Big Miracle

PG

Released Feb 3, 2012

1 hr. 47 min.

Adventure

Drama

List

74%

105 Reviews

Tomatometer

64%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Adam Carlson (John Krasinski), a reporter based in a small town in northern Alaska, can't wait to land a job in a bigger market. Then, the story of a lifetime practically lands in his lap: A family of gray whales is discovered near the Arctic Circle, trapped by rapidly forming ice. Along with the descending media comes Rachel Kramer (Drew Barrymore), an environmental activist and Adam's ex-lover. Together, they try to rally an international coalition to save the whales before it's too late.

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Critics Consensus

Big Miracle uses real-life events as the basis for a surprisingly satisfying family drama.

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Test T

I watched this on DVD recently, a decade or so after it's release, and more than three decades after the true story. Now, if you happen to be an Alaskan Eskimo, you will be familiar with the goings on in the Arctic and this film may seem ordinary and somewhat dull. However, for everyone else, the film is a fascinating adventure about the amazing true life and death story of a family of stranded whales. Within minutes, I was completely hooked, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it through to it's conclusion. Yes, it has some sorrow, but the main theme is of people from opposing viewpoints coming together to work as a team to help save the whales. I thought all the actors did a great job bringing the story to life, and I found the film impressively realistic and immersive. The film has a huge feel good factor, which makes it easy to recommend.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/05/23

Full Review

isla s

This is a nice, family friendly film. Its relatively entertaining, an easy-ish watch if a little overly sentimental. Its based on a true story, which makes it more interesting, although it did feel a little bland mid way through. I thought Drew Barrymore did well portraying the (if anything overly) emotional Greenpeace activist, clearly determined to do all she can for the whales. However, its not at all a memorable film I'd say. Its a diverting watch but its certainly no great shakes, I'm afraid and so I wouldn't recommend it as such.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Best family entertainment, great & fresh drama.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

jon c

A miracle can be small or very big Within everyone there is hope, light, and love Taking place in Barrow, Alaska and based on the 1988 true story of 3 gray whales trapped in the ice but with the effort of the townsfolk they are able to make sure they survive A likable cast from John Krasinski to Drew Barrymore to Dermott Mulroney to Ted Danson to Kristen Bell Tv reporter Adam Carlson is running low on stories yet he finds the biggest one in a small Alaskan town when he finds a family of whales trapped by the freezing waters Then an environmentalist Rachel Kramer offers to help them get to safety An international coalition then begins begging the world to listen and do their part in the cause They try to combat corrupt politics, whalers on the water, and the extreme elements After all these whales make a natural trek 5,000 miles from the north all the way to Baja, Mexico These animals like any are like us; they're vulnerable, afraid, and unsure of what to do They know they're in trouble and we need help sometimes too The film feels longer than it should but gets by thanks to some touching performances and a real-life story just resonates with family viewers despite being quite pedestrian Thankfully no big lectures or dismissals for viewers just a nice viewing

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

robert p

A great movie for Pet Lovers around the world who watched this true event, as always Drew Barrymore is perfect for her role. I give this heartwarming Film a four star rating!!!!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Alexandra H

I really enjoyed "Big Miracle." Of course, Drew Barrymore is fun to watch, and the story is heartwarming. For me, the big attraction is that it's based on a true story, which I read the history of. Of course, in the movie, there are personal-interest subplots that are fiction. But the main events in the movie regarding freeing the whales are historically accurate.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/21

Full Review

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Ken Kwapis

Director

John Krasinski

Adam Carlson

Drew Barrymore

Rachel Kramer

Kristen Bell

Jill Jerard

Vinessa Shaw

Kelly Meyers

Dermot Mulroney

Col. Scott Boyer

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Big Miracle: Official Clip - The De-Icing Machines

2:15

Big Miracle: Official Clip - That Baby is Gone

3:41

Big Miracle: Official Clip - Swimming With the Whales

2:52

Big Miracle: Official Clip - The Whale Report

1:17

Big Miracle: Official Clip - Breaking Free

3:02

Big Miracle: Official Clip - Those Whales Are Going to Die

2:34

Big Miracle: Official Clip - The Whales Surface

1:08

Big Miracle: Official Clip - Cutting Holes in the Ice

1:03

Big Miracle: Official Clip - I'm Gonna Lick Your Eye

2:21

Big Miracle: Official Clip - Race Against Time

2:05

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: B+

Feb 18, 2012

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C+

Feb 11, 2012

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 2/5

Feb 10, 2012

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Throw in the cheesy dialogue, boring caricatures, and uneven direction and you have a movie that fails to execute even with the good story it has to work with.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 19, 2022

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

No great answers are provided and most everything is painted in broad family friendly strokes, but the film has heart and in this case that goes a long way.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 31, 2021

Full Review

Abbie Bernstein

Assignment X

There is some sorrow in Big Miracle, but there is, per the title, great joy as well. But perhaps the biggest miracle in the film is that, no matter what you believe, you won't come out of the movie feeling lectured or dismissed.

Rated: B

Feb 6, 2019

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Adam Carlson (John Krasinski), a reporter based in a small town in northern Alaska, can't wait to land a job in a bigger market. Then, the story of a lifetime practically lands in his lap: A family of gray whales is discovered near the Arctic Circle, trapped by rapidly forming ice. Along with the descending media comes Rachel Kramer (Drew Barrymore), an environmental activist and Adam's ex-lover. Together, they try to rally an international coalition to save the whales before it's too late.

Director: Ken Kwapis
Executive Producer: Liza Chasin, Debra Hayward, Stuart M. Besser, Paul Green
Screenwriter: Jack Amiel, Michael Begler
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Anonymous Content, Working Title Films
Rating: PG (Language)
Genre: Adventure, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 3, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $20.1M

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