FEBRUARY 2024:
![Directed by Elizabeth Banks, written by Jimmy Warden, and produced by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Aditya Sood, Elizabeth Banks, Max Handelman, and Brian Duffield. Starring Keri Russell, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Christian Convery, Alden Ehrenreich, Brooklynn Prince, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Margo Martindale, and Ray Liotta, Cinematography by John Guleserian, Edited by Joel Negron, Music by Mark Mothersbaugh. Production companies: Lord Miller Productions, Brownstone Productions, Jurassic Party Productions. Distributed by Universal Pictures. (2023)](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Cocaine-Bear.jpeg?resize=525%2C768&ssl=1)
A Wild Ride into a Bear Addiction…
Cocaine Bear, the 2023 comedy horror film, directed by Elizabeth Banks and written by Jimmy Warden, stands as a testament to the power of imagination and the sheer absurdity of real-life events. Loosely inspired by the infamous tale of the “Cocaine Bear,“ the film takes viewers on a wild and unpredictable journey filled with laughter, thrills, and a healthy dose of horror. With a star-studded cast led by Keri Russell, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Alden Ehrenreich, and Ray Liotta, Cocaine Bear promises to be a cinematic experience unlike any other.
![Directed by Elizabeth Banks, written by Jimmy Warden, and produced by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Aditya Sood, Elizabeth Banks, Max Handelman, and Brian Duffield. Starring Keri Russell, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Christian Convery, Alden Ehrenreich, Brooklynn Prince, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Margo Martindale, and Ray Liotta, Cinematography by John Guleserian, Edited by Joel Negron, Music by Mark Mothersbaugh. Production companies: Lord Miller Productions, Brownstone Productions, Jurassic Party Productions. Distributed by Universal Pictures. (2023)](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Cocaine-Bear-Title-Card-1024x442.png?ssl=1)
![Elizabeth Banks in a profile piece on directing for Variety Magazine in 2023. Photo Credit: Variety Magazine](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elizabeth-Banks-Variety--1024x576.webp?ssl=1)
![Cocaine Bear, also known as Pablo Eskobear (sometimes spelled Escobear) or Cokey the Bear, was a 175-pound (79-kilogram) American black bear that fatally overdosed on cocaine in 1985. The cocaine had been dropped by a group of Colombian drug smugglers in the wilderness in Tennessee, United States. The bear was found dead in northern Georgia and was stuffed and displayed at a mall in Kentucky. It inspired the 2023 comedy thriller film Cocaine Bear, as well as the 2023 documentary film Cocaine Bear: The True Story.](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Cocaine-Bear-1024x576.webp?ssl=1)
![Jimmy Warden attends the Los Angeles premiere of Universal Pictures' "Cocaine Bear" at Regal LA Live on February 21, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Kayla Oaddams/WireImage](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Jimmy-Warden-.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Keri Russell in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Kari-Russell-Cocaine-Bear-1024x577.webp?ssl=1)
![O'Shea Jackson Jr. in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OShea-Jackson-Jr-1024x604.png?ssl=1)
![Alden Ehrenreich in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Alden-Ehrenreich-1024x661.png?ssl=1)
![O'Shea Jackson Jr., Alden Ehrenreich, Ayoola Smart, and Ray Liotta in a scene from 'Cocaine Bear' (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Ray-Liotta-in-Cocaine-Bear-2023-1024x682.webp?ssl=1)
![A scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Cocaine-Bear--1024x573.jpeg?ssl=1)
Plot Summary:
Set against the backdrop of the picturesque the Chattahoochee–Oconee National Forest in northern Georgia, Cocaine Bear follows the misadventures of a group of eclectic characters whose paths intersect in the most unexpected of ways. When a bumbling drug smuggler Andrew Thornton II (played by Matthew Rhys) parachutes from his plane and dies, after throwing out a bag of cargo into the remote wilderness, he unwittingly sets off a chain of events that will change the lives of everyone involved.
