Narrated by Academy Award® nominee Liam Neeson, the breathtaking giant screen film follows the epic return of Pacific salmon and the wildlife, people and ecosystems connected to their remarkable journey.
The Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS) invites audiences to experience Running Wild: Return to the River, opening June 12 at the AutoNation® IMAX® Theater. Narrated by Academy Award® nominee Liam Neeson, the giant screen film immerses audiences in one of nature’s most compelling sagas: the incredible life cycle of Pacific salmon and the vibrant ecosystems sustained by their seasonal return.
Filmed for the giant screen, Running Wild: Return to the River transports guests from rushing rivers and forested shorelines to ocean habitats where salmon help support an extraordinary web of life. With sweeping landscapes, close-up wildlife encounters and powerful storytelling, the film brings viewers face-to-face with the beauty, drama and importance of one of nature’s great migrations.
“Running Wild: Return to the River beautifully reflects MODS’ mission of connecting people to inspiring science through a powerful story of resilience, migration and the deep interdependence of life across land and sea,” said Joseph P. Cox, president and CEO of MODS. “On the giant screen, guests will experience the extraordinary journey of Pacific salmon and discover how migration, food webs, habitats and conservation are deeply connected. The film transforms complex science into an unforgettable cinematic experience, helping families, students and lifelong learners understand how one species can shape and sustain an entire ecosystem and why protecting the natural world matters.”
More than a migration story, Running Wild: Return to the River reveals how Pacific salmon serve as a lifeline for entire ecosystems. Their epic return to the streams where they began helps sustain wildlife across land and sea, from grizzly bears, wolves and eagles along the rivers’ edge to sea lions and orcas that rely on their ocean bounty.
Directed by award-winning filmmaker and giant screen veteran Myles Connolly, Running Wild: Return to the River combines cinematic storytelling with real-world conservation impact. The film is presented by Mission Partners Entertainment Group and Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation in partnership with Wild Salmon Center, whose conservation expertise helps ground the film’s story in the importance of protecting wild salmon, strong rivers and the ecosystems that depend on clean, flowing water.
Opening in time for summer, the film offers families, campers, students and nature lovers an inspiring way to explore ecology, animal behavior, conservation and the interconnected systems that support life on Earth. Through stunning cinematography and moving storytelling, audiences will witness the remarkable endurance of wild salmon and the iconic wildlife connected to their journey while discovering how protecting one part of nature can help keep an entire ecosystem in balance.
Running Wild: Return to the River is 40 minutes and opens June 12 at the AutoNation® IMAX® Theater, located at the Museum of Discovery and Science, 401 SW Second Street in Fort Lauderdale. For dates and showtimes, visit mods.org/showtimes. Tickets are available at the Museum box office upon arrival.
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Photos courtesy of © 2026 Mission Partners Entertainment Group.
This giant brown bear, a resident of Katmai National Park living near Funnel Creek, visits in late summer and fall when schools of sockeye salmon are making their way home. Brown bears can gain up to 500 pounds in just a few months thanks to these salmon.
Bald eagles are just one of the more than 100 species that rely on wild salmon. Filmed in British Columbia, this eagle caught a fish so large he couldn’t take off, skimming it across the water as he heads home to feed his family.
Funnel Creek in Katmai National Park may be one of the best places to see brown bears in action. It takes a long floatplane ride to get there, but the reward is seeing hundreds of bears in the wild.
Released: June 12, 2026
