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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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

62%

Tomatometer

119 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

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

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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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Audience Member

We loved this movie. How did we miss it since 2014?! It was such a fun family movie night pick. I’m surprised by low ratings. The acting was solid, it was funny, had a great positive family message, and all our kids from 8 to 16 could enjoy it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/05/25

Full Review

Audience Member

This was a decent family movie with a cute message. It did have a great cast, but other than that, there wasn’t a lot that stood out.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/25

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Cameron H

Alexander’s day starts with gum stuck in his hair, but soon other misfortunes follow him and he begins to wonder if bad luck only happens to him, until each member of his family begins experiencing their own very bad day. This was a very funny and enjoyable family comedy movie. I loved the cast and the comedic and highly exaggerated unfortunate situations the family members find themselves in. The film depicts relatable and realistic challenges like school events, sibling rivalry, bullying, and the everyday struggles of growing up. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a great family friendly comedy that will keep you entertained and laughing throughout.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, o elenco até que é bom, mas ninguém consegue melhorar o filme, a história é mais ou menos e os personagens são ruins.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/06/25

Full Review

Dominic C

Holy crap, this crap sucks

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/14/25

Full Review

Michael P

Although the theme and character motives are cliche, it was quite entertaining and a nice fill in feel good movie.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/12/24

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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