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What does the Patterson-Gimlin film show?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·3 answers·0·0 following
Most likely: a person in a fur costume, filmed by PattersonAhead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

Where it stands

Three answers have been proposed. A person in a fur costume, filmed by Patterson. leads, with evidence 4 for, 1 against: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible. Of the three narrower questions under it, none is answered yet.

Why it matters

It is the best-known image offered as evidence of Bigfoot⁠[1]. If it shows an unknown primate, it is a major discovery; if a costume, it is the most successful hoax in the field, and the methods used to test it apply to every later film.

Answers 3

Evidence: 4 for, 1 against
Most likely
A real, unknown hominoid (sasquatch).
Failed a test; not refuted outright
Evidence: 3 for, 1 against
Disputed
None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible

History

  1. Daegling & Schmitt: estimates of height and gait carry large uncertainties from the unknown frame rate, distance and lens.For: A person in a fur costume, filmed by Patterson.
  2. Long puts forward: a person in a fur costume, filmed by Patterson.
  3. Long: bob Heironimus says he wore the suit; Philip Morris says he sold Patterson a gorilla costume.For: A person in a fur costume, filmed by Patterson.
  4. Daegling: no specimen of the proposed animal exists.Against: A real, unknown hominoid (sasquatch).
  5. Meldrum puts forward: a real, unknown hominoid (sasquatch).
  6. Meldrum: meldrum and Krantz argue the figure's morphology and gait are not those of a costumed human.For: A real, unknown hominoid (sasquatch).
  7. Munns & Meldrum: surface features attributed to costume flaws occur in real ageing human and ape bodies.Against: A person in a fur costume, filmed by Patterson.
  8. Munns & Meldrum: munns and Meldrum find the film unaltered and sharp enough for analysis.For: A real, unknown hominoid (sasquatch).
  9. Munns & Meldrum: munns and Meldrum argue the surface anatomy matches real bodies rather than costume artefacts.For: A real, unknown hominoid (sasquatch).
  10. Munns: patterson's widow and son are reported to say they know or believe the film was hoaxed; the son reports…For: A person in a fur costume, filmed by Patterson.
  11. Asked on this site
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