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July 27, 2026Sources cited
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Cocaine Bear

Cocaine Bear is a 2023 American black comedy horror film directed by Elizabeth Banks and written by Jimmy Warden.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Cocaine Bear is a 2023 American black comedy horror film directed by Elizabeth Banks and written by Jimmy Warden. It is loosely inspired by the 1985 incident in which a black bear in Georgia ingested cocaine lost by a drug smuggler, but the film’s violent rampage plot is fictionalized.

Premise

The film follows a bear that ingests cocaine and unleashes chaos in a Georgia forest. Its premise takes a real wildlife-drug incident and turns it into a fictional horror-comedy plot.

Background and inspiration

The title refers to a real black bear found dead in Georgia in 1985 after ingesting cocaine dropped during a smuggling attempt. Reports and later coverage identify Andrew Thornton as the smuggler linked to the lost drugs.

Release

Cocaine Bear premiered in 2023 and received a wide theatrical release in the United States through Universal Pictures.

Historical accuracy

The film retains the basic idea of a bear encountering cocaine, but most of the on-screen action is fictional. Sources consistently note that the real incident did not involve the bear killing people.

Key facts

  • Cocaine Bear is a 2023 black comedy horror film directed by Elizabeth Banks and written by Jimmy Warden.
  • The film is loosely based on a real 1985 incident in which a black bear in Georgia ingested cocaine.
  • The movie greatly exaggerates the real event into a fictional killing spree.
  • The real bear died after ingesting cocaine; there is no evidence it attacked people.
  • The film received wide theatrical release through Universal Pictures in 2023.
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Canadian context

The film was distributed internationally and received coverage in Canadian entertainment media because of its unusual premise and cult-comedy appeal.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cocaine Bear based on a true story?
Yes, but only loosely. It draws inspiration from a 1985 incident in which a black bear in Georgia ingested cocaine, while the film’s main events are fictional.
Who directed Cocaine Bear?
Elizabeth Banks directed the film.
Who wrote Cocaine Bear?
Jimmy Warden wrote the screenplay.
What is the movie’s genre?
It is a black comedy horror film.
Did the real bear attack people?
No. Sources say the real bear died after ingesting cocaine, and there is no evidence it killed anyone.

References

  1. The New York Times — https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/01/arts/cocaine-bear-true-story.html
    Supports: The film’s premise, its fictionalized rampage plot, and the real 1985 bear-cocaine incident.
  2. USA Today — https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2023/02/22/cocaine-bear-movie-fact-check/11304907002/
    Supports: Andrew Thornton’s role and the historical background of the cocaine-smuggling incident.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14209916/
    Supports: Director, writer, release year, and the film’s inspiration.
  4. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/cocaine-bear-movie-review-2023
    Supports: The film being based on a real event and the basic setup of the story.
  5. BearWise — https://bearwise.org/the-cocaine-bear-what-really-happened-in-1985/
    Supports: The real bear’s overdose and the distinction between the real incident and the film.