Critically acclaimed documentary Blackfish is due to leave Netflix soon.
Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, the 2013 film examines the life of performing killer whale Tilikum, who spent most of his life at SeaWorld Orlando and was involved in the deaths of three people during decades in captivity.
The documentary, which multiple critics have described as a "must-see", tells his story to "underscore problems within the sea-park industry, man's relationship to nature, and how little has been learned about these highly intelligent mammals".
Blackfish is currently available to stream on Netflix, but this will soon change as the film is due to leave the streaming service on 31 May – so fans will have to act quickly if they want to watch it there.
The film was widely acclaimed by both audiences and critics following its release for its powerful exposé of orca captivity, earning it a near-perfect score of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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Empire described it as "informative, impassioned and damningly indicting", while The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "This gripping film presents a persuasive case against keeping the species - and by extension any wild animal - in captivity for the purposes of human entertainment."
"The impression the film leaves is of a deep-pocketed institution that, for all its claims of humane and professional treatment, tolerates practices that are fundamentally at odds with the animals' well-being," added Variety.
In 2016, SeaWorld made the decision to end all orca shows and put an end to its breeding programme shortly after it confirmed that Tilikum was dying.
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In January 2017, it was announced that Tilikum had sadly died at the age of 36.
"The SeaWorld family is deeply saddened to announce that one of its most well-known orcas, Tilikum, has passed away," a statement from SeaWorld read at the time.
"Tilikum passed away early this morning, January 6, surrounded by the trainers, care staff and veterinarians that provided him around-the-clock world-class care.
"While today is a difficult day for the SeaWorld family, it's important to remember that Tilikum lived a long and enriching life while at SeaWorld and inspired millions of people to care about this amazing species."
Blackfish will be available to stream on Netflix until 31 May.
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Social Executive, Entertainment Portfolio After completing her joint honours degree in Journalism and English Literature at Cardiff University, Iona joined Digital Spy as a Content Production Intern in 2022, where she wrote across both news and features, specialising in TV and movies. Following her internship, Iona continued contributing to the site as a freelance reporter, becoming social executive for the Hearst UK entertainment portfolio in summer 2025. Iona now leads the DS social channels, covering red carpets with stars such as Paul Mescal, Austin Butler, and more.
