Parents' Guide to

Chasing Coral

Movie NR 2017 93 minutes
Chasing Coral Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Renee Schonfeld By Renee Schonfeld , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 9+

Awe-inspiring, poignant docu tracks decline of coral reefs.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 9+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Chasing Coral: Our Beautiful Coral
  • Chasing Coral: Coral Before Warming Oceans
  • Chasing Coral: Coral After Warming Oceans
  • Chasing Coral: Another "Before"
  • Chasing Coral: Another "After" - Bleaching

Parent and Kid Reviews

See all
age 10+

Based on 1 parent review

redorcasunshine
redorcasunshine Parent of 11-year-old
May 29, 2019
age 10+

Strong language for PG rating

This is a great documentary about coral bleaching and climate change. The film makers do a great job of explaining the processes that are happening through data and graphics. However, there is some strong language that parents should be aware of. Words like "hell" and "dammit" are used several times throughout the film and the F word is mouthed silently on screen one time. There is also a brief smoking reference that occurs underwater in one scene.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

It took months of major setbacks and small successes, but the efforts of director Jeff Orlowski and his team of scientists, photographers, and crew resulted in their obtaining exactly the footage they needed to make CHASING CORAL. Capitalizing on the success of Orlowski's earlier feature, Chasing Ice, and hoping to explore coral as glaciers had been explored, the creative team decided to film the actual breakdown of the earth's dwindling coral reefs. They traveled to the planet's most fragile shores to place underwater cameras as a means of recording the degradation of the reefs over a period of two months. Problems arose, seemingly insurmountable ones, but the commitment of those involved only got stronger. Despite unexpected expenditures of time, effort, and funding, the determined team refused to give up. The movie is part adventure, part testimony to their remarkable knowledge and will, and, most significantly, an amazing accounting of the destiny of one of earth's most beautiful and precious species.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (4 ):

Extraordinary photography, a suspenseful story, a wake-up call to save a crucial creature in our earth's complex ecosystem, and an abundance of intriguing characters ... this documentary has it all. Chasing Coral is a tribute to everyone involved. Even climate change skeptics will find it impossible to ignore the photographic evidence of the phenomenon of dying coral reefs. Measured temperatures prove the oceans are warming. Only the cause of such warming may be debatable by some. Whatever the cause, the outcome is disturbing. And yet, beneath the tears -- even shed by some of the folks on-screen -- the team has found a way to evoke optimism and pass that along to the audience. They're hoping to reach, first and foremost, young people, even kids. That's why one of the principal "actors" in the film has taken his act to schools across the United States. If movies can ever be said to have a "higher purpose," this movie is one of them.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the filmmakers' open declaration that Chasing Coral has been produced to heighten awareness of the plight of our planet and inspire action to save it. Were they and the scientists on screen successful in their goal? Are you inspired to act? How? Why do movies help spread the word about important issues?

  • Talk about Zack Rago as a role model. How did Zack translate his childhood passion for coral into a life's work? What traits (i.e., curiosity, courage) did he call upon to help make this film happen? How does Zack's journey show how just one person can make a difference?

  • What is meant by the film's statement "You're gonna like yourself much more if you can say, 'Sure, I tried to turn that around'"? What, if anything, do you feel strongly enough about to "try to turn around"?

  • As in the case of the oceans and the coral reefs, talk about how the survival of every organism affects our ecosystem.

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

See all recommended movie lists

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate