The Day of the Dolphin (1973): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
The Day of the Dolphin is a 1973 sci-fi thriller directed by Mike Nichols, starring Paul Sorvino, George C. Scott and John Dehner. It runs 1 hour 44 minutes and earned $2.3 million worldwide. It was nominated for 2 Oscars. Critics gave it 40 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 44m (104 min)
- Director
- Mike Nichols
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- AVCO Embassy Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Day of the Dolphin About?
The premise of The Day of the Dolphin without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
While studying dolphin communication in the Florida Keys, marine biologists Jake and Maggie Terrell find their research complicated by a disappearance. Their investigation leads them to the Franklin Foundation, revealing a dangerous plot to exploit the dolphins' intelligence. The foundation intends to use the dolphins for purposes that could destabilize the world, forcing Jake and Maggie to confront a sinister conspiracy and protect these intelligent creatures.
The Day of the Dolphin Themes & Keywords
· 30 tags- human animal relationship
- human animal friendship
- animal human communication
- talking to an animal
- animal birth
- animal giving birth
- lie
- animal training
- explosion
- marine biologist
- talking dolphin
- talking to a dolphin
+18 more Show fewer
- dolphin
- assassination
- bittersweet
- compassion
- yacht
- boat
- conference
- undercover
- murder
- mine
- traitor
- animal in title
- foreign language adaptation
- scientist
- talking animal
- exploding boat
- based on novel
- independent film
The Day of the Dolphin Cast
Paul Sorvino leads the cast, with George C. Scott and John Dehner. Directed by Mike Nichols; 10 actors are credited in all.
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Director Mike Nichols
Also Starring in The Day of the Dolphin
· 6 moreMore from Mike Nichols
More films directed by Mike Nichols, best-rated first: The Graduate, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Carnal Knowledge and Primary Colors.
The Day of the Dolphin Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Day of the Dolphin 40 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 40 Metascore
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 58% User score
See on TMDB
The Day of the Dolphin Plot Summary
What happens in The Day of the Dolphin from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Dr. Jake Terrell, a brilliant and dedicated scientist, along with his wife Maggie, is leading a revolutionary research project at their secluded island facility. Their goal is to train a pod of dolphins to communicate with humans in real-time. Among them, their star pupil, Alpha (“Fa”), a dolphin they nurtured from captivity for four years, has already showcased a remarkable ability to master simple English phrases. To expand their research, the team introduces Beta (“Bea”), a wild-caught female dolphin. Initially hesitant, Fa quickly takes on the role of teacher.
Full summary
The whole story of The Day of the Dolphin, scene by scene
The Day of the Dolphin Box Office
The Day of the Dolphin grossed $2.3 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$2.3M
- US & Canada
- $2.3M
The Day of the Dolphin Awards & Nominations
The Day of the Dolphin was nominated for 2 Oscars. The 3 nominations come from 2 ceremonies, the most at the Oscars 1974.
3 nominations2 ceremonies
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Oscars 1974 2 nominations- Nominated Music (Original Dramatic Score)
- Nominated Sound
-
Golden Globes 1974 1 nomination- Nominated Best Original Score
The Day of the Dolphin Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer The Day of the Dolphin ≣ 1973 ≣ Trailer
How Well Do You Know The Day of the Dolphin?
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
Who is the main scientist in charge of the dolphin research?
Cars in The Day of the Dolphin
5 cars on screen, including the 1973 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 and the 1967 Chevrolet Caprice.
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1973 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Minor role -
1967 Chevrolet Caprice Background role -
1972 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Background role -
1971 Chevrolet Vega Background role
The Day of the Dolphin Also Known As
14 alternative titles, including “Operation Alpha” and “Le Jour du dauphin”.
- Also known as
-
- Operation Alpha
- Le Jour du dauphin
- Il giorno del delfino
- A delfin napja
- Der Tag des Delphins
- Денят на делфина
- El día del delfín
- День дельфина
- 海豚之日
- יומו של הדולפין
- O Dia do Golfinho
- Den delfína
+2 more Show fewer
- 돌고래 알파
- El dia del dofí
Seen The Day of the Dolphin?
Movies Like The Day of the Dolphin
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Deep Blue Sea, The Cove and Fishbone.
The Day of the Dolphin FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Day of the Dolphin, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Day of the Dolphin?
The Day of the Dolphin runs 1 hour 44 minutes (104 minutes).
When was The Day of the Dolphin released?
The Day of the Dolphin was released on December 19, 1973.
Who directed The Day of the Dolphin?
The Day of the Dolphin was directed by Mike Nichols.
More films by Mike Nichols Who is in the cast of The Day of the Dolphin?
The Day of the Dolphin stars Paul Sorvino, George C. Scott and John Dehner, among 10 credited actors.
How much did The Day of the Dolphin make at the box office?
The Day of the Dolphin grossed $2.3 million worldwide.
How is The Day of the Dolphin rated?
The Day of the Dolphin has 40 on Metacritic and 58% on TMDB.
Was The Day of the Dolphin nominated for any awards?
The Day of the Dolphin received 3 nominations across 2 ceremonies.
Does The Day of the Dolphin have a post-credit scene?
No. The Day of the Dolphin has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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