![Christian Convery, and Brooklynn Prince in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-3.13.00%E2%80%AFPM-1024x492.png?ssl=1)
![Keri Russell, Margo Martindale, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-2.11.22%E2%80%AFAM-1024x686.png?ssl=1)
![O'Shea Jackson Jr. in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-2.44.19%E2%80%AFAM-1024x596.png?ssl=1)
![Alden Ehrenreich in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-2.30.57%E2%80%AFAM-1024x703.png?ssl=1)
![A scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/American-Black-Bear-Cociane-Bear-1024x485.png?ssl=1)
![Matthew Rhys in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-29-at-12.05.02%E2%80%AFAM-1024x481.png?ssl=1)
![A scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Plane-Scene-1024x539.png?ssl=1)
![In 1985, drug smuggler Andrew C. Thornton II drops a shipment of cocaine from his plane. He attempts to parachute out with a drug-filled duffel bag, but knocks himself unconscious on the doorframe, causing him to fall to his death. His body lands in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he is identified by Bob, a local detective. He concludes that the cocaine is likely from St. Louis drug kingpin Syd White, and the remainder is missing. Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Andrew-Thorton-II-Dead--1024x795.png?ssl=1)
His cargo—a bag containing a staggering amount of cocaine—ends up in the possession of a curious and hungry black bear. As the bear ingests the drugs, its behavior becomes increasingly erratic, leading to a series of bizarre and often hilarious encounters with the local townsfolk. Meanwhile, a determined mother Sari, (played by Keri Russell) is looking for her daughter Dee Dee, (played by Brooklynn Prince) who skipped school, and sets out to find her in the very same forest. With the help of her resourceful park ranger named Liz (played by Margo Martindale) she finds her daughter’s friend Henry (played by Christian Convery) up tree hiding from a bear, who has been attacking them. Fixer Daveed (played by O’Shea Jackson Jr.) is sent by drug kingpin Syd White (played by Ray Liotta) to find the cocaine he never received, Syd asks Daveed to take along his son (played by Alden Ehrenreich) who is depressed that his wife died, the two head to the Georgia forest in search of their cargo, only be met by a raging drug fueled bear.
![A scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Cociane-Bear-Cocaine-1024x469.png?ssl=1)
![A scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Cocaine-Bear-Ingests-Cocaine-1024x486.png?ssl=1)
![Keri Russell in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Keri-Russell-2-1024x651.png?ssl=1)
![Christian Convery, and Brooklynn Prince in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-3.13.18%E2%80%AFPM-1024x582.png?ssl=1)
![Margo Martindale, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-6.13.13%E2%80%AFPM-1024x418.png?ssl=1)
![Christian Convery in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-3.27.53%E2%80%AFPM-1024x470.png?ssl=1)
![O'Shea Jackson Jr. in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-2.41.03%E2%80%AFAM-1024x627.png?ssl=1)
![Ray Liotta in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-2.29.46%E2%80%AFAM-1024x534.png?ssl=1)
![Alden Ehrenreich in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-2.30.57%E2%80%AFAM-1024x703.png?ssl=1)
![Alden Ehrenreich, in Aaron Holliday in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-11.33.31%E2%80%AFPM-1024x469.png?ssl=1)
![Isiah Whitlock Jr., Alden Ehrenreich, and Aaron Holliday in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-3.01.39%E2%80%AFPM-1024x472.png?ssl=1)
Themes and Symbolism:
At its core, Cocaine Bear is a film about the consequences of our actions and the chaos that ensues when humanity’s greed collides with the natural world. Through its larger-than-life characters and outlandish plot twists, the film explores themes of redemption, survival, and the inherent absurdity of life itself. The titular bear serves as a symbol of the havoc wreaked by human folly, as well as a reminder of the resilience of nature in the face of adversity. Its journey from unwitting participant to unwitting hero mirrors the arc of many of the film’s human characters, who must confront their own flaws and limitations in order to find redemption.
![Signage at the Los Angeles premiere of Universal Pictures' "Cocaine Bear" at Regal LA Live on February 21, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Araya Doheny/FilmMagic](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Cocaine-Bear-Premiere.jpeg?resize=525%2C350&ssl=1)
Character Dynamics:
One of the film’s greatest strengths lies in its ensemble cast, each member bringing their own unique quirks and vulnerabilities to the table. Keri Russell shines as the no-nonsense mother determined to protect her child at all costs, while Alden Ehrenreich delivers a comedic tour de force as the depressed drug smuggler’s son whose confronted by a coke addicted bear. Brooklynn Prince brings heart and innocence to the role of Russell’s daughter, serving as both a moral compass and a source of comic relief. O’Shea Jackson Jr. injects a healthy dose of realism and wit into the proceedings, while Margo Martindale as the park ranger steals every scene she’s in with her irreverent humor and maternal wisdom.
![Keri Russell, Margo Martindale, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-2.06.40%E2%80%AFAM-1024x578.png?ssl=1)
![Keri Russell, Christian Convery, and Brooklynn Prince in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-3.14.02%E2%80%AFPM-1024x677.png?ssl=1)
![Alden Ehrenreich in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Aldin-Enrich-2-1024x643.png?ssl=1)
![Alden Ehrenreich, Aaron Holliday, O'Shea Jackson Jr. in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-2.33.33%E2%80%AFAM-1024x692.png?ssl=1)
![Brooklynn Prince in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-3.16.17%E2%80%AFPM-1024x613.png?ssl=1)
![Brooklynn Prince, and Keri Russell in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-3.12.40%E2%80%AFPM-1024x726.png?ssl=1)
![Aaron Holliday, O'Shea Jackson Jr. in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-2.44.45%E2%80%AFAM-1024x539.png?ssl=1)
![O'Shea Jackson Jr. in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OShea-Jackson-Jr-1024x604.png?ssl=1)
![Keri Russell, Margo Martindale, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-3.35.55%E2%80%AFPM-1024x736.png?ssl=1)
![Margo Martindale in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-3.35.20%E2%80%AFPM-1024x682.png?ssl=1)
![Margo Martindale in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-3.36.03%E2%80%AFPM-1024x654.png?ssl=1)
Directorial Vision and Cinematography:
Under the deft direction of Elizabeth Banks, Cocaine Bear strikes a delicate balance between humor and horror, never shying away from the darker elements of its premise while still maintaining a sense of irreverent fun. From the lush landscapes of the Appalachian wilderness to a bear gone mad, the film’s cinematography captures the beauty and the chaos of its setting with equal precision. Banks’s keen eye for visual storytelling is on full display here, as she infuses each frame with a sense of energy and vitality that propels the narrative forward. Whether it’s a pulse-pounding bear chase sequence through the woods or a quiet moment of reflection between a parent and a child, every scene feels meticulously crafted to maximize its comedic and emotional impact.
![Elizabeth Banks attends the Los Angeles premiere of Universal Pictures' "Cocaine Bear" at Regal LA Live on February 21, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Elizabeth-Banks-Cocaine-Bear.jpeg?ssl=1)
![(From Left) Ray Liotta and Elizabeth Banks on the set of Cocaine Bear. (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Elizabeth-Banks-and-Ray-Liotta-on-set-of-Cocaine-Bear.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Elizabeth Banks in a profile piece on directing for Variety Magazine in 2023. Photo Credit: Variety Magazine](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Variety-Elizabeth-Banks-.webp?ssl=1)
![(L-R) Elizabeth Banks and Cocaine Bear speak onstage during the 95th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Elizabeth-Banks-Oscars.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Christian Convery, and Brooklynn Prince in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-3.28.21%E2%80%AFPM-1024x514.png?ssl=1)
![Kristofer Hivju as Olaf in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-6.22.23%E2%80%AFPM-1024x475.png?ssl=1)
![A scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/American-Black-Bear-Cociane-Bear-1024x485.png?ssl=1)
![Kristofer Hivju as Olaf in a scene from "Cocaine Bear" (2023) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-6.22.49%E2%80%AFPM-1024x511.png?ssl=1)
Humor and Horror:
As a comedy horror film, Cocaine Bear revels in the absurdity of its premise while still delivering plenty of genuine scares. From slapstick comedy to dark satire, the film runs the gamut of comedic styles, keeping audiences guessing at every turn.Yet beneath the laughs lies a genuine sense of tension and unease, as the threat of the bear—and the cocaine cargo it ingested—lurks just beyond the edge of the frame. By seamlessly blending elements of comedy and horror, the film creates a truly immersive experience that will appeal to fans of both genres.
![(L-R) Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Brian Duffield, Aditya Sood, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Alden Ehrenreich, Keri Russell, Brooklynn Prince, Max Handelman, Elizabeth Banks, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Jimmy Warden, Aaron Holliday and Kahyun Kim attend the Los Angeles premiere of Universal Pictures' "Cocaine Bear" at Regal LA Live on February 21, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Cocaine-Bear-Cast.jpeg?resize=525%2C350&ssl=1)
Cocaine Bear is a wild and unpredictable ride that defies expectations at every turn. With its stellar cast, sharp writing, and inspired direction, it stands as a testament to the power of imagination and the enduring appeal of the comedy horror genre. By weaving together elements of humor, horror, and heartfelt emotion, the film offers something for everyone, whether you’re a die-hard horror fan or just looking for a good laugh. Equal parts funny and scare-provoking, Cocaine Bear is sure to leave a lasting impression on audiences for years to come. So, grab your popcorn, buckle up, and prepare for a cinematic experience unlike any other. Because when it comes to Cocaine Bear, anything can happen—and usually does.
![Directed by Elizabeth Banks, written by Jimmy Warden, and produced by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Aditya Sood, Elizabeth Banks, Max Handelman, and Brian Duffield. Starring Keri Russell, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Christian Convery, Alden Ehrenreich, Brooklynn Prince, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Margo Martindale, and Ray Liotta, Cinematography by John Guleserian, Edited by Joel Negron, Music by Mark Mothersbaugh. Production companies: Lord Miller Productions, Brownstone Productions, Jurassic Party Productions. Distributed by Universal Pictures. (2023)e](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Cocaine-Bear-Header-.png?resize=525%2C353&ssl=1)
Cocaine Bear is available now on Amazon Prime Video…
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