Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    EmmysSuperheroes GuideSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideBest Of 2025 So FarDisability Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
8 suggestions available
Watchlist
Sign in
Sign in
New customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Born to Be Wild

  • 1995
  • PG
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
Wil Horneff in Born to Be Wild (1995)
AdventureComedyDramaFamily

Margaret teaches a gorilla sign language etc. When the gorilla owner takes it back to make money from shows, Margaret's rebellious teenage son steals it. They're off on a road trip to the Ca... Read allMargaret teaches a gorilla sign language etc. When the gorilla owner takes it back to make money from shows, Margaret's rebellious teenage son steals it. They're off on a road trip to the Canadian border.Margaret teaches a gorilla sign language etc. When the gorilla owner takes it back to make money from shows, Margaret's rebellious teenage son steals it. They're off on a road trip to the Canadian border.

  • Director
    • John Gray
  • Writers
    • Paul Young
    • John Bunzel
  • Stars
    • Wil Horneff
    • Helen Shaver
    • Jean Marie Barnwell
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.2/10
    1.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Gray
    • Writers
      • Paul Young
      • John Bunzel
    • Stars
      • Wil Horneff
      • Helen Shaver
      • Jean Marie Barnwell
    • 14User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Photos4

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast45

    Edit
    Wil Horneff
    Wil Horneff
    • Rick Heller
    Helen Shaver
    Helen Shaver
    • Margaret Heller
    Jean Marie Barnwell
    Jean Marie Barnwell
    • Lacey Carr
    John C. McGinley
    John C. McGinley
    • Uncle Max Carr
    Marvin J. McIntyre
    Marvin J. McIntyre
    • Bob the Paramedic
    Peter Boyle
    Peter Boyle
    • Gus Charnley
    Gregory Itzin
    Gregory Itzin
    • Walter Mallinson
    Titus Welliver
    Titus Welliver
    • Sergeant Bo Markle
    Tom Wilson
    Tom Wilson
    • Det. Lou Greenberg
    Alan Ruck
    Alan Ruck
    • Atty. Dan Woodley
    Janet Carroll
    Janet Carroll
    • Judge Billings
    John Procaccino
    John Procaccino
    • Ed Price
    Obba Babatundé
    Obba Babatundé
    • Interpreter
    David Wingert
    • Gary James
    John Pleshette
    John Pleshette
    • Donald Carr
    Keith Swift
    • Dino
    Michael MacRae
    Michael MacRae
    • Country Store Cop
    Bruce Wright
    Bruce Wright
    • Jack Graham
    • Director
      • John Gray
    • Writers
      • Paul Young
      • John Bunzel
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews14

    5.21.7K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    9sarajeanne30

    the end made me cry

    I love this movie. It's really good in showing the bond very powerful bond between animals and humans. Rick is 14 turning 15 in this movie and he knows that this very intelligent gorilla(Katie) should be free and not miss treated in a cage. There are a lot of depth and meaning to this movie and it's not just about saving the gorillas. The best part of the movie is definitely after Katie falls in the water and that Rick's talks about his dad and how he left. I love the continuum to this because at the end of the movie when Rick lets Katie in Hawaii she asks him if he's a father now because he won't come back. This is a great movie that everyone can enjoy young and old.(I'm 14 and the end made me cry)
    Vegita

    Understandable

    I know that most of this movie is fake but you have to understand that the plot is nice and it really wakes people up to animal cruelty. After reading Congo, by Michael Crichton, I just had to watch this movie once more and I'm glad I did. Most people think that gorrillas are just huge beasts who'll kill anything that gets in their way. On the contrary, chimpanzees are even more ferocious than gorrillas and will eat human children in the wild. That gives you something to think about when you watch this movie, which I really recommend
    8brandon_boydian

    Fantastic!

    This movie is fantastic. Very moving film about the relationship between humans and animals that a lot of people can quite easily relate to. Katie (the gorilla) is an intelligent creature who creates a strong bond with a troubled teenager (Rick) that takes them on an adventure neither would ever forget. And as for Wizard-8 saying "the gorilla costume isn't very convincing", Katie was in fact played by a live gorilla. They may be strong, powerful creatures, but they are also very intelligent and are able to perform once trained. And Wizard-8 also said "I think only very young children might get some enjoyment from this - everyone else, stay away", and this is also false - I am 21 and still enjoy this film. It's a fantastic story well worth seeing!
    9sleepingsunrise

    Underrated story about human and animal relationships

    I remember watching this when it came out simply because I had a crush on Will Horneff. As a teen I didn't really care too much about the story. To my younger self, it was just a story of some rebellious teen who wanted a road trip with a gorilla.

    As an adult, with greater understanding of sentience, and awareness of human and nonhuman relationships, this movie really hit me hard.

    There are people commenting about how the main character, Rick, disobeys his mother and breaks the law and needs to be punished. Well, he does get punished. But the law also gives hope for Katie and Rick.

    The movie deals with what is right and wrong and whether or not it's always wrong to break rules/the law.

    People forget that just because something is legal, doesn't make it right. Yes, Charnley had a legal right to Katie (seen as property, and not an individual being), but that doesn't make it right.

    This movie will hopefully plant a seed in your mind and make you question all the ways that humans view other animals. Some animals are family, some animals food, some animals entertainment, some animals clothes, some animals as transportation. But why? Why can't they exist simply for themselves and not be used for human greed? Think about it.

    Katie tells us how she feels because she was taught how, but what about the other animals who are not capable of communicating with us? What would they say?

    I deducted one star because at times the cringe is a bit much but overall the movie is a must watch, a solid family movie, and even adults will like it.
    2kus_lindell

    Förklaring

    Kanske det dåliga betyget beror på dubbningen som störde mig

    More like this

    Dunston Checks In
    5.4
    Dunston Checks In
    Monkey Trouble
    5.3
    Monkey Trouble
    Wild America
    6.4
    Wild America
    Andre
    5.7
    Andre
    Mighty Joe Young
    5.7
    Mighty Joe Young
    Man of the House
    5.3
    Man of the House
    First Kid
    5.3
    First Kid
    Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home
    5.1
    Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home
    Bushwhacked
    5.6
    Bushwhacked
    The Amazing Panda Adventure
    5.7
    The Amazing Panda Adventure
    The Yearling
    6.2
    The Yearling
    Tom and Huck
    5.5
    Tom and Huck

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film is dedicated to the memory of Steve Jerro.
    • Goofs
      The rock that Katie climbs at the beach is far inland on the shore. The water shouldn't be more than ankle deep when she falls in.
    • Quotes

      [Rick has narrowly escaped by climbing a fence after being chased by a squad car]

      Rick Heller: Hey, that was pretty good. You guys are getting a lot faster.

    • Connections
      Featured in Troldspejlet: Episode #14.8 (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      One World for Us
      Written by Gerard McMahon

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ19

    • How long is Born to Be Wild?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 31, 1995 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Japan
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Katie
    • Filming locations
      • Goat Rock Beach, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • Outlaw Productions (I)
      • Fuji
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,730,409
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,657,008
      • Apr 2, 1995
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,730,409
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Wil Horneff in Born to Be Wild (1995)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Born to Be Wild (1995) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Poster
    List
    IMDb Summer Watch Guide
    Browse the guide
    Production art
    List
    July 2025 TV and Streaming Premiere Dates
    See the list
    Poster
    List
    Most Anticipated Indian Movies: July-December 2025
    See the list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.