Synopsis

In 1967, brothers Marty, Mark, and Marshall Stouffer dream of becoming wildlife filmmakers. After obtaining a camera, they leave their Arkansas home for a cross-country journey, hoping to capture America's wild animals on film. Their adventure brings close encounters with dangerous creatures, tests their courage and brotherly bond, and lays the foundation for their future careers as nature documentarians.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film is based on the early lives of brothers Marty, Mark, and Marshall Stouffer, who later became associated with the PBS wildlife series "Wild America."
• The story is set in 1967, but the use of Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild" is historically anachronistic because the song was released in 1968.
• Actual wildlife footage from the 1982 television series "Wild America" appears during the end credits.
• Several scenes featuring animals were carefully staged with trainers. The owl, named Leona, was filmed both in live-action sequences and against a blue screen for later compositing.
• The Stouffer family's vehicle is a 1957 GMC Suburban.
• Filming took place in and around Fort Smith, Arkansas, the Stouffer brothers' real hometown.
• Released theatrically in the United States on July 2, 1997, the film earned approximately $7.3 million domestically.