Bringing Up Baby

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Bringing Up Baby

Released Feb 18, 1938

1h 42m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

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72 Reviews

89%

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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

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.

Feb 13, 2025

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Otis Ferguson

The New Republic

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.

Dec 26, 2023

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SMH Staff

Sydney Morning Herald

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.

Jul 26, 2023

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Rachel Wagner

Hallmarkies Podcast

The funniest movie I've ever seen

Apr 7, 2025

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Calum Baker

Radio Times

Howard Hawks directs with his usual zip, leading us effortlessly through every silly set piece.

Rated: 5/5

Jun 7, 2024

Full Review

David Pountain

Vague Visages

Bringing Up Baby delves joyfully beyond the stiff pretences of modern life to reveal the wild and lustful animal that still lies beneath the surface.

Dec 12, 2023

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Christian K

Starts off with incredible flow and chemistry between the leads. The energy is one of a kind. Unfortunately, the last act is a considerable step down as the plot becomes overloaded with additional characters you don't want to spend time with.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/25

Full Review

David C

Such a fun movie. Hepburn and Grant show their star power along with Hawks masterful direction. The film drags just a bit in the later half but this is the bench mark of which all screwball comedies should be compared to. Fabulous film!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/25

Full Review

Birithivy Y

Bringing Up Baby - 10/10. Howard Hawks, Cary Grant, and Katherine Hepburn are some of the biggest and most successful people from the Golden age of Hollywood. Though each person had amazing careers later on after this film, Bringing Up Baby is a perfect example of a film that was well ahead of its time, and once it was appreciated, was considered as a masterpiece in its respective genre. The movie is probably the first film in the now super popular screwball comedy genre. Back when it came out in 1938, the film bombed at the box office, and even lead to having Hepburn losing out on film roles because of its unsuccessful initial run. But the film gained a better reputation as the film started playing on television in the 50s. Many films of today can learn a thing or two in the way the comedy is presented and delivered in this film. Grant and Hepburn play up the odd couple dynamic really well, with Grant's uptight nature and Hepburn's bubbly mannerisms helping bring a nice levity to the proceedings. The movie is littered with zany moments which feel over the top in the right way. What a lot of comedies do nowadays is try to make shocking moments that are so ridiculous, yet this film understands the perfect balance of zany and natural humour. Hawks provides the viewer with a quick and fast movie which translates really well all these years later. You're aware of it being a classic film, but it doesn't feel that way in the slightest. Time just flies by watching the movie, and its just a really fun time overall. Hopefully the movie never ever is remade, because I highly doubt anyone can top the performances that the whole cast gives in the film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/02/25

Full Review

Sarah G

Katharine Hepburn's character is the original manic pixie nightmare girl. Imagine a wealthy Amelia Bedelia. Each minute this movie descends into deeper madness and takes the viewer with it.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/16/25

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William B

Beautiful comedy. 100% recommended.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/07/25

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M B

One of the most enjoyable movies I have ever seen in my lifetime. Actors are exceptional across every role, and the story is so hilarious. Highly recommended.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/26/24

Full Review

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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

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Bringing Up Baby: Trailer 1

2:18

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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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