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Catch and Release

Play trailer Poster for Catch and Release PG-13 2007 1h 51m Comedy Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
23% Tomatometer 133 Reviews 55% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
A woman (Jennifer Garner) struggles to rebuild her life in the wake of her fiancé's untimely death and the discovery of secrets he kept from her. Along the way, she bonds with his best pals (Sam Jaeger, Kevin Smith), including an n'er-do-well (Timothy Olyphant) she initially disliked.
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Catch and Release

Catch and Release

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Critics Consensus

A romantic dramedy with boring, stock characters and contrived situations.

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Critics Reviews

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Caroline Siede Girl Culture (Substack) Jul 29, 2026
As rom-coms began to become increasingly same-y in the mid-aughts, Catch and Release dared to be a little different. It wasn’t rewarded for it then, but it deserves a second chance now. Go to Full Review Claudia Puig USA Today Sep 1, 2007
1.5/4
Release yourself from boredom by giving it a miss. Go to Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian Mar 24, 2007
1/5
A ghastly sort of Nora Ephron-ish good taste pervades this romcom-tearjerker. Go to Full Review Randall King Winnipeg Free Press Jul 16, 2020
3.5/5
The film slowly and credibly builds a bridge between two diametrically opposite individuals. Call it another little triumph. Go to Full Review Joshua Starnes ComingSoon.net Mar 18, 2011
5/10
A story of self-discovery Catch and Release is ... well it's horribly, horribly dull is what it is. It's like an entire season of a mediocre primetime soap opera squeezed into a couple of hours. Go to Full Review Walter Chaw Film Freak Central Jul 12, 2009
0/4
...harbours a secret crush on Gray but, hey, so does everybody, since Gray has fairies and butterflies flying out of her vagina. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Michelle S. @RT18482714 May 23, 2026 I love this movie. Sometimes I think movie critics think they're so clever when they tear a movie down. You're not. The chemistry between Olyphant and Garner is off the chain. I love this movie and I'm glad it's finally on Netflix. See more Elliana S @RT38819627 May 20, 2026 It seems many did not enjoy "Catch and Release". I personally love the film and have watched it many times. I think the cast is fantastic. I can agree the movie can be a bit messy, but I believe it is deliberate and is realistic to life. I recommend this film often as a romance through grief. See more Laurie G @LaurBear May 9, 2026 One of my favorite movies, so endearing, so interesting and relatable, do we really know each other? Characters are wonderful, Colorado's beautiful background for this story truly. Love this film.. definitely a chick movie but I could see how someone could find a very relatable. See more Caroline P. @RT25024090 Feb 5, 2026 Heartwarming, down to earth and well cast. See more Ferny B @Ferny61 Jan 8, 2026 It was a touching and charming film. The connection between the main characters was so nice. It felt real. And the romance was simple down to earth and passionate. Don't see why critics need to hate on it. See more Alessia M @goose.bmps Sep 26, 2025 Nice, not ugly but not memorable either. See more Read all reviews
Catch and Release

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Susannah Grant

Director

Jennifer Garner

Gray

Timothy Olyphant

Fritz

Sam Jaeger

Dennis

Kevin Smith

Sam

Juliette Lewis

Maureen

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Catch and Release

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Movie Info

Synopsis A woman (Jennifer Garner) struggles to rebuild her life in the wake of her fiancé's untimely death and the discovery of secrets he kept from her. Along the way, she bonds with his best pals (Sam Jaeger, Kevin Smith), including an n'er-do-well (Timothy Olyphant) she initially disliked.
Director
Susannah Grant
Producer
Jenno Topping
Screenwriter
Susannah Grant
Distributor
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co
Columbia, Tall Trees Productions
Rating
PG-13 (Sexual Content|Language|Some Drug Use)
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 26, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$15.3M
Runtime
1h 51m
Sound Mix
Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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