Water For Elephants

4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (413 customer reviews)
ACADEMY AWARD Winners Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz join Robert Pattinson (The Twilight Saga) for this epic tale of forbidden love based on Sara Gruen's acclaimed best seller.
  • Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson
  • Directed by: Francis Lawrence
  • Runtime: 2 hours 1 minute
  • Release year: 2011
  • Studio: Fox
Play trailer
Available in HD for playback on Kindle Fire HD, Xbox 360, PS3, Roku, TiVO or other Amazon Instant Video HD compatible devices
 
  
 
 

24 hour rental

1-Click® $3.99

Buy movie

1-Click® $9.99

Learn more about renting and buying

 
 
 
 
  
 
[Send us Feedback]

Water For Elephants

Have a promotion code? View Balance
New to Amazon Instant Video? Watch your videos on the Kindle Fire HD and hundreds of other devices. See how to watch on your computer, tablet, phone and TV.

Enjoy Unlimited Streaming with Prime Instant Video: Stream over 40,000 movies and TV episodes on virtually any TV with compatible streaming devices starting under $100. Shop now.

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Product Details
Synopsis: ACADEMY AWARD Winners Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz join Robert Pattinson (The Twilight Saga) for this epic tale of forbidden love based on Sara Gruen's acclaimed best seller.
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson
Supporting actors: Christoph Waltz
Directed by: Francis Lawrence
Genre: Drama, Romance
Runtime: 2 hours 1 minute
Captions and Subtitles: English Details
Release year: 2011
Studio: Fox
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for moments of intense violence and sexual content
ASIN: B006228KPW
Rights & Requirements
Rental rights: 24 hour viewing period. Details
Purchase rights: Stream instantly and download to 2 locations. Details
Format: Amazon Instant Video (streaming online video and digital download)

Other Formats and Versions

Theatrical Release Information
  • US Theatrical Release Date: April 22, 2011
  • MPAA: Rated PG-13 for moments of intense violence and sexual content
  • Production Company: Fox 2000 Pictures, 3 Arts Entertainment, Flashpoint Entertainment, Dune Entertainment, Ingenious Media
  • Filming Locations: 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA | Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA | Chickamauga, Georgia, USA | Fillmore, California, USA | Los Angeles, California, USA

Customers Who Viewed This Item Also Viewed

Customer Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
(413)
4.2 out of 5 stars
See all 413 customer reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
243 of 261 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Sara Gruen's Greatest Show on Earth April 24, 2011
By Shannon L. Yarbrough VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
I have to admit that Water for Elephants was a decent representation of the book. Take into consideration that a movie is never going to give you 100% of the book. That being said, I was disappointed with the parts of the book the movie left out. There were lots of little details and nuances that just can't come across on the full screen anyway, although you would have liked to have seen how they would have been portrayed. Although too numerous to mention and for those who haven't read the book it wouldn't matter anyway, the biggest (for those who have read it) would be the comedic scenes that play out with Jacob in the nursing home. All of those chapters were completely left out.

We open with an old man (Hal Holbrook) wandering into the parking lot of a circus that is packing up and moving out. A workman comes out to see if he is lost and invites him in out of the rain while the man calls the nursing home. The old man looks at the old black and white circus photos on the wall and recalls out loud which circuses they are from. This grabs the worker's attention and he mentions the Benzini Brothers Circus tragedy from years ago. The old man says he was there and the worker asks him to tell him about it. We flash back to a younger gentleman played by Robert Pattinson and the movie is played out as a flashback of the old man's story.

Although I never would have expected it, Robert Pattinson plays out a perfect Jacob. That irresistible smile he gets on his face when he's around the animals definitely lets us connect with Jacob the way we wanted to see him connecting with Rosie the elephant. Perfect choice for the part!

Christoph Waltz was a decent August, the ring master and circus owner.... Read more ›
8 Comments | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
77 of 87 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Water for all!!! May 31, 2011
By Marie
Format:DVD
All I can say is if you have a couple of hours free, spend it watching this movie....I was mesmerised from beginning to end. The cast are the best cast for this movie and the love traingle leaves you hanging right to the end.I had the pleasure of reading the book as well, before watching the movie, and I have to say this is a rare occasion that the movie was on par with the book...although I feel there should of been more in the movie of Jacob at the nursing home, as I found these scenes quite comical in the book. I would of liked to have seen the children grown up in the movie, so we can see if the children ressemble the pure beauty of Marlena and Jacob, but maybe that's just me.

