Elephants: Giants of the Desert, a larger-than-life 3D documentary film about a rare group of elephants in the Namib Desert trying to protect the newest member of their family, opened at the AutoNation® IMAX® Theater at the Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS) on April 4, 2025. Created by the filmmakers of popular giant screen titles Sea Lions: Life by A Whisker and Serengeti: Journey to the Heart of Africa, Elephants: Giants of the Desert brings the inspiring story of a resilient elephant family surviving against the odds in one of the harshest environments on Earth – Africa’s Namib Desert – to the giant screen for the very first time. 

“Long revered as symbols of strength, caring and wisdom, elephants are one of nature’s most inspiring examples of survival and adaptation,” said Joseph P. Cox, president and CEO of MODS. “Elephants: Giants of the Desert offers a rare glimpse into the family dynamics of this endangered species as they navigate the harsh conditions of Southwest Africa. We invite audiences of all ages to join us for this impactful story of environmental perseverance against all odds.” 

Filmed on location in the Namib, one of the oldest and largest deserts, the film provides unprecedented access to one of only two populations of desert elephants in the world, totaling close to 150 individuals compared to a historic population of 2,500-3,500 in the 18th century. Despite having significant needs for water, these elephants have somehow learned to thrive in this land of extremes. With a slow reproduction cycle of 3+ years and a high mortality rate due partly to the desert conditions, every calf becomes more than precious, and the desert elephants themselves seem to know it well, too. 

The film’s story is driven by Little Foot, a newborn calf, as she survives her perilous and most vulnerable first year despite the odds, helped by a fierce extended family of elephants. Audiences will follow Little Foot on an epic and at times whimsical journey, getting up close and personal with the largest land mammals on the planet as they care for the smallest member of the herd. Together the matriarchal herd of aunts and sisters will brave the desert’s elements and use some elephant superpowers, from finding underground aquifers to foreseeing sandstorms. Through the eyes of these elephants, audiences will also see the hidden side of an otherworldly and formidable landscape, where a cast of iconic animals including giraffes, monkeys and lions form a unique canvas of life. 

To capture the adventures of Little Foot on screen, the filmmaking crew including Paul Phelan, Tamatea Kohu and Cam Batten lived another kind of adventure behind the camera, lugging intricate production gear into the remote desert, and battling the elements despite being out of their natural habitat. Earning the trust of the elephants, especially around their little one, took patience and respect, for which the filmmakers were rewarded with a close look into the lives of these enigmatic yet endangered creatures. 

“I don’t think you can meet elephants and spend time with them without being profoundly affected or changed by them,” filmmaker Paul Phelan reflects. “This is really the final seconds of the last round for them. We need to give them a voice.” 

Elephants: Giants of the Desert is a family friendly movie filmed for Giant Screen and IMAX® theaters in native 3D, where state-of-the-art image and sound will immerse audiences in the unbelievable world of the elephants and their true story of family and survival.  

The AutoNation® IMAX® Theater at the Museum of Discovery and Science is located at 401 SW 2nd Street in Fort Lauderdale.