Year: 1976
Runtime: 91 min
Language: English
Director: William Girdler
A vengeful grizzly bear embarks on a terrifying rampage after an outdoorsman’s carelessness threatens her cubs. When the man’s young son is taken hostage, he must confront the full extent of the bear's fury. A desperate fight for survival ensues as the outdoorsman races against time to rescue his son and face the consequences of his actions.
Warning: spoilers below!
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Grizzly (1976), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
The movie begins with helicopter pilot and guide Don Stober flying guests high above the lush landscapes of a vast National Park. He explains that the forest remains a pristine reflection of its ancient past, untouched since the times of the Native Americans.
As the story unfolds, two female hikers are in the midst of breaking down their camp when tragedy strikes: one is viciously attacked and killed by a bear. The surviving hiker finds refuge in a nearby cabin, but her safety is short-lived when the bear breaching the walls to get to her. Meanwhile, the Park’s Chief Ranger, Michael Kelly, along with photographer Allison Corwin, who is also the daughter of the park’s restaurant owner, lead a search for the two women. Their grim discovery of the first woman’s disfigured remains inside the cabin leaves them reeling.
In a hospital, a doctor confirms to Kelly that both women were fatalities of a bear attack. Charley Kittridge, the Park Supervisor, swiftly places blame on Kelly, insisting that he and Naturalist Arthur Scott failed to relocate bears from the park ahead of the tourist season. A heated exchange erupts between them regarding the park’s closure; ultimately, they opt to move all hikers away from the mountains while permitting campers to stay in the lower regions. When confronted, Scott reassures them that all bears are accounted for, implying that the predator in question is not native to the area.
However, danger escalates when a female ranger meets a brutal end during a swim near a waterfall, prompting Kelly to enlist Stober’s help for aerial searches. High above the treetops, they spot a figure in the woods, only to uncover that it’s Scott, donning an animal skin in a desperate attempt to track the enormous bear. He warns them that they are dealing with a prehistoric grizzly bear that stands at least 15 feet tall. Skeptical at first, Kelly and Stober cannot dismiss the mounting evidence as further chaos ensues at a crowded campground where the vicious bear attacks and kills yet another woman.
As national media coverage escalates, Kittridge’s refusal to close the park initiates a troubling decision allowing amateur hunters into the wilderness. Kelly, Stober, and Scott express their disgust at this turn of events. Later, a lone hunter narrowly escapes an encounter with the bear, while a ranger stationed in a lookout tower falls victim to the creature’s relentless fury when it demolishes the structure.
With anger boiling between Kelly and Kittridge over the ongoing dangers, Scott makes the decision to track the bear alone. On the park’s edge, chaos erupts once more as a mother and her child are attacked; the mother perishes while the child endures horrifying injuries. This shocking event finally compels Kittridge to relent and allow Kelly to close the park along with a ban on hunting.
In a bid to capture the elusive bear, Stober and Kelly set a trap using a deer carcass. They chase after the beast only to realize they have been led into a trap themselves. Meanwhile, Scott uses his own strategy, dragging the carcass on horseback to lure the beast, but he unexpectedly faces the bear, which mauls his horse and leaves him unconscious. When Scott comes to, he finds himself partially buried, but the grizzly soon returns to finish the job.
The devastation deepens as Kelly and Stober discover Scott’s lifeless body. Driven by sorrow and determination, they return to the helicopter to search for the bear from the sky. Spotting it in a clearing, they land quickly, but the bear attacks their helicopter, throwing Stober away from the craft. In a desperate act of survival, Kelly retrieves a bazooka from the chopper and, just as the bear closes in, fires it at the creature, annihilating it instantly.
As the remnants of the grizzly burn, Kelly is left standing in a moment of quiet reflection, staring somberly at the loss of both the bear and his companion, Stober, who lies lifeless nearby.
Last Updated: October 25, 2024 at 12:22
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Relentless stories of humans pushed to the brink by a hostile natural world.If you enjoyed the high-stakes terror of Grizzly, this thread gathers movies with a similar feel: fast-paced, high-intensity thrillers about survival against a monstrous force of nature. Find more films featuring desperate characters facing animal attacks or wilderness perils in a tense, brutal struggle.
The narrative typically follows a linear escalation of threat, beginning with a human intrusion into the natural order that triggers a devastating response. The plot is driven by a series of violent encounters, forcing characters into a desperate final confrontation where survival comes at a steep, often tragic, cost.
Movies are grouped here for their shared high-intensity, tense mood and their focus on the primal theme of man vs. nature. They deliver a coherent experience of fast-paced, anxious survival horror with heavy emotional weight and often bittersweet or bleak conclusions.
Stories where a single mistake unleashes a chain of devastating, unavoidable retribution.For viewers who liked the narrative of consequences in Grizzly, this section features similar movies where a reckless act sparks a cycle of revenge. Explore stories with a heavy emotional weight, tense pacing, and bittersweet endings that emphasize the high cost of survival and the futility of the conflict.
The emotional journey follows a protagonist who must confront the devastating fallout of their own actions. The plot is a straightforward escalation of violence and loss, leading to a climax where the immediate threat is neutralized, but the victory is hollow, leaving characters to grapple with the somber aftermath.
These films share a specific narrative pattern and emotional mix: they begin with a fatal mistake, explore themes of revenge and parenthood, and maintain a tense, urgent pace towards a conclusion that feels bittersweet due to the heavy cost of survival. The mood is consistently anxious and grim.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Grizzly in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Grizzly is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Grizzly with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Grizzly. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Grizzly that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Grizzly: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
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