Big Fish

Play trailer

Big Fish

PG-13

Released Jan 9, 2004

2h 5m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

220 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

When Edward Bloom (Albert Finney) becomes ill, his son, William (Billy Crudup), travels to be with him. William has a strained relationship with Edward because his father has always told exaggerated stories about his life, and William thinks he's never really told the truth. Even on his deathbed, Edward recounts fantastical anecdotes. When William, who is a journalist, starts to investigate his father's tales, he begins to understand the man and his penchant for storytelling.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

A charming father-and-son tale filled with typical Tim Burton flourishes, Big Fish is an impressive catch.

Read Critics Reviews

David Ansen

Newsweek

When it catches fire, this great-looking movie offers hilarious diversions. And as father and son struggle toward a hard-won reconciliation, Big Fish reveals its beating heart.

Mar 12, 2018

Full Review

Will Self

London Evening Standard

Big Fish really belongs to Albert Finney, who proves that when it comes to large performances there is no one who can quite match a British Shakespearean with good camera sense.

Jan 9, 2018

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Delightful, sad father-son story for teens and up.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 22, 2010

Full Review

Julian Singleton

Cinapse

With its unabashed love of Wilderian small-town Americana — and the signature Burton macabre elements lurking beneath it — Big Fish ranks among the best of Tim Burton’s filmography.

Jul 12, 2025

Full Review

Paul Klein

FILMHOUNDS Magazine

That melancholy mutes much of it so as the film goes to an idyllic town, a bank robbery, dances, and a circus, it never actually turns into something like Batman Returns or Beetlejuice

Rated: 4/5

Jul 4, 2024

Full Review

Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

Tim Burton's lone outstanding, heartfelt film of the last two decades may not seem like a natural fit with his horror-tinged oeuvre. But in some ways it's his most intimate, personal movie.

Rated: 4.5/5

Sep 20, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Ariel S

A whimsical, visually stunning journey through tall tales and family tension. While the storytelling is rich in imagination, the emotional payoff doesn’t fully land for everyone. A beautiful film, but it may leave some wishing for more depth behind the magic.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/28/25

Full Review

Its abe S

This movie was pleasantly good! Its not like groundbreaking or anything but had a cool story to it and had some powerful emotion to it! Ill give a 7.5/10

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/19/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Are you ****ing kidding me right now?

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/20/25

Full Review

Rhyan D

Tim Burton never disappoints. What a beautiful story about fathers and sons, and the importance of imagination and storytelling!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/12/25

Full Review

Fer S

Boring as hell. The plot is not interesting at all. 1 hour in and I wanted to quit so hard.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

04/16/25

Full Review

Donn A

Captivating! ☺️ Classic Burton with a stellar cast!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/10/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Tim Burton

Director

Ewan McGregor

Young Edward Bloom

Albert Finney

Edward Bloom

Billy Crudup

Will Bloom

Jessica Lange

Sandra Bloom

Helena Bonham Carter

Jenny

Big Fish: Official Clip - Gigantificationism

2:13

Big Fish: Official Clip - Leaving Spectre

2:13

Big Fish: Official Clip - The Story of My Life

2:13

Big Fish: Official Clip - Always Been a Fool

2:11

Big Fish: Official Clip - Field of Daffodils

2:13

Big Fish: Official Clip - Giant Ambition

2:13

Big Fish: Official Clip - The Witch's Eye

2:12

Big Fish: Official Clip - Time Stands Still

2:08

View more videos

The Deep End of the Ocean

42%

58%

The Deep End of the Ocean

Watchlist

My Life

44%

74%

My Life

Watchlist

TRAILER

for My Life

Rich in Love

69%

38%

Rich in Love

Watchlist

King of the Hill

91%

84%

King of the Hill

Watchlist

Illusion

36%

87%

Illusion

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

When Edward Bloom (Albert Finney) becomes ill, his son, William (Billy Crudup), travels to be with him. William has a strained relationship with Edward because his father has always told exaggerated stories about his life, and William thinks he's never really told the truth. Even on his deathbed, Edward recounts fantastical anecdotes. When William, who is a journalist, starts to investigate his father's tales, he begins to understand the man and his penchant for storytelling.

Director: Tim Burton
Producer: Richard D. Zanuck, Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks
Screenwriter: John August
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Zanuck Company, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Jinks/Cohen Company
Rating: PG-13 (Some Nudity|Fight|Suggestive Reference)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 9, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $66.3M
Runtime: 2h 5m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo

Most Popular at Home Now