Watership Down to be released by BFI Distribution in UK and Irish cinemas on 25 October
Martin Rosen’s 1978 adaptation of Richard Adams’ timeless novel screens in a new 4K restoration following its World Premiere at BFI London Film Festival 2024 and will arrive on UHD and Blu-ray on 11 November.
The classic, distinctly beautiful British animated feature film Watership Down, which follows a group of rabbits on a perilous journey to find their own utopia, is back on the big screen again this autumn, the first time in nearly 50 years, re-released in cinemas by BFI Distribution. A BFI home entertainment release in Ultra High Definition and Blu-ray will follow shortly afterwards.
Newly restored in 4K by the BFI and Silver Salt Restoration, with the characters and colours sparkling as never before, Watership Down will be in cinemas in the UK and Ireland from 25 October 2024, coinciding with the half term holidays. The first chance for audiences to glimpse it will be at the World Premiere at the BFI London Film Festival 2024, where it will screen in the Treasures section, which spotlights new restoration premieres from around the world.
Following the theatrical release, a home entertainment release from the BFI on 11 November 2024 will present the film both in Limited Edition Ultra High Definition (UHD) for the first time and on Limited Edition Blu-ray, with a raft of extras including a set of 4 postcards, a poster and a perfect bound book.
In 1978, Richard Adams’ timeless novel Watership Down was brought brilliantly to the screen in the celebrated film adaptation directed by Martin Rosen. A building project threatens the tranquil lives of the wildlife residing in a British woodland area, not least the rabbits who reside in one of the local warrens. Littlest rabbit Fiver, who has a sixth sense, has distressing visions of destruction lying ahead and persuades a small group to join him on what is to be a challenging journey to safety in the halcyon location of Watership Down.
Although hard-hitting in its depiction of survival and conflict, the film is a work of great beauty with an extraordinary voice cast who elevate the work to the highest level. Some of Britain’s best-known actors including John Hurt, Richard Briers, Ralph Richardson, Denholm Elliott, Roy Kinnear and Hannah Gordon, brought the rabbits to life and made them eternally memorable.
Not only was the film a huge success, but the song ‘Bright Eyes’, written especially by Mike Batt and recorded by Art Garfunkel, was a smash hit on release. It was No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart for six weeks and was Britain’s biggest-selling single of 1979.
This thrilling tale of adventure, courage and resilience, one of the greatest of British animations, will continue to enthral new and old audiences alike, and is unmissable on the big or small screen this autumn in these wonderful 2024 presentations.
A brand-new trailer will be released later this summer.