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Bringing Up Baby

Play trailer 2:18 Poster for Bringing Up Baby 1938 1h 42m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 72 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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Bringing Up Baby

Bringing Up Baby

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Rachel Wagner Hallmarkies Podcast The funniest movie I've ever seen Apr 7, 2025 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jason R a fun film to watch as we see the great chemistry bounce off both Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, a very good story and mishaps as Susan and David interact. one of my favorites from this era of film Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/06/25 Full Review Wayne K Screwball comedies had their day, and when I look back on the trend now, I can understand why it was so popular, but I can also see why it went out of fashion. What was funny and zany back then now comes across as irritating, drawn out and nonsensical now. I like Katherine Hepburn as an actress, but damn she’s overbearing in this one, so much so that her iconic voice soon becomes enough to make your ears bleed. Cary Grant does his typical screwball schtick, with lots of bumbling, tripping over things and asking questions and giving explanations in the most cumbersome fashion. This is a common trait of screwball comedies, and this film manages to demonstrate how needless that is when a character shuts the others up and says what needs to be said, and everyone understands. It’s a bad sign when a single moment undermines the mechanics of the entire genre! As funny as it can be, most of Bringing Up Baby is just draw out arguments, discussions and conversations which could be half the time if people just remembered the existence of the words ‘shut up’. A well-made movie with a lot of talent and passion involved, but the experience of watching it was like being stuck in a lift with a bickering couple: Awkward, uncomfortable and very, very annoying. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 10/02/25 Full Review David H Dumb. Silly. Hepburn acting excellent. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 09/27/25 Full Review Rodrigo C I really love the chemestry between Grand and Hepburn right from the start. Hepburn's character is so witty and clever, and I liked how Grant always had the patience to keep up with her. From the moment they met, it felt like their characters instantly clicked. What surprised me the most was the humor. Since this is a film from the 1938, I honestrly expected it to be old-fashined or boring, but it wasn't at all, it was sharp, fun, and genuinely hilarious. Yes, you can cleverly tell the movie's age in the obvious things like being black and white or the sound quality, but for me, that only made it more charlind and enjoyable. The humor still works perfectly today, and it's the kind of comedy you rarely find in modern movies. This is definitely one of those films you can rewatch after some time, and even when you already know what's going to happen, its charm never fades. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/12/25 Full Review Chase R. One of my favorites from the era. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/31/25 Full Review Stephen C Funny in 1 hour and 42 minutes!!!!! Starring Katharine Hepburn as Susan Vance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/09/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Bringing Up Baby

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Movie Info

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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