“Running Wild: Return To The River" - The Breathtaking Giant Screen Film Follows The Epic Return Of Pacific Salmon And The Wildlife, People And Ecosystems Connected To Their Remarkable Journey

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 opened last week (June 12th, 2026) at the AutoNation® IMAX® Theater, located at the Museum of Discovery and Science, 401 Southwest Second Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312. For dates and showtimes, visit: https://mods.org/showtimes. Tickets are available at the Museum box office upon arrival.

About Mission Partners Entertainment Group

Denver-based Mission Partners Entertainment Group (MPEG) executive produced Wings Over Water (2022) narrated by Michael Keaton, a joint venture between the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, and the National Audubon Society. MPEG and McGraw will soon debut Secrets of Great Salt Lake narrated by Mike Rowe. Supported by Ducks Unlimited and Uline, the film will reach global audiences and serve as the anchor title at Utah’s new giant screen theater on Antelope Island State Park. With more films in the pipeline and access to more than 10,000 schools, MPEG is sparking the next generation of conservation leaders.

About Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation

The film is executive produced by Charlie Potter, President & CEO of the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation. The Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation, established in 1962, is a Non-Profit Organization whose mission is “to drive innovation and entrepreneurial thought in conservation.” McGraw is led by a senior executive team with deep ties to the communications, media and conservation industry. Its network includes Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists, award-winning news executives and leaders from across the conservation arena. It is held in the highest esteem for its research work, bringing about economic efficiency in conservation and elevating the awareness of key conservation issues. For more information, visit: https://mcgraw.org.

About Wild Salmon Center

Wild Salmon Center works to protect the world’s Salmon strongholds — wild rivers where salmon still thrive. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Wild Salmon Center partners with local communities, Indigenous groups, scientists, businesses, governments and conservation organizations to safeguard wild salmon, steelhead, char, trout and the ecosystems on which they depend across the North Pacific.