A boy finds a dolphin that was injured in a trap. They become friends, but the dolphin needs to have its tail amputated to survive. With the help of a biologist and a prosthetics specialist,... Read allA boy finds a dolphin that was injured in a trap. They become friends, but the dolphin needs to have its tail amputated to survive. With the help of a biologist and a prosthetics specialist, the boy tries to save the animal.A boy finds a dolphin that was injured in a trap. They become friends, but the dolphin needs to have its tail amputated to survive. With the help of a biologist and a prosthetics specialist, the boy tries to save the animal.
- Awards
- 4 wins & 4 nominations
- Phoebe
- (as Austin Highsmith)
- Kat
- (as Betsy Landin)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe gel / liner for Winter the dolphin - as well as Winter herself - is in fact REAL. It was not done with special effects and is actually Winter herself swimming around both without the prosthetic tail and with the prosthesis. Initially the aquarium had issues with keeping a prosthetic tail on her that was secure and comfortable. Because of this they reached out to a local medical manufacturer, ALPS South out of St. Petersburg, Florida partnered with Hanger Orthopedic Group and ALPS South developed the liner, specifically designed to comfortably and securely fit Winter's prosthetic tail.
- GoofsSawyer is wearing a short sleeve blue t-shirt when he jumps into the water after the relay race at the end of the movie. Once underwater, the shirt has long black sleeves. This indicates a passage of time.
- Quotes
Hazel Haskett: What does your dad do?
Sawyer Nelson: I don't know. He left like 5 years ago. We don't know where he is. He never calls, never writes.
Hazel Haskett: Oh.
Sawyer Nelson: So what does your mom do?
Hazel Haskett: She died when I was 7. Never calls, never writes.
[smiles]
- Alternate versionsAlso shown in 3D version.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Maltin on Movies: Moneyball (2011)
- SoundtracksWorld Gone Crazy
Written by Tom Johnston
Performed by The Doobie Brothers
Courtesy of DooBro Entertainment Corporation & HOR Records
By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing
Although Dolphin Tale is by far not my favorite film of the year, like Midnight in Paris, it is a solid kids' film, an adventure that treats animals and 11 year olds with respect and doesn't demonize adults.
A dolphin, Winter, needs a new tail to survive a crab-trap entanglement, and 11 year old Sawyer Nelson is the new friend to help her through the adjustment. His job: show us that being excited about something worthwhile is the answer to school blues and mother loss. The film is aces at showing that being engaged in helping a living being leads to success and happiness.
A slew of other good-willed people help Winter, from like-minded friends to doctors to grandpas. And that's the sweet point of the film, emblazoned on an all-purpose Swiss Army knife: "Family is Forever." With two crucial families needing a mother in one and a father in the other, "family" extends to the community that nurtures children, adults, and animals. Not only does a Clearwater, Florida, marine rescue hospital need financial support to continue, so also does a crippled soldier and Winter. The figurative connections are obvious but still carefully entered into the drama so as not to heighten the sugar content.
Besides, any movie that includes Kris Kristofferson as a benevolent grandpa and Morgan Freeman as a caring prosthetics doctor can't be all bad. For a supposedly sophisticated film critic, I'm veritably childlike in the presence of these accomplished actors. BTW, Ashley Judd as single mom gets my attention, as she always does.
Yet that Winter, she's all any man could want: smart and silky with mysterious eyes that seem to say, "With our help, you men will make it just fine." No man bashing in this film, just recognition that communal charity and mutual respect will win the day.
Something about this Disneyesque, retro children's adventure makes me happy.
- JohnDeSando
- Sep 22, 2011
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Chú Cá Heo Đuôi Giả
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $37,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $72,286,779
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $19,152,401
- Sep 25, 2011
- Gross worldwide
- $95,943,453
- Runtime1 hour 53 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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