Brookfield Zoo Chicago and its penguins to shine in movie premiere of “Christmas at the Zoo”

Brookfield Zoo Chicago will take a starring role in the holiday movie “Christmas at the Zoo,” premiering Tuesday, Nov. 10 on Tubi, according to an announcement by the zoo. Filmed on-location during a real Chicago winter, the movie blends romance, wildlife and conservation against a backdrop familiar to generations of visitors.

The film follows Alicia, an entrepreneur played by Brittany Underwood, as she works to secure funding for a new Humboldt penguin habitat, per the press release. Her business plans become more complicated when she falls for Shane, an animal care specialist played by Matt Cohen.

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A zoo with a role in the story

Unlike a production that uses the zoo only as scenery, the story makes Brookfield Zoo Chicago part of the plot. “What makes this film special is that Brookfield Zoo Chicago isn’t simply a backdrop; it’s part of the story,” said Julianne Olivo, the zoo’s director of public relations, according to the announcement.

About 150 animals representing at least 35 species appear in the film, along with more than 25 recognizable zoo locations, the zoo confirmed. Scenes include the Holiday Magic light festival and encounters involving reindeer, polar bears, and penguins.

According to Brookfield Zoo Chicago, Holiday Magic will return with more than 3.5 million lights spread across the zoo’s 235-acre campus. The movie offers local viewers a preview of the seasonal event while introducing audiences elsewhere to the zoo’s year-round wildlife programs.

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Penguins anchor conservation message

Humboldt penguins are central to both the film and the zoo’s conservation work. The species, native to the coasts of Peru and Chile, is considered vulnerable and faces threats linked to El Niño events, avian influenza, pollution, and changing fishing practices, the zoo stated.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago works with the Punta San Juan Program to study those threats. Cohen said time spent with the zoo’s animal care team changed his view of conservation.

The production worked with animal care and welfare experts and was accredited through the American Humane Society’s “No Animals Were Harmed” program. Director Danny Buday led the film, produced by Illinois-based Very Merry Entertainment.

“Christmas at the Zoo” will stream free on Tubi beginning Tuesday, Nov. 10. It will also be available to rent or buy through Apple TV and Prime Video. Watch the trailer here.