San Francisco Chronicle by Mick LaSalle

Stays in the mind, changing the way we look at the world.

Premiere by Addison MacDonald

By the end of the film, one begins to recognize specific birds, rooting for their safe returns and saddened by some of their failures.

Baltimore Sun by Michael Sragow

Watching this movie, you can dream with open eyes.

Chicago Tribune by Michael Wilmington

This French documentary gives us unprecedented intimacy and sweep.

The New Republic by Stanley Kauffmann

What an extraordinary idea it was to make this film. What a splendid achievement.

Variety by Lisa Nesselson

Visually stunning, practically dialogue-free and very family-friendly.

Wall Street Journal by Joe Morgenstern

A magnificent documentary that flies us along with migratory birds on their intercontinental travels, it's the polar opposite -- North Pole, South Pole and all latitudes in between -- of modern feature films that rely on special effects.

Chicago Reader by Ted Shen

The most astounding cinematic testament to flock mentality since Hitchcock's "The Birds."

Salon by Stephanie Zacharek

Birds are not just the movie's stars, but its whole universe. They inspire in Perrin and his crew, and in us, not just awe but humility. You'll never look at them the same way again.

Time by Richard Schickel

Intellectually austere but technologically and aesthetically riveting documentary.

Miami Herald by René Rodríguez

Leaves you in a state of stunned, exhilarated awe, both for what it shows and how it shows it.

Portland Oregonian by Shawn Levy

Somewhat marred by Bruno Coulais' treacly New Age score -- as well as by Perrin's somewhat daft and repetitive narration. But the key word is "somewhat." In the main, Winged Migration is an unforgettable piece of moviemaking.

TV Guide Magazine by Maitland McDonagh

Absolutely breathtaking documentary whose close-up shots of birds in flight are so freakishly intimate that the film is compelled to open with the statement they're not special effects.

Philadelphia Inquirer by Carrie Rickey

The results are exhilarating, thrilling, and extend the wingspan.

Austin Chronicle by Marjorie Baumgarten

As moving wallpaper, Winged Migration is the cat’s meow: One almost wishes the wondrous images had been filmed in the even bigger IMAX format. But as an informative documentary, Winged Migration’s birdbrain comes to the fore.