Water for Elephants
“Life is the most spectacular show on earth.”
Synopsis
In this captivating Depression-era melodrama, impetuous veterinary student Jacob Jankowski joins a celebrated circus as an animal caretaker but faces a wrenching dilemma when he's transfixed by angelic married performer Marlena.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2011-01-20
Top Cast
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Robert Pattinson
Jacob Jankowski
Reese Witherspoon
Marlena Rosenbluth
Christoph Waltz
August Rosenbluth
Paul Schneider
Charlie
Jim Norton
Camel
Hal Holbrook
Old Jacob
Donna W. Scott
Barbara
Richard Brake
Grady
Stephen Monroe Taylor
Wade
Mark Povinelli
Kinko / Walter
Ken Foree
Earl
Scott MacDonald
Blackie
James Frain
Rosie's Caretaker
Sam Anderson
Mr. Hyde
John Aylward
Mr. Erwin
Brad Greenquist
Mr. Robinson
Tim Guinee
Diamond Joe
E.E. Bell
Cecil the Barker
Release History & Theatrical Window
April 22, 2011
Wide Cinema Exhibition
September 7, 2011
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$38M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$117.1M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
3.08x
+$79.1M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Francis Lawrence
- Screenplay & Story
- Richard LaGravenese
- Original Score
- James Newton Howard
- Original Title
- Water for Elephants
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Polish
- Runtime
- 2h 2m
- Production Budget
- $38M
- Worldwide Gross
- $117.1M
- Production Studios
- Big Screen Productions, Fox 2000 Pictures, Dune Entertainment, Ingenious Media
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Francis Lawrence
Richard LaGravenese, Sara Gruen
James Newton Howard
Rodrigo Prieto
Alan Edward Bell
Kevin Halloran, Erwin Stoff, Gil Netter, Andrew R. Tennenbaum
Department Leadership Roster
Rodrigo Prieto
Director of Photography
Chris O'Hara
Stunt Coordinator
Paul Graff
Visual Effects Supervisor
Richard LaGravenese
Screenplay
Francis Lawrence
Director
James Newton Howard
Original Music Composer
Erwin Stoff
Producer
Gil Netter
Producer
Andrew R. Tennenbaum
Producer
Alan Edward Bell
Editor
Jack Fisk
Production Design
Jacqueline West
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
12 Accompanied — Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Water for Elephants.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Water for Elephants.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Water for Elephants
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Water for Elephants about?
In this captivating Depression-era melodrama, impetuous veterinary student Jacob Jankowski joins a celebrated circus as an animal caretaker but faces a wrenching dilemma when he's transfixed by angelic married performer Marlena.
Who directed Water for Elephants?
Water for Elephants was directed by Francis Lawrence.
Who stars in Water for Elephants?
The principal cast of Water for Elephants includes Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz, Paul Schneider, Jim Norton.
When was Water for Elephants released and how long is it?
Water for Elephants was released in 2011 with a total runtime of 2h 2m.
What was the box office and production budget of Water for Elephants?
Water for Elephants had a reported production budget of $38M and grossed $117.1M at the worldwide box office (3.08 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Water for Elephants?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Water for Elephants was composed by James Newton Howard.
Is Water for Elephants based on a book or true story?
Water for Elephants is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Sara Gruen".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Water for Elephants?
Water for Elephants holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.); GB: 12A (12 Accompanied — Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.); US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).