120
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $28,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $42,671,533
Production budget ranking: 900
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $22,978,621
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $119,691,449
ROI to date (est.): 182%
ROI ranking: 673
Eamonn Walker – Ripkuna
Campbell Scott – Peter
Hope Davis – Kristin
Mary Makhatho – Thandi
Nthabiseng Kenoshi – Lucille
Director(s)
Carroll Ballard
Writer(s)
Carol Flint, Karen Janszen
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 4 Oscars
13 wins & 59 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (62) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (58) | Rotten (4)
It’s a crime what happened to the wonderful African wilderness movie Duma in 2005. Beautifully directed by veteran Carroll Ballard, Duma fell flat in the United States because of bad timing and abysmal marketing.
February 8, 2008
Michael Booth
Denver Post
TOP CRITIC
For those wishing they still made films like The Black Stallion, today is your lucky day.
March 31, 2006 | Rating: B+
Nancy Churnin
Dallas Morning News
TOP CRITIC
Visually panoramic, a film that revels in making the expanse of a beautiful place palpable.
March 30, 2006
Philip Kennicott
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Too suspenseful for the youngest children, but for anyone older than 8 or 9, it evokes nothing less than awe at the harsh beauty of the natural world.
March 18, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4
Ty Burr
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
With ravenous alligators and lions on the prowl, Duma delivers familiar adventure, but Ballard refuses to cater to cuteness.
March 3, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Jeff Shannon
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Like its title character, Duma has been left to fend for itself by Warner Bros., which is barely releasing it. A successful showing this weekend will prove that there really is an audience for this brand of thoughtful, literate family film.
March 3, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
Few filmmakers can get remotely close to matching Ballard’s slugging percentage. He said what he had to say, never wore out his welcome, and exited on a high note. More than a few of his lesser-talented contemporary peers should follow his lead.
February 28, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
Michael Clark
Epoch Times
Enchanting coming-of-age story for kids.
December 18, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Heather Boerner
Common Sense Media
A pure children’s film with an exciting story, genuine characters, and deep messages about life, love, and loss.
April 29, 2009
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
A handcrafted masterpiece.
November 1, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Mary Lasse
Christianity Today
It’s as good as this sort of thing gets, and deserves to be seen in a proper auditorium rather than on DVD.
April 4, 2006 | Rating: B+
Frank Swietek
One Guy’s Opinion
The film opens with some adorable cheetah cubs, so you’re instantly hooked, but there’s more to this than just a bunch of cute animals.
April 2, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
TheMovieChicks.com…
Plot
The story is based on Jane Austen’s novel about five sisters – Jane (Rosamund Pike), Elizabeth (Keira Knightley), Mary (Talulah Riley), Kitty (Carey Mulligan), and Lydia Bennet (Jena Malone) – in Georgian England. Their lives are turned upside down when wealthy young Mr. Bingley (Simon Woods) and his best friend, Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen), arrive in their neighborhood.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about Duma.
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