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The Big Empty

Play trailer Poster for The Big Empty R Released May 16, 2003 1h 34m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
67% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 48% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Struggling actor John Person (Jon Favreau) agrees to drive a blue suitcase from Los Angeles to the small town of Baker, Calif., and hand it over to a mysterious cowboy in return for having his credit card debt of $27,000 paid off. Upon his arrival, John can't find the cowboy but receives an ominously head-shaped package he's supposed to hang onto. While waiting, John gets close to Ruthie (Rachael Leigh Cook), whose psychotic boyfriend, Randy (Adam Beach), keeps threatening to kill him.
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The Big Empty

Critics Reviews

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Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times The Big Empty is much more a romantic fable than Swingers, the singles comedy that established Favreau but has a similarly jovial, unpretentious charm. Rated: 3/5 Nov 20, 2003 Full Review Christopher Null Filmcritic.com If any film is destined to find a cult audience on DVD, it's The Big Empty. Rated: 3/5 May 2, 2004 Full Review Todd Gilchrist FilmStew.com Thanks to Favreau, even the film's most ridiculous detours carry a certain plausibility; he shines his indignities on and perseveres, and we can't help but sympathize. Dec 3, 2003 Full Review Josh Bell Las Vegas Weekly Anderson squanders the setting's potential and a cast of indie-movie all-stars in his muddled and weak feature. Rated: 2/5 Nov 21, 2003 Full Review Chuck Wilson L.A. Weekly More amiable than laugh-out-loud funny. Nov 20, 2003 Full Review Carlo Cavagna AboutFilm.com Some may praise The Big Empty as a poor man's David Lynch-meets-The X-Files, but it's more of a starving homeless man's David Lynch-meets-The X-Files. Rated: F Nov 15, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jim D An underrated gem featuring a stellar cast. Equal parts intrigue, comedy and sci-fi weirdness. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member If you are led to this movie, it is a sign. 1111 <3 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member A quirky dark comedy that has slightly sinister fun with a bunch of familiar memes from SF and suspense thrillers. Well written; well acted; and well made. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member A quirky comedy-thriller with decidedly noir feel. It sounds like a bizarre combination but it works. Unfortunately the movie tries to be a bit too clever, and some the story's potential doesn't quite materialize. It could have been much more, but settles for a slight and easily forgettable comedy. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Interesting ride to an uninteresting destination. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member there was something in this movie, although it could be done in a better way! was nice to see Fasier actor there!:) Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Big Empty

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Cast & Crew

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Steve Anderson

Director

Jon Favreau

John Person

Joey Lauren Adams

Grace

Bud Cort

Neely

Jon Gries

Elron

Daryl Hannah

Stella

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The Big Empty

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Movie Info

Synopsis Struggling actor John Person (Jon Favreau) agrees to drive a blue suitcase from Los Angeles to the small town of Baker, Calif., and hand it over to a mysterious cowboy in return for having his credit card debt of $27,000 paid off. Upon his arrival, John can't find the cowboy but receives an ominously head-shaped package he's supposed to hang onto. While waiting, John gets close to Ruthie (Rachael Leigh Cook), whose psychotic boyfriend, Randy (Adam Beach), keeps threatening to kill him.
Director
Steve Anderson
Producer
Doug Mankoff, Gregg L. Daniel, Andrew Spaulding, Keith Resnick
Screenwriter
Steve Anderson
Production Co
Artisan Entertainment
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 16, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 8, 2016
Runtime
1h 34m
Sound Mix
Surround
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