Playing with Sharks (2021)
96%RT Audience Score: 100%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 9 nominations
A fascinating tribute to a pioneer as well as an engrossing act of environmental advocacy, Playing with Sharks makes up in enjoyment what it lacks in depth.
Playing with Sharks is a total blast! It’s like a love letter to a badass pioneer who also happens to be a total shark whisperer. And if you’re into saving the planet (who isn’t?), this flick will definitely float your boat. Sure, it’s not the most scholarly documentary out there, but who needs that when you’re having this much fun? Get ready to dive in and get hooked!
Production Company(ies)
Wildbear Entertainment, National Geographic
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Disney+)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-PG
Year of Release
2021
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:Australia
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Jul 23, 2021
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, ocean, sharks, Valerie Taylor, Sally Aitken, Bettina Dalton, environmental advocacy, trailblazing advocate, marine wildlife conservation, photographer, misunderstood creatures, English, 1h 35m, Ron Taylor, Anna Godas, reviewed by Alonso Duralde, Randy Myers, Natalia Winkelman, John Anderson, Jessica Kiang, Peter Howell, Cody Dericks, Zofia Wijaszka, Alexandra MacAaron, Loren King, Robin Holabird, Sabrina McFarland, produced by Bettina Dalton, directed by Sally Aitken, written by Sally Aitken, genre, box office performance, budget, MPAA rating, producer names, critic names, actor names
Worldwide gross: $68,364
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $74,353
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,052
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 8,108
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Valerie Taylor – Self
Sally Aitken – Director, Writer
Bettina Dalton – Producer
Anna Godas – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Sally Aitken
Writer(s)
Sally Aitken
Producer(s)
Bettina Dalton
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 9 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (44) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (2)
A front-row look at an extraordinary life.
December 3, 2021
Alonso Duralde
TheWrap
TOP CRITIC
Taylor’s tireless commitment to [her] cause and her love for what the seas offer are inspiring for young and old alike.
August 2, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News
TOP CRITIC
Are we meant to recoil from sharks or care for them? Likely some of both, but the documentary comes out looking unsure.
July 23, 2021
Natalia Winkelman
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
Playing With Sharks has its visual thrills but also tells one good story after another, not only about making movies and flirting with death but about the nature of the fish and the steely character of the movie’s human subject.
July 23, 2021
John Anderson
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
An enjoyable if by-the-numbers breeze through the remarkable life of Valerie Taylor, an ardent pioneer of marine wildlife conservation.
March 18, 2021
Jessica Kiang
Variety
TOP CRITIC
The film sounds an urgent call for conservation and states a truth: humans are the real apex predators.
February 4, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Howell
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
It doesn’t…dive as deep on such an important subject as Taylor warrants. While it features undeniably interesting historical moments, the filmmaking on display…does not equal Taylor and her colleagues’ archival footage in aquatic action.
July 7, 2022 | Rating: 5/10
Cody Dericks
Next Best Picture
Playing with Sharks is a must-watch for everybody. Its a film that gives us an interesting insight into the life of one amazing woman and highlights the beauty of the ocean creatures that deserve a better reputation.
February 11, 2022 | Rating: A
Zofia Wijaszka
Daily Dead
The charismatic subject of writer-director and Emmy-nominee Sally Aitkin’s new documentary, ‘Playing with Sharks: the Valerie Taylor Story,’ has been at home in – and in love with – the ocean since she was in her early twenties.
August 5, 2021 | Rating: 8/10
Alexandra MacAaron
Women’s Voices for Change
[If] Valerie May Taylor didn’t exist, the movies would have to invent her. Luckily for us she does, and Sally Aitken’s fascinating documentary, Playing with Sharks… gives Taylor, now a spry 85, her well-deserved due.
July 30, 2021
Loren King
Newport This Week (RI)
Offering plenty of visuals to make that point, Valerie Taylor and Playing with Sharks make ideal summer viewing.
July 30, 2021
Robin Holabird
KUNR (Reno, NV)
Playing with Sharks not only offers an informative, eye-opening viewing experience for kids and families, but also the chance to participate in engaging deep-dive discussions about Taylor’s exceptional life journey.
July 30, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Sabrina McFarland
Common Sense Media…
Plot
Playing with Sharks is a documentary about photographer Valerie Taylor, who becomes an advocate for sharks and marine conservation.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Valerie Taylor, the subject of the documentary Playing with Sharks, is a trailblazing advocate for the ocean’s most maligned and misunderstood creatures.
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