Patterson-Gimlin film
"Fifty-three seconds that launched a legend"
Keys: Space play/pause · ←/→ 10s · F fullscreen · M mute · </> speed
About this film
Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin's sixteen-millimeter footage captures a tall, bipedal figure striding along a northern California creek bed in October 1967.
More about this film
About the production
Themes
Themes & topics
Historical background
Shot during a wave of American Bigfoot sightings in the 1960s, the reel circulated in documentaries, television specials, and debates about cryptozoology.
Why this film matters
Whether accepted as evidence or dismissed as hoax, the Patterson–Gimlin film became the most reproduced piece of alleged hominid footage.
Making of
Patterson had been planning a Bigfoot documentary; the famous encounter occurred during location filming with partner Bob Gimlin.
What critics said
Scientists generally regard the clip as inconclusive or staged; it remains central to any discussion of Bigfoot in media history.
Did you know?
- Running time approximately 59 seconds at 16 fps.
- Filmed near Bluff Creek, Humboldt County, California.
Film restoration
Multiple digital transfers exist; original camera negative history is disputed among researchers.
Where to watch
- Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Patterson%20Gimlin%20Bigfoot%20Film%20Unedited.webm