Big Fish

PG-13

Now Playing

2 hr. 5 min.

Drama

List

75%

219 Reviews

Tomatometer

89%

250,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

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Critics Consensus

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

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Kyle C

Nestled somewhere between Forrest Gump and Fried Green Tomatoes, with a sprinkle of Tim-Burton weirdness on top, Big Fish stands out as a heartwarming tale about a father’s relationship with his son, the art of storytelling, and the significance of fact vs. embellishment. Ewan McGregor sinks deep into his role and gives a lovely performance, feeling only slightly out of place against the rest of the cast’s much less eager takes (looking at you, off-brand James Marzden). Tim Burton’s fantastic directional style magically blends the over-the-top, incredible stories with down-to-earth hominess. But at the end of the day, it’s the script that makes this movie come to life. Everyone is just a little bit larger than life while managing to feel completely real and fleshed out, despite often having only a few minutes of screentime each. And as much as our intellectual sides want to relate to Will’s burning question - how much of this really happened? - our hearts take over and ask us if it really matters when such big emotions are at stake.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/27/24

Full Review

Alysha S

3.4/5. The lighting is extraordinary. And the film considers the question of how important truth vs. truthiness is when love is at play. Ewan McGregor also gives a performance that is second only to his performance in "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith." And the entire ensemble cast is strong.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/24

Full Review

Geisiane O

Drama muito bom Conta a história de pai e filho Suas diferenças A relação em seus estágios altos e baixos!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/23/23

Full Review

dadjackwill

I'm nothing like y'all

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/04/23

Full Review

Oscar M

I didn't understood anything.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/28/23

Full Review

Leaburn O

Lovely tall tales where fact and fiction merge for a son trying to get to know his father before he passes away. Nicely done by Burton even if not quite his most captivating movie. Bought on DVD for 50p from a charity shop. This one is ubiquitous in charity shops for some reason. Everyone must have had a copy once upon a time. Strange it took me so long to watch this film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/27/23

Full Review

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Tim Burton

Director

Ewan McGregor

Young Edward Bloom

Albert Finney

Edward Bloom

Billy Crudup

Will Bloom

Jessica Lange

Sandra Bloom

Helena Bonham Carter

Jenny

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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

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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

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

Allison Rose

FlickDirect

The sentiment behind the plot is sweet and endearing and the movie is an excellent example of Burton, the master filmmaker, at work.

Rated: 4/5

May 6, 2021

Full Review

Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

This is a film with heart. From beginning to end. A heartwarming tale about love and family, a father and a son, and that sometimes it's very hard to separate fact from fiction....but then sometimes, it doesn't really matter; does it.

Nov 7, 2019

Full Review

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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
Executive Producer: Arne Schmidt
Screenwriter: John August
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Zanuck Company, Jinks/Cohen Company, Columbia Pictures Corporation
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
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo

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