Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World

Play trailer

2:37

Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World

Jul 2026

1h 31m

Documentary

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

31 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

If poetry had a pop icon, Mary Oliver would be it. Celebrated best-selling poet, Pulitzer Prize-winner, lover of dogs and long walks in the woods, openly queer but intensely private, Oliver was America's unlikely contemporary mystic, stalking the ponds and forests of Cape Cod for nearly fifty years in order to open herself -- and her readers -- to the known and unknowable world. From a lonely childhood to literary fame, Oliver's life was shaped by devotion to nature, paying attention, and the long journey toward learning to love and to be loved. Her poems inspire liberals and conservatives, atheists and believers, naturalists and urbanites, speaking directly to contemporary anxieties about attention, presence, and the human relationship with the natural world -- issues that feel especially pressing in an era of climate crisis, digital distraction, and social fragmentation. Featuring interviews with her close friends, including John Waters, never-before-seen personal photos, notebooks, and correspondence from her archive, and recitations of her work by Stephen Colbert, Lucy Dacus, Steve Buscemi, and Oprah Winfrey, Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World considers the poet's long lifetime of work in context, capturing the uniqueness of her world and the natural beauty that inspired her.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Ty Burr

Ty Burr's Watch List (Substack)

Aug 21

2.5/4

Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World does its subject a disservice by hardly glancing at this other Mary Oliver – the one who stares you down from a well-known author's photograph...

Go to Full Review

Odie Henderson

Boston Globe

Jul 18

3.5/4

Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World" is a documentary about a great poet that feels like a great poem.

Go to Full Review

Guy Lodge

Variety

Jul 14

Waters’ film tells Oliver’s life story from a respectful distance... Still, abetted by archival photos and video, a poignant picture emerges of a life lived stringently on Oliver’s own terms.

Go to Full Review

Monique Jones

AWFJ.org

Aug 11

Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World is a must-watch for poetry fans and Mary Oliver superfans.

Go to Full Review

Andrew Parker

The Gate

Jul 25

6/10

Waters breezes by some of the more interesting and tantalizing stuff, but few films offer such a deep appreciation for the art, function, and meaning of poetry that this one does.

Go to Full Review

Kim Hughes

Original Cin

Jul 25

B+

Sasha Waters’ lovely, understated film is a fitting tribute to a singular talent with an compelling legacy.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Thomas W

@twintegrity Aug 8

Honest reflection of a poet of integrity. No frills with her beautify poetry woven inspirationally throughout the film

See more

Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 25

The worldwide gross is $293,679.00.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Sasha Waters

Director

Mary Oliver

Self

Helena Bonham Carter

Self

Steve Buscemi

Self

Stephen Colbert

Self

Lucy Dacus

Self

I Know Catherine, the Log Lady

100%

%

I Know Catherine, the Log Lady

Watchlist

TRAILER

for I Know Catherine, the Log Lady

This Ordinary Thing

%

%

This Ordinary Thing

Watchlist

TRAILER

for This Ordinary Thing

Life After

97%

%

Life After

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Life After

With Hasan in Gaza

100%

%

With Hasan in Gaza

Watchlist

Flannery

74%

100%

Flannery

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Flannery

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World: Trailer 1

2:37

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

If poetry had a pop icon, Mary Oliver would be it. Celebrated best-selling poet, Pulitzer Prize-winner, lover of dogs and long walks in the woods, openly queer but intensely private, Oliver was America's unlikely contemporary mystic, stalking the ponds and forests of Cape Cod for nearly fifty years in order to open herself -- and her readers -- to the known and unknowable world. From a lonely childhood to literary fame, Oliver's life was shaped by devotion to nature, paying attention, and the long journey toward learning to love and to be loved. Her poems inspire liberals and conservatives, atheists and believers, naturalists and urbanites, speaking directly to contemporary anxieties about attention, presence, and the human relationship with the natural world -- issues that feel especially pressing in an era of climate crisis, digital distraction, and social fragmentation. Featuring interviews with her close friends, including John Waters, never-before-seen personal photos, notebooks, and correspondence from her archive, and recitations of her work by Stephen Colbert, Lucy Dacus, Steve Buscemi, and Oprah Winfrey, Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World considers the poet's long lifetime of work in context, capturing the uniqueness of her world and the natural beauty that inspired her.

Director: Sasha Waters
Producer: Sasha Waters
Distributor: Kino Lorber
Production Co: American Masters Pictures
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 3, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 28, 2026
Box Office (Gross USA): $619.3K
Runtime: 1h 31m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings