A hunter squares off against a killer whale seeking vengeance for the death of its mate.A hunter squares off against a killer whale seeking vengeance for the death of its mate.A hunter squares off against a killer whale seeking vengeance for the death of its mate.
Don Leslie
- Young Fisherman
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaRichard Harris, who was forty-six, performed his own stunts and was nearly killed on several occasions.
- GoofsWhales and dolphins don't breathe automatically like humans do. They sleep with half of their brain at a time because they need to come to the surface to breathe. If someone really tranquilized an orca like Nolan did with the needle in the harpoon, both halves of its brain would be asleep at the same time, and it would stop breathing and drown.
- Quotes
Captain Nolan: I brought this gun to shoot him. Yes, yes I did. But I knew when it came time to do it, I couldn't do it. So I got to thinking and I thought, Well if what-if what you say is right. That whales can communicate. Then I thought I'd look at him. Right in the eye. And I'd tell him the killing of his wife and his child was a terrible accident. That I didn't mean it. I didn't mean it. I'd tell him that I was sorry. I hope he'd forgive me.
- Alternate versionsNetwork TV version had at least one additional scene where Nolan (Richard Harris) visits Annie (Bo Derek) at the hospital, after her leg was bitten off.
- ConnectionsFeatured in I Love the '70s: Volume 2: 1977 (2006)
Featured review
This film is far from perfect, but it is nowhere near as bad as the IMDb rating and critics say it is. Critics have said it is overblown, forgettable, unscary and laughable. For me, Orca is none of those things. Yes, it does have its flaws, but it is a very underrated flick that doesn't take itself too seriously. I don't think it is the best movie ever, but what I liked most about this was that it never tried to be. Of course the script is weak in places, the story takes a while to get going and the film is rather slow. But overall, it is above average and more than decent. The film is well shot with dark cinematography and nice scenery. The music by Ennio Morricone is very creepy and intense, and just shows what a great composer Morricone is. The film is also benefited by a good cast, primarily the late great Richard Harris as Captain Nolan and Charlotte Rampling in a thoughtful performance as the female lead. But what made the movie was Orca himself. That is one scary killer whale I will admit. The story, about a killer whale wanting revenge on some humans for the death of his mate and baby, is good and has some suspense and terror. I don't think Orca is laughable or forgettable at all. I saw it when I was 10 by accident for the first time on television while flicking through channels, and while I didn't see it again until recently(I am 17 by the way) and couldn't remember what it was called until my dad reminded me, I do specifically remember getting nightmares every time Orca arrived on screen. Overall, not perfect, but a more than decent and underrated flick. 7/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Nov 14, 2009
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Orca: The Killer Whale
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $14,717,854
- Gross worldwide
- $14,717,854
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