The Shape of Water

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2:20

The Shape of Water

R

2017

2h 3m

Fantasy

Drama

Romance

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

465 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Elisa is a mute, isolated woman who works as a cleaning lady in a hidden, high-security government laboratory in 1962 Baltimore. Her life changes forever when she discovers the lab's classified secret -- a mysterious, scaled creature from South America that lives in a water tank. As Elisa develops a unique bond with her new friend, she soon learns that its fate and very survival lies in the hands of a hostile government agent and a marine biologist.

Critics Consensus

The Shape of Water finds Guillermo del Toro at his visually distinctive best -- and matched by an emotionally absorbing story brought to life by a stellar Sally Hawkins performance.

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Chris Bennion

The Times (UK)

02/14/2023

You’ll either be charmed by Hawkins’s ethereal, wordless performance or you won’t, but del Toro’s use of a vivid colour palette would impress anyone.

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Anupama Chopra

Film Companion

09/06/2018

4/5

The Shape of Water is visionary filmmaking.

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Robert Daniels

812filmreviews

09/05/2018

3.5/4

So, while we know Elisa has humanity, Del Toro has to plead his case for the fish-man.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Dec 27

3/4

If The Shape of Water never quite breaks out of the confines of what's basically a tale as old as time, it's still an artfully executed diversion further strengthened by an excellent central performance by Hawkins.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Jul 28

4/5

Fantastical triumphs of mortal spirit over evil forces are applied to inhuman oddities with jarringly violent consequences.

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Julian Singleton

Cinapse

Jul 11

This romance is destined to thrive where land and the petty political squabbles upon them stop, where passions run deep in unpredictable waters.

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Andrew A

10/01/2024

it was just a fun story that put a smile on my face.

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Bernita W.

@RT24197771 1d

I really enjoyed this movie. The creature was especially compelling, and I liked the dynamic between him and the woman. Without giving anything away, I also appreciated that the intimate scenes were handled subtly and kept off-screen in a tasteful way. Overall, I’d give it a solid 4.5 out of 5. Definitely worth checking out—you might enjoy it too!

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Sans U

@sansundertale Apr 11

DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE. THEY KILL A CAT. STOP FUCKING KILLING CATS. NOBODY WANTS TO SEE THAT SHIT. DID NOT FINISH.

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Daniel M

@MazzaQuePasa Mar 31

Del Torro’s movies are always so beautiful to look at and a work of art and this one doesn’t disappoint. The story was great and had interesting characters, it just didn’t move me as much as I was expecting it too. Still a great movie though!

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Jelisije J

@jjosifovic Mar 28

Overrated is the best word to describe this film. If i can predict the beginning and end of this movie within the first 15 minutes its not a movie worth seeing again.

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Brian D

@Brianwd2 Mar 22

83%. 3/22/26. I watched Frankenstein from Guillermo fist, but this felt very similar with a strange, innocent creature and the bond it creates with a human. This film started even slower and wasn't as invested early, but it slowly got better. And I really enjoyed the last 45 minutes and it had a nice ending. All the acting is great. Enjoyed the setting too and the time period. Glad I finally watched it. 4/5 rewatch

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Guillermo del Toro

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Sally Hawkins

Elisa Esposito

Michael Shannon

Richard Strickland

Richard Jenkins

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Zelda Fuller

Michael Stuhlbarg

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Synopsis

Elisa is a mute, isolated woman who works as a cleaning lady in a hidden, high-security government laboratory in 1962 Baltimore. Her life changes forever when she discovers the lab's classified secret -- a mysterious, scaled creature from South America that lives in a water tank. As Elisa develops a unique bond with her new friend, she soon learns that its fate and very survival lies in the hands of a hostile government agent and a marine biologist.

Director: Guillermo del Toro
Producer: Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale
Screenwriter: Guillermo del Toro, Vanessa Taylor
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: TSG Entertainment, Double Dare You
Rating: R (Language|Graphic Nudity|Sexual Content|Violence)
Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 22, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 23, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $63.3M
Runtime: 2h 3m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)