MARCH OF THE PENGUINS
An extraordinary survival story for the whole family.
Should You Watch It?
MARCH OF THE PENGUINS turns the Emperor Penguin’s struggle into an incredible dramatic story of survival, love, procreation, and new life. The camerawork, music, editing, and documentary storytelling are excellent.
The film does not turn the penguins into cartoon people or use their suffering as an environmental soapbox. It simply shows the dangers these birds face from starvation, extreme weather, and other creatures. The one concern is the opening discussion of evolution, so parents may want to prepare younger children to hear ideas that differ from their own beliefs.
For a beautiful, moving family nature documentary, this is WORTH THE TRIP.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAfter years swimming in Antarctic waters, the flightless Emperor Penguin comes ashore and marches more than 70 miles to its birthplace. There, the penguins find mates and begin the demanding work of bringing new life into the world. Their journey through the frozen wilderness tests the whole family against starvation, deadly weather, and other creatures.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is excellent documentary filmmaking. The camerawork captures the Antarctic wilderness and the penguins’ extraordinary journey with striking drama.
The music, editing, and storytelling strengthen the emotional power without turning the animals into human characters. The movie also avoids environmental hysteria when penguins die from predators or the weather. It treats their lives as a story, not a soapbox.
The Worldview
MARCH OF THE PENGUINS presents the Emperor Penguins’ survival, family life, and new generation with wonder. The film avoids anthropomorphizing the birds and does not make their deaths into an environmental political message. Its opening contains brief references to millions of years of evolution, which is the film’s main worldview concern.
The documentary does not refer to God. Still, the review notes that people leaving the screening spoke about how incredible God’s Creation is. The film indirectly supports theism and the view of Intelligent Design, while its evolutionary introduction departs from that perspective.
The penguins’ ordered lives and the grandeur of the Antarctic wilderness can prompt wonder at creation: “O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures” (Psalm 104:24).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong implied moral worldview overall celebrating Creation and seeming to support theism and Intelligent Design, with brief, but light evolutionary introduction; and, nothing objectionable shown, although it is implied that the penguins are mating.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
What makes the Emperor Penguins’ journey such a powerful picture of endurance? Where do you need patience and strength?
Romans 5:3–4 · James 1:2–4What details in the penguins’ world make you think about God’s creativity and wisdom?
Psalm 104:24 · Romans 1:20How can your family discuss the opening evolutionary ideas while comparing them with what you believe about creation?
Genesis 1:1 · Colossians 1:16–17What does the film’s portrayal of penguin parents teach us about sacrificial care for new life?
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 · Philippians 2:3–4The Final Word
MARCH OF THE PENGUINS is beautiful, dramatic, and suitable for all ages. Its brief evolutionary introduction gives parents one point to discuss, but the documentary’s wonder, restraint, and excellence make it WORTH THE TRIP for families.
