# Water for Elephants (2011) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/water-for-elephants-2011/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-25

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 62% |
| Critic Score | 60% |
| Audience Score | 71% |
| Metascore | 52/100 |
| Letterboxd | 3/5 |
| IMDb | 6.9/10 |
| Director | Francis Lawrence |
| Genres | Drama, Romance |
| Runtime | 122 min |

## Quick answer

Water for Elephants (2011) earns a 62% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Depression-era circus romance opposite Reese Witherspoon — a glossy vehicle from Pattinson’s franchise peak. Metascore 52/100. Directed by Francis Lawrence.

## Critics consensus

Depression-era circus romance opposite Reese Witherspoon — a glossy vehicle from Pattinson’s franchise peak.

## Synopsis

In this captivating Depression-era melodrama, impetuous veterinary student Jacob Jankowski joins a celebrated circus as an animal caretaker but faces a wrenching dilemma when he's transfixed by angelic married performer Marlena.

## Cast

Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz, Paul Schneider, Jim Norton, Hal Holbrook, Donna W. Scott, Richard Brake, Stephen Monroe Taylor, Mark Povinelli

## Common questions

**Is Water for Elephants worth watching?**
Water for Elephants holds a 62% Celluloid Score. Depression-era circus romance opposite Reese Witherspoon — a glossy vehicle from Pattinson’s franchise peak.

**What is Water for Elephants about?**
In this captivating Depression-era melodrama, impetuous veterinary student Jacob Jankowski joins a celebrated circus as an animal caretaker but faces a wrenching dilemma when he's transfixed by angelic married performer Marlena.

**Who directed Water for Elephants?**
Water for Elephants (2011) was directed by Francis Lawrence.

**What is the Celluloid Score of Water for Elephants?**
62% — the average of five public sources: critics 60%, audience 71%, Metascore 52/100, Letterboxd 3/5, and IMDb 6.9/10.

**Where can I watch Water for Elephants?**
Streaming availability varies by region — see the Water for Elephants page for current options.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

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