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Born to Be Wild

Play trailer Poster for Born to Be Wild PG 1995 1h 40m Kids & Family Drama Adventure Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
0% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 48% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
A young female gorilla is captured in the mountains of Africa and flown to California, where behavioral researcher Margaret Heller (Helen Shaver) begins teaching her sign language. Heller's moody teenage son, Rick (Will Horneff), bonds with the primate, now nicknamed Katie. When cynical circus owner Gus (Peter Boyle) claims Katie to replace the now-dead star of his centerpiece gorilla act, Rick runs away with the gorilla in an attempt to keep her out of Gus' abusive clutches.
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Born to Be Wild

Critics Reviews

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John Hartl Seattle Times Jul 13, 2020
Screenwriters Paul Young and John Bunzel... can't decide whether they're making a slapstick comedy or an impassioned ecological statement or just a harmless baby-sitter... Go to Full Review Stephen Holden New York Times May 21, 2003
The film's biggest mistake is in going after the heartstrings instead of the funnybone. Go to Full Review Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times Oct 30, 2001
It's a shame that the makers of "Born to Be Wild" went to such great lengths to create an absolutely convincing gorilla via technical wizardry only to waste their efforts on such a trite, predictable comedy-adventure. Go to Full Review Mal Vincent The Virginian-Pilot Jul 13, 2020
1.5/4
Most of the chances for humor are downplayed in favor of a heavy-handed, sentimental effort. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Dec 18, 2004
2/5
Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Oct 25, 2002
1/5
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Audience Reviews

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Deepest Bluest Suede Darius Dick Stinger Apini Emanuel Grouch Nukem III AKA The Rumble AKA Jennyanyany McPoopface Bridgerton AKA The Count of Monte Fisto @RT91120088 May 19, 2025 Born to Be Wild: The Zach Harper Story. See more Zander G @RT60640046 May 7, 2024 This movie taught me many valuable lessons about relationships and friendship! Would recommend for someone See more May 23, 2022 As a 10 year old in 1995 the final scene when the camera pans away and the gorilla ran off into the wild I ugly cried for the first time watching a movie. See more steve d @RT35616104 Jul 8, 2020 Forgettable version of a story told a million times before. See more Jun 28, 2018 literally best movie I have ever seen See more Feb 15, 2015 Good movie overall with a funny & heart-warming message for the whole family to enjoy See more Read all reviews
Born to Be Wild

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Cast & Crew

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John Gray

Director

Will Horneff

Rick Heller

Helen Shaver

Margaret Heller

Peter Boyle

Gus Charnley

Jean Marie Barnwell

Lacey Carr

Marvin J. McIntyre

Bob the Paramedic

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Born to Be Wild

Born to Be Wild (1995) Born to Be Wild (1995) Born to Be Wild (1995) Born to Be Wild (1995) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A young female gorilla is captured in the mountains of Africa and flown to California, where behavioral researcher Margaret Heller (Helen Shaver) begins teaching her sign language. Heller's moody teenage son, Rick (Will Horneff), bonds with the primate, now nicknamed Katie. When cynical circus owner Gus (Peter Boyle) claims Katie to replace the now-dead star of his centerpiece gorilla act, Rick runs away with the gorilla in an attempt to keep her out of Gus' abusive clutches.
Director
John Gray
Producer
Jeffrey Silver
Screenwriter
Paul Young, John Bunzel
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Production Co
Warner Brothers, Outlaw Productions
Rating
PG
Genre
Kids & Family, Drama, Adventure, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 31, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$25.8M
Runtime
1h 40m
Sound Mix
Stereo
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