Latest news with #SharkWhisperer
Metro
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Netflix fans make 'amazing' movie global sensation in streaming and music charts
K-Pop fans have gone above and beyond to support an 'excellent' new Netflix movie, making it a huge success across music and streaming charts. Kpop Demon Hunters was released on the platform – as well as select US cinemas – on June 20, alongside the soundtrack. The animated flick follows girl group Huntr/x, made up of Rumi, Mira and Zoey, who also moonlight as demon hunters in a bid to save their beloved fans. The Golden singers find themselves going up against rival boy band, the Saja Boys, led by demon Jinu, who attempt to secretly steal the souls of the public. Arden Cho leads the voice cast as Rumi, withAhn Hyo-seop, May Hong and Ji-Young Yo also among the stars. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. Viewers have been left thrilled by the film, which has remained in the Netflix global charts for three weeks and is currently in the number two spot behind the Old Guard 2. It racked up more than 22.7million views and 37.8million hours watched in the last week alone, topping projects including Shark Whisperer, Plane, and the Trainwreck documentaries. Not only that but the soundtrack has managed to climb spots on the Billboard 200 charts in its third week, going from third to second. According to Billboard, it is the first soundtrack to debut in the top 10 and then see an increase following 2017's Guardians of the Galaxy volume 2: Awesome Mix volume 2. Kpop Demon Hunters currently boasts a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics, compared to a slightly lower 91% from fans, with many branding it 'beautiful', 'heartwarming' and an 'absolute masterpiece'. 'Excellent! Definitely one of my favorite movies of this year so far,' Jae C wrote. 'Great animation, superb songs and amazing story! I'm excited to see if they will make a sequel or not.' Anne G posted: 'It's a beautiful movie. The background story truly gives you goosebumps and makes it absolutely worth watching. It's a lovely project with exceptional animation; the songs are beautiful and fill you with incredible energy.' 'Such a fun and heartwarming movie! It had great songs and meaningful stories that really stood out. I really enjoyed watching it with my kids,' Lisa A agreed. As an anonymous reviewer added: 'I've never written a review but felt compelled to because this movie is a masterpiece! I laughed, I cried and now I'm totally obsessed with two fictional Kpop bands!' More Trending The official synopsis reads: 'When they aren't selling out stadiums, Kpop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey use their secret identities as badass demon hunters to protect their fans from an ever-present supernatural threat. 'Together, they must face their biggest enemy yet – an irresistible rival boy band of demons in disguise.' KPop Demon Hunters is available to stream on Netflix now. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Netflix's Adolescence breakout star Owen Cooper makes TV history with Emmy nomination MORE: Netflix's 'best show of all time' changed TV forever 9 years ago MORE: Horror director reveals why Amazon Prime series star was cut from new 90s reboot
Time Magazine
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time Magazine
'Shark Whisperer' Villainizes Native Hawaiians Like Me
I only found out about the new Netflix documentary Shark Whisperer because my social media notifications exploded. I had been tagged in posts by people calling me anti-shark and anti-environment. I was confused, until I watched the film. There I was, portrayed as the antagonist. I served as Chair of Hawaii's House Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources and Hawaiian Affairs, the body featured in the documentary for holding hearings on shark protection legislation. What the film doesn't show is that I was one the earliest and strongest champions of the bill that banned shark fishing. I called for a hearing when others hesitated. I moved the bill to a vote despite resistance from House leadership. I worked hard to secure the support needed to pass it. But in the documentary, Native Hawaiians like myself—lawmakers, kūpuna (elders), and local researchers—are reduced to obstacles. We are either tokenized or vilified, while a single outsider (in this case, social media activist Ocean Ramsey) is framed as the story's savior. This isn't just a misrepresentation. It reflects a deeper pattern in the way mainstream documentaries often frame their stories: who is cast as the subject, and who is cast as the object. Whose knowledge is celebrated, and whose is pushed aside. I grew up freediving off the coast of Maui, spearfishing for fish and heʻe (octopus), and encountering manō (sharks) regularly. These weren't adrenaline-fueled stunts. They were sacred moments. In our tradition, the shark is not something to be humanized or monetized. It is our aumākua, a family