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Big Momma's House

Play trailer Poster for Big Momma's House PG-13 2000 1h 38m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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31% Tomatometer 80 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
FBI agent Malcolm Turner is tough, smart and a master of disguise. There's nothing he can't handle. So Malcolm, taking on his most challenging "role" ever, decides to impersonate the cantankerous Southern granny Big Momma. Using a few tricks of disguise, he completely transforms himself into Big Momma, even taking on the corpulent septuagenarian's everyday routine - from cooking soul food to delivering babies to "testifying" at the local church.
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Big Momma's House

Big Momma's House

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Critics Consensus

Big Momma's House is funny in some parts, but it is essentially a one-joke movie.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media Funny Martin Lawrence in drag with potty jokes. Rated: 2/5 Dec 22, 2010 Full Review Andrew O'Hehir Salon.com Had me cackling and stomping my feet along with the rest of the preview audience. Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Wesley Morris San Francisco Examiner The movie's not phat, just big-boned. Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Bob Grimm Sacramento News & Review Rated: 1/5 Aug 7, 2008 Full Review Betsy Bozdech DVDJournal.com Big Momma ... manages to pull off a fairly miraculous stunt -- she turns Martin Lawrence into a sweetie-pie. Rated: 2.5/4 Oct 21, 2006 Full Review JoBlo JoBlo's Movie Network Rated: 3/10 Aug 11, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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TheMovieSearch R Big Momma’s House is one of those early-2000s comedies that embraces absurdity with full confidence and doesn’t apologize for it. It’s a loud, silly, and completely over-the-top concept that somehow works because of Martin Lawrence’s commitment to the bit. As FBI agent Malcolm Turner, he disguises himself as an elderly Southern woman, Big Momma, to solve a case—and what unfolds is part undercover cop story, part slapstick farce, and part drag performance extravaganza. It’s not flawless by any means, but it knows exactly what kind of movie it is: pure, unapologetic fun. Martin Lawrence carries the entire film on his back. His comedic timing and energy keep every scene alive, even when the humor borders on ridiculous. He manages to bring Big Momma to life with exaggerated charm, balancing between tough and tender, and even when the prosthetics and fat suit look glaringly fake, the performance itself is so committed that you can’t help but laugh along. It’s a role that clearly takes inspiration from Mrs. Doubtfire, Norbit, and later the Madea series—characters built around larger-than-life disguises—but Big Momma’s House still manages to find its own chaotic groove. The film works best when it leans into the outrageous antics. The slapstick moments—Big Momma in the kitchen, the awkward romantic tension, the church scenes—are all designed to keep you laughing, even if it’s through secondhand embarrassment. There’s a charm in how messy it all is. It doesn’t pretend to be sophisticated comedy; instead, it thrives on how big and bold it can go, whether it’s Lawrence trying to maintain his cover or fumbling through Big Momma’s daily routines. That being said, there are definitely some uneven moments. The humor doesn’t always land, and some jokes feel dated or forced by today’s standards. But even when the writing falters, the film never loses its sense of fun. It’s a comedy that’s built for audiences who just want to laugh at something completely off-the-wall, without thinking too hard about logic or realism. The direction keeps the focus right where it should be—on Big Momma. The story might not have much depth, but the movie understands its own appeal: watching Martin Lawrence transform into a loud, unpredictable grandmother figure and create chaos everywhere she goes. Even with the visible plastic suit and obvious makeup, the illusion holds just enough to make the whole disguise entertaining rather than distracting. Ultimately, Big Momma’s House is not a perfect film, but it’s undeniably entertaining. It’s goofy, lighthearted, and full of charm, offering an escape into a world of absurd undercover comedy. It might not have aged gracefully in every aspect, but for what it is—a wild, slapstick showcase for Martin Lawrence—it remains a fun, nostalgic watch that captures the kind of outrageous comedy that defined its era. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/26/25 Full Review Juan D Most people think that this is a load garbage, I think that this is a classic Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/20/25 Full Review Ratiun U A classic comedy, not a masterpiece, but it's cool Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/18/25 Full Review Hlgrm d it was so funny! the actors are amazing! they dont make movies like this anymore! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/08/25 Full Review thiago s Filme bacana para bacaninha, o roteiro é bacaninha, as cenas são bacaninhas, a história é mais ou menos, o elenco é bacaninha, e só o Martin lawrence ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são mais ou menos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, mas eu recomendo esse filme por que é um filme meio divertido. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 06/07/25 Full Review Audience Member Despite Martin Lawrence’s energy, Big Momma’s House relies on tired jokes and worn-out disguises. The humor falls flat, and the plot lacks substance, making it more awkward than entertaining Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 05/20/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Big Momma's House

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Movie Info

Synopsis FBI agent Malcolm Turner is tough, smart and a master of disguise. There's nothing he can't handle. So Malcolm, taking on his most challenging "role" ever, decides to impersonate the cantankerous Southern granny Big Momma. Using a few tricks of disguise, he completely transforms himself into Big Momma, even taking on the corpulent septuagenarian's everyday routine - from cooking soul food to delivering babies to "testifying" at the local church.
Director
Raja Gosnell
Producer
David T. Friendly, Michael Green
Screenwriter
Darryl Quarles, Darryl Quarles, Don Rhymer
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox, Taurus Film, New Regency Pictures, Friendly Productions, Runteldat Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Language|Crude Humor|Violence)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 2, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 2, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$117.6M
Runtime
1h 38m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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