Big Trouble

Play trailer

Big Trouble

PG-13

2002

1h 25m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

48%

Tomatometer

109 Reviews

54%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Based on Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist Dave Barry's best-selling first novel, Big Trouble tells the story of how a mysterious suitcase brings together, and changes, the lives of a divorced dad, an unhappy housewife, two hitmen, a pair of street thugs, two love struck teens, two FBI men and a psychedelic toad.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

With its large cast and frantic comic pacing, Big Trouble labors for slapstick-style hilarity, but it never really gains steam.

Read Critics Reviews

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

12/22/2010

4/5

Sharp, funny movie for high schoolers and up.

Go to Full Review

Jeff Strickler

Minneapolis Star Tribune

11/06/2002

1.5/4

In this clumsy attempt to merge farce with satire, the jokes repeatedly miss the mark.

Go to Full Review

Robert K. Elder

Chicago Tribune

07/20/2002

2/4

Mostly ... Sonnenfeld mishandles the broad part of the comedic formula, preferring repetition to thematic development.

Go to Full Review

Mark Halverson

Sacramento News & Review

08/07/2008

2/5

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

07/23/2007

D

Faithful to the events in Barry's novel, lifts a good deal of his witty dialogue, and recruits a proven cast of laugh-winners. Why, then, is it so resolutely unfunny?

Go to Full Review

Film Threat

12/06/2005

3.5/5

Read all reviews

Darryl W.

@BlackFedoraTheatre 1d

Big fan of Big Trouble! Great writing and wonderful comic performances. Love that in a way it’s a buddy movie but for multiple pairs of characters. Own this movie and return to it when I need some cheer.

See more

Jared W.

Dec 20

Criminally underrated. Would have been far more popular if it hadn't come out just after September 11th.

See more

Charlie R

@CharlieBRM803 Jun 20

My biggest revelation was to find this is from a best selling novel by a Pulitzer Prize winning novelist. So that's where they set the bar . . . o . . . kayyy. I would suggest viewing Out Of Sight as a tonic after this.

See more

El C

Jun 9

Biggest laugh I had watching a movie for a while, love the Guy Ritchie vibe to the movie, Real fun watch

See more

Horror fan 4

@Horrorfan4life 03/05/2025

An under the radar comedy gem involving a huge cast and a Bomb. Tim Treakle

See more

Michael B

01/18/2025

Lesser known but hilarious romp with great stupid characters and silly humor.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Barry Sonnenfeld

Director

Tim Allen

Eliot Arnold

Rene Russo

Anna Herk

Stanley Tucci

Arthur Herk

Tom Sizemore

Snake

Johnny Knoxville

Eddie

The Crew

20%

34%

The Crew

Watchlist

Krippendorf's Tribe

17%

24%

Krippendorf's Tribe

Watchlist

Wild Hogs

14%

61%

Wild Hogs

Watchlist

The Waterboy

32%

71%

The Waterboy

Watchlist

Swing Vote

38%

42%

Swing Vote

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Based on Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist Dave Barry's best-selling first novel, Big Trouble tells the story of how a mysterious suitcase brings together, and changes, the lives of a divorced dad, an unhappy housewife, two hitmen, a pair of street thugs, two love struck teens, two FBI men and a psychedelic toad.

Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Producer: Barry Sonnenfeld, Barry Josephson, Tom Jacobson
Screenwriter: Robert Ramsey, Matthew Stone, Dave Barry
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures, Touchstone Pictures
Production Co: Sonnenfeld Josephson Worldwide Ent., Touchstone Pictures, Sundale Productions Inc., Jacobson Company
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Crude Humor|Sex-Related Material)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 5, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.3M
Runtime: 1h 25m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now