guardian. We do not stalk them, name them, or treat them like pets. We show respect. We let the manō come to us. Later as a young lawmaker representing my community, I began to see how depleted our waters had become. Fish stocks were declining, coral was dying, and ocean commercialization was pushing native species to the edge. I didn't take on shark protection because it was politically easy. It wasn't. Many commercial fishermen opposed it. Colleagues warned me not to push it. But I moved forward anyway because the ocean raised me. I owed it that much. Shark Whisperer claims to honor marine life, but it often confuses reverence with control. It reduces wild, sacred beings to characters in a human-centered story, mistaking closeness for connection. But in our culture, true respect often means keeping a sacred distance. Not everything powerful needs to be tamed. Every creature holds its own essence and role in the web of life, whether or not it reflects us. To honor them is to let go of the need to dominate or display, and simply let them be. That's what makes the film's focus on Ramsey so troubling. Not just because it elevates her as the lone protector of Hawaii's sharks, but because it blurs the line between advocacy and appropriation. In a recent Instagram post, Ramsey referenced the honor of receiving ʻuhi, a sacred tattoo ceremony traditionally reserved for Native Hawaiians. She described it as a 'symbol of her kuleana and heritage', claiming a cultural lineage that simply isn't hers. Beyond this, her academic background is unclear. Her origin is often vague. What is clear is that she lacks the trust of the local community. Many advocates believe her involvement actually delayed the passage of the shark protection law. Her presence casted doubt on the credibility of the broader coalition. And some supporters hesitated to show up, concerned their advocacy would be associated with what many saw as her disrespect toward Native Hawaiians and local fishers. And now, with an even larger platform, her example risks being imitated. And if others will mimic her tactics, our voices, the ones rooted in generations of lived experience and cultural knowledge, may be drowned out. The truth is, Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) ocean protectors have been doing this work for generations. They've done it with fewer followers, without sponsorships or stunts, and without turning our aumākua into content or cash. Our true Kahu Manō (shark whisperers) may never get a documentary deal or millions of views, but they carry the knowledge that sustains life in our waters and our communities. They are who we turn to. They are who we trust. Netflix had the opportunity to center their voices. Instead, it followed a formula weʻve seen many times before. In The White Helmets, Western filmmakers crafted a humanitarian narrative in Syria that largely erased local organizing and failed to contextualize the complex geopolitical forces involved. In The Rescue, Thai cave divers were spotlighted over the Indigenous local volunteers who led much of the initial effort. And in The Ivory Game, African anti-poaching leaders were overshadowed by European conservationists with camera crews and sponsorships. These films may have had good intentions, but they reflect a pattern: the white outsider as savior, the local or Indigenous people as backdrop or obstacle. This kind of framing doesn't just distort the truth, it disempowers communities. It reinforces a system in which those closest to the harm are furthest from the platform, and those furthest from the culture are handed the microphone. But it doesn't have to be that way. Good allyship begins with humility. It means showing up in solidarity, not for visibility. It means knowing when to speak, and when to step back and amplify those with lived experience and ancestral ties—especially when the work involves sacred beings, sacred practices, and sacred places. We're not asking to be centered in every story. We're asking not to be erased from our own. We are not the villain. And neither is the manō.
Times
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
I am the shark whisperer — but my critics call me ‘plain old crazy'
From the brilliant azure of the Pacific Ocean emerges a giant of the deep, its black eyes and pale belly gliding silently through the water. For most, the sight of an approaching great white shark would trigger terror and an urge to escape as quickly as possible. But Ocean Ramsey is not like most swimmers. She is a 'shark influencer', a former model who posts viral videos of her petting the terrifying maneaters to her 2.2 million followers on Instagram. Now her work is the subject of a Netflix documentary by an Oscar-winning director, titled Shark Whisperer, that has drawn withering denunciation from critics. In the eyes of her fans, she is a heroic campaigner for animal welfare. To wildlife experts, she is a shameless self-promoter who glamorises reckless risk-taking and puts lives in danger.
