The Bear (1989): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Bear is a 1989 adventure drama directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, starring Tchéky Karyo, Jack Wallace and Bart the Bear. It is partly based on The Grizzly King by James Oliver Curwood. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes and earned $31.8 million worldwide. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Cinematography at the BAFTA 1990. Critics gave it 60 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 36m (96 min)
- Director
- Jean-Jacques Annaud
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- First Release
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Bear About?
The premise of The Bear without spoilers, adapted from The Grizzly King by James Oliver Curwood. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A veteran beekeeper finds himself in a desperate fight when a relentless predator begins targeting his beehives. Determined to safeguard his livelihood and the generations of work he’s put into his craft, he must use all his knowledge and resourcefulness to confront the threat and protect his bees.
The Bear Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- 19th century
- year 1885
- bear
- survival
- hunting
- wilderness
- loss of mother
- orphan
- very little dialogue
- orphaned bear cub
- 1880s
- hunter
+38 more Show fewer
- nature
- puma
- dog
- forest
- bear attack
- animal
- based on novel
- animal protagonist
- honey
- avalanche
- rockslide
- butterfly
- dead animal
- frog
- shot in the back
- dream
- nightmare
- campfire
- hunters
- skinning an animal
- looking down the barrel of a gun
- animal feces
- mushroom
- pinecone
- squirrel
- binocular view
- missed shot
- mule
- blood
- injured animal
- injured horse
- attacked by a horse
- waterfall
- broken mirror
- echo
- threat to kill
- bleeding
- mud bath
The Bear Cast
Tchéky Karyo leads the cast, with Jack Wallace and Bart the Bear. Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud; 5 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Jean-Jacques Annaud
Also Starring in The Bear
· 1 moreThe Bear Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Bear 60 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 60 Metascore
User score 7.2
See on Metacritic
The Bear Plot Summary
What happens in The Bear from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 1885, amid the jagged, wind-swept peaks of British Columbia, a young male grizzly bear cub and his mother roam the mountains in search of honey and sustenance. A sudden rockslide shatters their trek, and in the chaos the mother is crushed, leaving the cub to face the vast wilderness alone. The landscape remains indifferent as the cub learns to improvise—finding fleeting scraps of food and shelter while the world seems suddenly wider and more dangerous.
Full summary
The whole story of The Bear, scene by scene
The Bear Box Office
The Bear grossed $31.8 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$31.8M
- US & Canada
- $31.8M
The Bear Awards & Nominations
The Bear earned 1 award nomination, including Best Cinematography at the BAFTA 1990.
1 nomination1 ceremony
-
BAFTA 1990 1 nomination- Nominated Best Cinematography
The Bear Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 featurette.
- Featurette CTV Special Movie bumper The Bear 1992
How Well Do You Know The Bear?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
In what year does the story begin?
The Bear Also Known As
26 alternative titles, including “Medvědi” and “L'orso”.
- Also known as
-
- Medvědi
- L'orso
- Der Bär
- Медведь
- Η αρκούδα
- A medve
- Ayı
- Karhu
- El oso
- Medvěd
- Björnen
- O Urso
+14 more Show fewer
- הדוב
- Bjørnen
- 베어
- 熊的故事
- L’os
- Niedźwiadek
- Мечка
- Medved
- Ursul
- Medveď
- 子熊物語, დათვი
- Ведмідь
- หมีเพื่อนเดอะ
- Lokys
Seen The Bear?
Movies Like The Bear
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Bears and I, The Bear and Grizzly.
The Bear FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of The Bear, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Bear?
The Bear runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).
When was The Bear released?
The Bear was released on October 27, 1989.
Who directed The Bear?
The Bear was directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud.
More films by Jean-Jacques Annaud Who is in the cast of The Bear?
The Bear stars Tchéky Karyo, Jack Wallace and Bart the Bear, among 5 credited actors.
How much did The Bear make at the box office?
The Bear grossed $31.8 million worldwide.
How is The Bear rated?
The Bear has 60 on Metacritic.
Is The Bear based on a book?
Yes. The Bear is partly adapted from The Grizzly King by James Oliver Curwood.
Was The Bear nominated for any awards?
The Bear received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
