Bringing Up Baby

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2:18

Bringing Up Baby

1938

1h 42m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

75 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Harried paleontologist David Huxley (Cary Grant) has to make a good impression on society matron Mrs. Random (May Robson), who is considering donating one million dollars to his museum. On the day before his wedding, Huxley meets Mrs. Random's high-spirited young niece, Susan Vance (Katharine Hepburn), a madcap adventuress who immediately falls for the straitlaced scientist. The ever-growing chaos -- including a missing dinosaur bone and a pet leopard -- threatens to swallow him whole.

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Critics Consensus

With Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant at their effervescent best, Bringing Up Baby is a seamlessly assembled comedy with enduring appeal.

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Kat Sachs

Chicago Reader

Feb 13, 2025

It’s a wild ride, with Cary Grant as a paleontologist, Hepburn as a zany heiress—and a leopard, the baby of the film’s title. Does it necessarily make sense? No. Is it brilliant in spite of that? Indeed.

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Otis Ferguson

The New Republic

Dec 26, 2023

I am happy to report that Bringing Up Baby is funny from the word go, that it has no other meaning to recommend it, nor therapeutic qualities, and that I wouldn’t swap it for practically any three things of the current season.

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SMH Staff

Sydney Morning Herald

Jul 26, 2023

Unfortunately the narrative is too heavy with action. Movement and dialogue are so incessantly rapid that they occasionally become overwhelming. But the clean, fast fun of the film cannot be denied.

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Willamette Week

Jun 3, 2026

Certain elements of Bringing Up Baby appear beamed directly out of 1930s screwball heaven.

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Josh Mooney

Movieline

Apr 8, 2026

Director Howard Hawks maintains a dizzying, frenetic pace as the loopy story unfolds -- and what a story it is.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Mar 18, 2026

4/5

Bringing Up Baby keeps the innuendo firmly in the minds of the audience without recourse to crudity....

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 7, 2026

This movie is a classic!

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Madam D

@Madam1948 Aug 17, 2026

One of my favorite movies, starring 2 of my favorite actors. Both are terrific and the plot made me laugh every minute. Is it goofy? Absolutely. But it's one of those films I just have to see every few years.

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bruce F

@bruce999 Aug 15, 2026

perhaps the greatest comedy drama ever filmed. baby is the pet leopard. one comic scene after another

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Melissa M

@Lisey Jun 18, 2026

Susan a fast-talking, hyperactive, socialite. David a down to Earth, zoologist. There's 2 things David wants to marry Ms Alice swallow & a intercostal clavicle to finish his Brachiosaurus that he's been working on for 4 years. He's also hoping to get a million dollars for his museum. He winds up having a not so meet-Cute on a golf course with a spoiled socialite named Susan. That's when the shenanigans begin. As the story progresses. Susan tells him a wild tale about a tame leopard, that's a present from her brother Mark to her aunt Elizabeth. She's sweet talks David into taking her & baby to Connecticut. David goes along for the wild Ride especially when he hears Susan knows Mr Peabody & her aunt Elizabeth is the one considering donating the million dollars to the museum. Fun facts a tame leopard named Nissa was used in the film to play baby & the wild circus cat. Production of the movie was often delayed by Cary & Katherine laughing fits. This film is a fun family friendly film.

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Ted L

@Teddy1953 Feb 15, 2026

An over-the-top timeless Screwball Comedy. Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn shine along with an outstanding supporting cast of oddball characters. An absolute must watch.

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Patrick S

@PatrickStruik Dec 13, 2025

Hilarious screwball comedy.

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Howard Hawks

Director

Katharine Hepburn

Susan Vance

Cary Grant

Dr. David Huxley

Charlie Ruggles

Major Horace Applegate

May Robson

Aunt Elizabeth Random

Barry Fitzgerald

Mr. Gogarty

Mr. and Mrs. Smith

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Bringing Up Baby: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Harried paleontologist David Huxley (Cary Grant) has to make a good impression on society matron Mrs. Random (May Robson), who is considering donating one million dollars to his museum. On the day before his wedding, Huxley meets Mrs. Random's high-spirited young niece, Susan Vance (Katharine Hepburn), a madcap adventuress who immediately falls for the straitlaced scientist. The ever-growing chaos -- including a missing dinosaur bone and a pet leopard -- threatens to swallow him whole.

Director: Howard Hawks
Producer: Howard Hawks
Screenwriter: Hagar Wilde, Dudley Nichols, Hagar Wilde
Distributor: RKO Radio Pictures
Production Co: RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 18, 1938, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2008
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Mono

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