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David Edelstein, New York Magazine/Vulture: This is one of those docs during which audiences gasp and cry out - or just cry - at regular intervals. Read more
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times: Through the rueful voices of former trainers and whale experts, a narrative driven by disillusion and regret unfolds as the trainers point to a gap between SeaWorld's public image and behind-the-scenes reality. Read more
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: After watching "Blackfish," you come away with a sense of orcas' singular intelligence, to be sure, even their astonishing playfulness, but most of all their glorious power, and the majesty of their existence in their natural habitat. Read more
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: Its ultimate message is clear: Killer whales belong with their families in their natural habitat, not performing for audiences. After listening to this film's many impassioned voices, it's hard to argue. Read more
Mike D'Angelo, AV Club: Blackfish does make a pretty strong case that it sucks to be in a cage, even underwater. Read more
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: "Blackfish" is a disturbing movie, one that will make you rethink parks like SeaWorld and their value. Read more
Janice Page, Boston Globe: "Blackfish" is no trumped up horror story fueled by Hollywood brand names and special effects. In this riveting documentary directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, all of the creatures are real, and all seem entitled to the serious chip on their shoulders. Read more
Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader: Unfortunately, this feels like a ten-minute news segment blown up to theatrical proportions. Read more
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: The film may be depressing. But even with a terrible, watery musical score, it's also good. Read more
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: Blackfish, a documentary by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, puts the "killer" back into killer whales by indicting those sea parks that, in her well-chronicled estimation, place profit above safety. Read more
Tom Long, Detroit News: "Blackfish" is grim. But then again, so is the plight of these magnificent, intelligent whales. Read more
Jordan Hoffman, Film.com: "Blackfish" is designed to get you angry and, by this standard, it works. Read more
David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter: His gripping film presents a persuasive case against keeping the species -- and by extension any wild animal -- in captivity for the purposes of human entertainment. Read more
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: [It] remains decidedly one-sided. But when that "side" is such a vital, convincing proponent for the greater protection and understanding of such evolved and majestic creatures, it can't help but win. Read more
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: Blackfish is intended to rattle and provoke in the hopes of bringing about change. Read more
Tomas Hachard, NPR: [Its] argument never fails to be gripping, its structure perfectly executed to maximize its persuasiveness. Read more
David Hinckley, New York Daily News: In the wild, orcas live between 50 and a hundred years. In captivity, it's half that. It's simply a strong argument to free all the Willies. Read more
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: An extraordinary, must-see examination of what humans do to killer whales so that these amazing creatures can become one more entertainment. Read more
Tirdad Derakhshani, Philadelphia Inquirer: While Cowperthwaite's film opens with a simple question about the behavior of a single killer whale, it ends up mounting a persuasive ethical argument against keeping orcas in captivity. Read more
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: Meet a theme-park phenom in the form of the killer whales (orcas in the trade) on view in Gabriela Cowperthwaite's gripping mindbender of a documentary. Read more
David Lewis, San Francisco Chronicle: It not only delivers astonishing, suspenseful footage that makes it a legitimate thriller, but also serves up thoughtful meditations about using wild animals for our own entertainment. Read more
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: "Blackfish" makes a compelling case that the cruelty of life in captivity is the cause for a rash of fatal attacks by orcas on their trainers, aggressive behavior that no so-called killer whale ever has exhibited in the wild. Read more
Geoff Pevere, Globe and Mail: Blackfish makes an especially strong case for the innate marvel of these animals: that they are smart, social, communicative and loving. Read more
Linda Barnard, Toronto Star: Blackfish is enough to make anybody think twice about the wisdom of turning whales into performers. Read more
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out: A troubling expose of Sea World's hazardous entertainment trade. Read more
Justin Chang, Variety: The impression the film leaves is of a deep-pocketed institution that, for all its claims of humane and professional treatment, tolerates practices that are fundamentally at odds with the animals' well-being ... Read more
Alan Scherstuhl, Village Voice: The movie is revealing, wrenching, and important, a reminder that what feels wrong in our gut-the effort to turn free-roaming and unknowable beasts into caged vaudevillians-is always worth investigating. Read more
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: It's hard to imagine anyone coming out of this movie and not swearing off the next vacation trip to Orlando, San Antonio or San Diego. Read more