So what are you waiting for, go grab the book or watch the movie, or be like me, and do both.... Happy watchin and readin friends xx
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT MOVIE!! November 21, 2011
By Heidi
Format:DVD
Water for Elephants, a dramatic romance novel written by Sarah Gruen, was published in 2006 and has become quite a hit. It was said to be "gorgeous, brilliant, and superbly plotted" by the author Joshilyn Jackson. The book is narrated by a 93 year old, Jacob Jankowski. Jacob is spending his remaining years in a nursing home, reminiscing of his life and experiences in the circus. When he was 23, his life took a drastic turn when his parents died in a car accident. Jacob is left with no money and drops out of Cornell University, as he was studying to be a vet. Heartbroken, he finds himself on a circus train and quickly becomes the vet of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. This book has become such a success and was made into a movie in 2011, starring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson.

Don't worry about the movie ruining the novel. The movie does an excellent job following Gruen's lead. It is common knowledge that the movie can never cover everything that happens in the book, but I was still very impressed with the quantity they did fit into the movie. The main events in the novel were portrayed well on the big screen. The movie producers did well using Gruen's detail in the book to develop the ultimate circus appearance. From the pink lace Marlena performs in, to the beautiful circus colors, this movie has it spot on.
This isn't your typical Notebook romance where their love is the main concentration. It's a love story amongst the darkness and hardships of being in a circus. The storyline is interesting, there are so many other things going on besides the building romance between Jacob and Marlena. Although, once the romance takes off, the move goes with it and has a tasteful twist at the end.... Read more ›
1 Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Better than expected May 24, 2011
By qwicwted
Format:DVD
I had read the reviews of this movie before I went to see it. My expectations were low due to the mixed reviews - but I had an open mind. I really like Reese Witherspoon and when I walked out of the movie, while I thought she did a good job I felt she was miscast in the part. I thought someone more like Scarlett Johannson would have been more in tune to the part - needed someone that was a little "dirty". Reese always plays the angelic, nice girl - so since I felt Marlena had been around the block a bit and was a bit "used" someone that really doesn't fit Reese's nice girl image. I thought Reese and Pattinson did a credible job - Christoph Waltz was really good.

Once I reflected on the movie, I realized that the story is being told from Jacobs eyes - from the age of 23 and again at 92. When he joined the circus and during his life Jacob saw Marlena as innocent,angelic and sweet - I kind of expected to see a light glow around Reese throughout the movie. So, in reality perhaps Reese was the right person cast as Marlena. Anyway, it is a good story and good movie.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Old Fashioned Tearjerker
Christopher Waltz is once again very good and complicated. It's easy to hate him for what he does to animals but there are times when the viewer can see a softer side and... Read more
Published 2 days ago by D. Paris
5.0 out of 5 stars Nostalgic Look at the 1930s from a Circus Perspective
Had read the book. Movie was true to the book. Good story. It made me appreciate the joy that a traveling circus brought to people across America before the days of... Read more
Published 3 days ago by MDP
5.0 out of 5 stars I love this movie!!
This movie is such a rich feast. I adored the elephant and all the circus animals. It seems to be so well made. Read more
Published 3 days ago by C. Rapha
5.0 out of 5 stars Water for elephants blew me away!
This is the first time the movie was even better than the book. I had my doubts about Robert Pattison in the male lead, but he was perfect in that role. Read more
Published 4 days ago by WendyBunnyGirl
3.0 out of 5 stars good
my customer was very happy to get this movie for a decent price. Too bad I had to double ship it (and therefore double price on shipping) to get it where it needed to go.
Published 8 days ago by Geoff Tagg
4.0 out of 5 stars Water for Elephants brings memories
I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, but felt, after reading the book, that it left out parts of the book that I valued while focusing more on the evilness of one character. Read more
Published 9 days ago by Joyce Gregory
2.0 out of 5 stars forign zonemovie
Would not play on my zone one DVD players .this movie requires a zone2-or4zone.I have two new samsung players they are zone one only . Read more
Published 13 days ago by john r. myers
5.0 out of 5 stars Water For Elephants
Great movie and found it easily online and for a decent price. It is an added bonus to not have to drive to the store.
Published 13 days ago by S. Henderson
2.0 out of 5 stars Ugh.
Characters were poorly developed, there was no chemistry between Witherspoon and Pattinson, and while I am not against taking creative license with a book (e.g. Read more
Published 14 days ago by alessandra
2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected.
I read the book which always has more detail, but I didn't expect the movie to leave out so much. I was disappointed in Reese Witherspoons performance. Read more
Published 14 days ago by rosemary mcnair
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews
By placing your order, you agree to our Terms of Use  Sold by Amazon Digital Services, Inc.  Additional taxes may apply.