The Seahorse (1934): cast, story & where to watch
1934 · Film · ★ 6.5
Released in 1934, The Seahorse is a documentary film directed by Jean Painlevé, running about 15 minutes.
What it’s about. Examines the sea horse, the only fish that swims upright. We watch it use its prehensile tail to wrap around plants and other sea horses. A frontal bulge houses organs including an air ballast. Three fins propel this fish. We see a female place her eggs in a male's pouch where they are fertilized and nurtured until birth in violent contractions. Inside the pouch are nurturing blood vessels. We then follow the growth of an embryo, greatly magnified: we examine its heart beating and its dorsal fin moving. Young sea horses attach themselves to each other. The film ends with images of many sea horses moving on the ocean floor, superimposed on a horse race.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.5/10, The Seahorse has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Seahorse page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Seahorse tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Seahorse (1934)?
- In US, The Seahorse is available to stream on Criterion Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Seahorse worth watching?
- The Seahorse holds an audience score of 6.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy documentary. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.