The Eagle Huntress (2016)
91%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
9 wins & 22 nominations total
Effectively stirring and bolstered by thrilling visuals, The Eagle Huntress uses its heartwarming message to fill up a feature that might have made for an even more powerful short film.
The Eagle Huntress is a documentary that will make you want to pack your bags and head to Mongolia to become an eagle hunter yourself. Okay, maybe not that extreme, but it will definitely leave you in awe of Aisholpan’s bravery and determination. The stunning cinematography captures the beauty of the Mongolian landscape and the bond between Aisholpan and her eagle is heartwarming. Sure, some scenes may seem a bit staged, but who cares when you’re watching a young girl break gender barriers and become a champion in a male-dominated sport? This film is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good underdog story and wants to learn more about a fascinating culture.
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Relativity Media,
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Mongolia
MPAA / Certificate
G
Year of Release
2016
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 27m
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Language(s):Kazakh, English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 2, 2016 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 7, 2017
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Kazakh, eagle hunter, female empowerment, tradition, father-daughter relationship, inspiring, heartwarming, Aishol-pan, Nurgaiv, Otto Bell, Stacey Reiss, Sharon Chang, G rating, English, Sony Pictures Classics, Daisy Ridley, narrator, box office, $3.2M, critic reviews, Stephen Romei, Paul Byrnes, Kate Erbland, Steve Davis, Tara Brady, Nigel Andrews, David Bax, Joanne Laurier, David Lamble, Leslie Combemale, Tish Wells, audience reviews, Antonius B, Daniel P, cinematography, Simon Niblett, feminist message, staged, true events, magical, funny, moving, uplifting, images, horror movies, MCU, Netflix series, TV premiere dates, Fandango
Worldwide gross: $4,400,140
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,423,166
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,148
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 591,403
US/Canada gross: $3,169,351
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,906,221
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,876
US/Canada opening weekend: $52,574
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $64,797
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,111
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
Aisholpan Nurgaiv – Self
Rys Nurgaiv – Self
Otto Bell – Director
Stacey Reiss – Producer
Sharon Chang – Producer
Director(s)
Otto Bell
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Stacey Reiss, Sharon Chang, Otto Bell
Film Festivals
Sundance, Telluride, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
9 wins & 22 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (128) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (119) | Rotten (9)
Perhaps the director has fudged it a bit, but his intention was to make a beautiful film about one girl from a place and a culture we know little about. That he has done.
March 17, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Stephen Romei
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
Can we call this documentary, or is it some kind of hybrid, when so much of it is constructed for the camera?
March 15, 2017 | Rating: 2.5/5
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
A soaring, sweet documentary that welcomes its audience into an unexpected new arena.
January 2, 2017 | Rating: B+
Kate Erbland
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
There’s no doubt about the veracity of Aisholpan’s inspirational story. She exists, and she’s a champion in every sense. But many sequences in the film appear planned out, even staged.
December 31, 2016 | Rating: 3/5
Steve Davis
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
DOP Simon Niblett’s camera seems to fly over the steppe as dozens of eagle hunters gather for the national championship where this well-loved daughter and classic sports underdog must prove herself in a stirring contest.
December 27, 2016 | Rating: 5/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
It’s spectacular at best; watchable even at worst.
December 23, 2016 | Rating: 3/5
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
The Eagle Huntress provides meaning. Sadly, it does so via mostly forgettable platitudes.
January 4, 2021
David Bax
Battleship Pretension
The Eagle Huntress is a lively and unusual encounter with a remote population and their customs…
August 13, 2020
Joanne Laurier
World Socialist Web Site
A hypnotically lensed coming-of-age tale.
June 9, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
I doubt many audiences going to see this movie are would-be eagle trainers, but that certainly doesn’t take away from the film’s inspirational tone. This is a breathtaking and inspiring work from start to finish.
April 28, 2020
Steven Prokopy
Third Coast Review
The inspiring nature of both Aisholpan’s hard work and her unflagging determination are authentic enough.
October 21, 2019 | Rating: B
Leslie Combemale
Cinema Siren
It is a beautifully filmed movie with crystal clear images of stunning beauty.
October 9, 2019
Tish Wells
Cultured Vultures…
Plot
This spellbinding documentary follows Aisholpan, a 13-year-old nomadic Mongolian girl who is fighting to become the first female eagle hunter in twelve generations of her Kazakh family. Through breathtaking aerial cinematography and intimate verite footage, the film captures her personal journey while also addressing universal themes like female empowerment, the natural world, coming of age and the onset of modernity.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Daisy Ridley narrates The Eagle Huntress.
Otto-Bell.jpg
