Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

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Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

PG

Released Oct 10, 2014

1h 21m

Kids & Family

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

62%

Tomatometer

119 Reviews

58%

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25,000+ Ratings

Gum stuck in his hair signals the start of a disastrous day for 11-year-old Alexander (Ed Oxenbould). One calamity follows another, but when Alexander tells his family about his misadventures, he finds little sympathy. Alexander begins to wonder if bad things happen only to him, but he soon learns that he's not alone when his mother (Jennifer Garner), father (Steve Carell), brother (Dylan Minnette) and sister (Kerris Dorsey) all find themselves living through their own calamitous days.

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Critics Consensus

Affably pleasant without ever trying to be anything more, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a fine -- albeit forgettable -- family diversion.

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Stephen Romei

The Australian

Carell and Garner do the physical comedy with a lot of flair, the younger actors more than hold up their end and Megan Mullally of Will and Grace fame puts in a crisp cameo.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 11, 2014

Full Review

Jake Wilson

Sydney Morning Herald

For a while, it looks as if the moral is going to be that negativity isn't all bad, which, for an American children's film, seems rather daring. Alas, the point is drowned out in a final chorus of affirmations.

Rated: 2.5/5

Dec 3, 2014

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Slapstick chuckles are duly delivered, but the edgy spark with which director Miguel Arteta made his name is notable by its absence.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 26, 2014

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a breezy comedy that benefits from its smattering of laugh-out-loud funny set-pieces and assortment of agreeable performances...

Rated: 3/4

Mar 29, 2024

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is full of hysterics and chaos during every minute of the film.

Feb 24, 2022

Full Review

Cory Woodroof

Williamson Home Page

The film, a loose adaptation of the classic childrens book, takes a simple premise and stretches it as far as it needs to go, weaving a little heart in between.

Feb 11, 2022

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Dale R

Loosely based on a children’s book of the same name, Alexander wishes his family could live a terrible day like he does everyday for his twelfth birthday and he gets his wish. Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner both play parental figures very well, but I didn’t buy that they were husband and wife as there was little chemistry between them. Ed Oxenbould plays the titular character, but isn’t really a stand out in any way. Each of the five and a half members of Alexander’s family have a storyline and that creates a lack of focus for the film that left some members without character growth and some plot points that were just dropped. There are a few laughs to be had. Check it out if you’re curious.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/07/24

Full Review

Rami A

This film ought to be called "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Movie."

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/05/24

Full Review

Andre G

Very interesting funny movie. The storyline is better then the actual comedy in which is rare. It's a good movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/03/23

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Ryan F

Much better than the book that's for sure. It was good

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/09/23

Full Review

Luke M

Alexander and the Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day was a good movie. It was super funny, and I LOVE comedy. This movie was very different from the book,but the book was a picture book. What a good movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/28/23

Full Review

Dylan R

This movie is very energetic, and features a great cast that pulls off the humor really well. I think this remind me of the older 2000s Disney family-friendly comedies like cheaper by the dozen, except it was released in the 2010s. I think it still got the same charm. Hopefully there will be more movies like this during the 2020s.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/20/23

Full Review

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Miguel Arteta

Director

Steve Carell

Ben Cooper

Jennifer Garner

Kelly Cooper

Ed Oxenbould

Alexander Cooper

Dylan Minnette

Anthony Cooper

Kerris Dorsey

Emily Cooper

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Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: Trailer 2

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Synopsis

Gum stuck in his hair signals the start of a disastrous day for 11-year-old Alexander (Ed Oxenbould). One calamity follows another, but when Alexander tells his family about his misadventures, he finds little sympathy. Alexander begins to wonder if bad things happen only to him, but he soon learns that he's not alone when his mother (Jennifer Garner), father (Steve Carell), brother (Dylan Minnette) and sister (Kerris Dorsey) all find themselves living through their own calamitous days.

Director: Miguel Arteta
Producer: Shawn Levy, Lisa Henson, Dan Levine
Screenwriter: Rob Lieber
Distributor: Walt Disney
Production Co: 21 Laps Entertainment, Jim Henson Productions
Rating: PG (Rude Humor|Language|Some Reckless Behavior)
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 10, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 22, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $67.0M
Runtime: 1h 21m

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