Blackfish

The documentary tells the story of Tilikum, an orca held at SeaWorld, and asks what captivity for marine mammals actually means. Tilikum was linked to the deaths of three people, and the film asks whether that was an accident or the natural result of confinement. Gabriela Cowperthwaite directed. It premiered at Sundance in January 2013, distributed by Magnolia Pictures and CNN Films. Rotten Tomatoes sits at 98 percent, Metacritic at 83. SeaWorld called it inaccurate and misleading, said it regrettably exploited a tragedy, ran counter-campaigns and set up a Truth About Blackfish section. The effect was measurable. By August 2014 the stock had fallen 33 percent, reaching 50 percent by November. Attendance dropped 5.2 percent year on year and net income fell 84 percent in the second quarter of 2015. CEO Jim Atchison resigned in December 2014. In March 2016 SeaWorld announced it would end orca breeding and phase out live performances, in a statement that read: society is changing and we're changing with it. Who it is for: anyone interested in animal welfare and in how a documentary can move a corporation. Who it is not for: anyone expecting neutrality. The film is openly on one side and does not give SeaWorld's objections equal room.