Mint
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
What to watch this week: ‘Jurassic World Rebirth', ‘Shark Whisperer' and more
Jurassic World Rebirth has been billed as 'reset', with no former cast members from the Spielberg originals and the increasingly dire sequels. David Koepp, writer of the first two films, has however been brought back to try and recreate some of the wonder. It'll be a tough ask, even with a cast that includes Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali and Jonathan Bailey. Directed by Gareth Edwards. (In theatres) A still from 'Shark Whisperer'. 'Sharks are the calling I have', says Ocean Ramsey, a marine conservationist, social media activist and free diver who swims with sharks to raise awareness about protecting them. She is documented by her partner Juan Oliphant, an underwater photographer. The cinematography is beautiful in this documentary, to see Ramsey moving alongside these majestic animals as if she is one of them. She can even identify some of them. With a huge social media following, she has her detractors who call it self-promotion.'It's not an adrenaline rush. It's a feeling of connection, where I feel the most myself,' she says. (Netflix) A still from 'The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case'. Another SonyLiv series based on modern Indian history. This one concerns the aftermath of the assassination of prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991. The cast includes Amit Sial, Bagavathi Perumal and Sahil Vaid. The best-known name is the director, Nagesh Kukunoor, an indie pioneer in the late 1990s with Hyderabad Blues and Rockford. (SonyLIV) A still from 'Moving'. A quietly devastating film about the implications of a couple's separation of their 11-year-old daughter, Renko (Tomoko Tabata). This 1993 feature is directed by Shinji Sōmai. Highly rated in Japan, Sōmai is steadily gaining a reputation in cinephile circles abroad for films like Typhoon Club, Sailor Suit and Machine Gun and this one. (MUBI) A still from 'Metro In Dino'. Anurag Basu returns to the anthology film for the first since 2007's Life In A Metro. The new film tells four intersecting stories set in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore. The ensemble cast includes Konkona Sen Sharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Saswata Chatterjee, Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta. (In theatres) A still from 'Companion'.
Axios
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
New movies and shows this week on Prime Video, Max and Netflix
Here's what's new on Prime Video, Max, Disney+, Paramount+ and Netflix. What we're watching: A new, star-studded action film, a documentary on a groundbreaking magazine and the sequel to 2020's "The Old Guard." " Heads of State" available now on Prime Video State of play: John Cena and Idris Elba play the leaders of the U.S. and U.K., respectively, in this buddy action comedy also starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Jack Quaid. " Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print" available now on Max Zoom in: This documentary explores the origin of the trailblazing "Ms." magazine and three of its most iconic cover stories. Available now " The Old Guard 2" available now on Netflix The intrigue: Academy award nominees Uma Thurman and Chiwetel Ejiofor star alongside Charlize Theron ("Andy") as her team of immortal warriors faces a new threat. Catch up quick: At the end of " The Old Guard," Andy's mortality mysteriously leaves her, Nile (played KiKi Layne) becomes immortal and joins the group, and Booker (played by Matthias Schoenaerts) is punished for his sins and exiled. Available now " Vibe Check" on Disney+ Elle Duncan, Andraya Carter and Chiney Ogwumike host this new women-led sports talk show. Available now " Shark Whisperer" and " All the Sharks" on Netflix "Shark Whisperer" follows the life and work of controversial free diver and conservationist Ocean Ramsey. Available now "All The Sharks" is a new competition series following four teams of experts, tasked with finding and photographing the most shark species for a $50,000 donation to their chosen marine charity. Available Friday What's next: More shark content will be swimming your way later this month. Discovery's Shark Week kicks off July 20. " Countdown: Taylor vs. Serrano" on Netflix Uma Thurman narrates this documentary following boxers Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano as they prepare for their third fight, which will air live on July 11. Available now " Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel" on Netflix This chapter in Netflix's "Trainwreck" series dives into the rise of fashion brand American Apparel and the self-inflicted undoing of its founder, Dov Charney. Available now " Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado" on Paramount+ Dora, Diego and their friends trek through the Amazonian jungle to find a wish-granting ancient treasure and keep it from falling into the wrong hands. Available now " The Sandman" Season 2 on Netflix This comic book adaption concludes with Volume 1 (six episodes) available now, followed by Volume 2 (five episodes) premiering July 24. " Tour de France: Unchained" Season 3 on Netflix The third and final season of this docuseries chronicles the action and behind the scenes drama of 2024 Tour de France. Available now
