

My Octopus Teacher
After years of swimming every day in the freezing ocean at the tip of Africa, Craig Foster meets an unlikely teacher: a young octopus who displays remarkable curiosity. Visiting her den and tracking her movements for months on end he eventually wins the animal’s trust and they develop a never-before-seen bond between human and wild animal.
TMDB
7.9/10
1,109 votes
IMDb
Not rated yet
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- —
- Box office
- —
- Language
- English
- diving
- octopus
- intelligence
- atlantic ocean
- human animal relationship
- south africa
- based on true story
- underwater
- shark
- western cape
- nature documentary
- marine life
Top billed cast
Behind the camera
Director
Writers
Music
Produced in
South Africa, United Kingdom
Where to watch
Availability for India. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
Stream
Gallery












Videos
Release dates
United StatesUS
- Digital / OTT7 Sept 2020
BrazilBR
- Digital / OTTL7 Sept 2020
FranceFR
- Digital / OTTU7 Sept 2020
GermanyDE
- Theatrical04 Sept 2020
ItalyIT
- TheatricalT4 Sept 2020
JapanJP
- Digital / OTTPG127 Sept 2020
NetherlandsNL
- Digital / OTT9Netflix7 Sept 2020
PolandPL
- Premiere7Docs Against Gravity4 Sept 2020
SingaporeSG
- Digital / OTTGNetflix7 Sept 2020
Frequently asked questions
My Octopus Teacher was released on 4 September 2020.
Audience reviews
3- S10/10
Skarfrael
12/29/2021
Not just a documentary (9 January 2021) Why I watched it? Because I love octopuses and the sea. Why I gave it a 10? Because it was something more than just a documentary. It was a personal experience. It got evident from the start. Great captures and the personal storytelling of Foster along with accurate and calming music did it: I immediately relaxed and put myself in his shoes. The rest was history. Amazing …
- C9/10
candicetop
1/4/2026
a profoundly moving, visually stunning documentary that elevates a simple premise into a transformative emotional experience. It follows South African filmmaker Craig Foster as he returns daily to a cold-water kelp forest near Cape Town, slowly forming an intimate, almost meditative bond with a wild octopus he encounters there. The film’s greatest strength is how it intertwines awe-inspiring natural observation with …
- C7/10
CinemaSerf
7/24/2026
I reckon this could be my favourite natural history feature, as despite a slight element of sentimentality, it's really quite fascinating. It all follows the relationship between accomplished diver and photographer Craig Foster and an octopus. He is swimming when he encounters this young creature hiding in it's den. Approaching it, gingerly, he is surprised when it reaches out a tentacle (he calls them arms) and begi…
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