Free Birds

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1:57

Free Birds

PG

2013

1h 31m

Kids & Family

Holiday

Comedy

Adventure

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

20%

Tomatometer

89 Reviews

45%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Pardoned by the president, a lucky turkey (Owen Wilson) named Reggie gets to live a carefree lifestyle, until fellow fowl Jake (Woody Harrelson) recruits him for a history-changing mission. Jake and Reggie travel back in time to the year 1621, just before the first Thanksgiving. The plan: Prevent all turkeys from ever becoming holiday dinners. Unfortunately, the two birds encounter colonist Myles Standish (Colm Meaney), out to capture feathered friends for all the hungry Pilgrims.

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Critics Consensus

Technically proficient yet creatively moribund, Free Birds begs unfortunate comparisons with the dim-witted fowl that inspired it.

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Anyone who's seen Chicken Run will wonder why they're not enjoying a well-constructed Aardman animation rather than attempting to make sense of this incoherent transatlantic trifle.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 1, 2013

Full Review

Charlotte O'Sullivan

London Evening Standard

Ultimately embarrassing and even offensive but has an offbeat premise, some neat characters and plenty of guffaw-worthy gags.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 29, 2013

Full Review

Sophie Monks Kaufman

Little White Lies

Surely Owen Wilson can do a lot better than a slipshod animation about time travelling turkeys?

Rated: 2/5

Nov 29, 2013

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

Feels average, like a flightless bird trying to soar with the Pixars of the genre.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jan 31, 2021

Full Review

Brent McKnight

The Last Thing I See

It's nice to get a Thanksgiving movie that doesn't revolve around tedious family drama. Though you may wind up having in uncomfortable conversation with your kids about exactly where your holiday meal comes from.

Rated: B-

Jul 8, 2020

Full Review

Kathi Maio

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction

Much can be overlooked if such a movie is rollicking good fun. But Free Birds isn't even that. That's right, I'm going to say it. It's a turkey-and not one of the time-traveling freedom-fighter species, either.

Mar 11, 2020

Full Review

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Bautista V

Me cambie de religión por esta pelicula

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/29/25

Full Review

kiera s

goated movie it’s just something silly to put on around the holidays

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/28/25

Full Review

Anne H

its a really funny, silly, light movie to watch with friends.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/28/25

Full Review

Landyn H

people in 2013 stupid as hell Greatest Thanksgiving movie ever existed at 10 out of 10

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/28/25

Full Review

Logan G

I genuinely enjoy this movie. It’s a light comedy and remains a focal point every year for Thanksgiving. I’m not sure why all the "critics" seem to hate it so much. Sure, it’s not a cinematic masterpiece, but does everything need to be?

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/28/25

Full Review

Reason K

This movie is fantastic and anyone who says otherwise lacks whimsy and joy. There is no other Thanksgiving movie that hits as good. If you can't get over the concept of time travelling turkeys because you think it might be below Owen Wilson's ability, remember that he's also played a car and everything is up for grabs after that.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/27/25

Full Review

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Jimmy Hayward

Director

Owen Wilson

Reggie

Woody Harrelson

Jake

Amy Poehler

Jenny

George Takei

S.T.E.V.E.

Colm Meaney

Myles Standish

Free Birds: Official Clip - Gunpowder Explosion

2:10

Free Birds: Official Clip - Pizza Delivery From the Future

2:29

Free Birds: Official Clip - The Pizza Turkey

2:28

Free Birds: Official Clip - Saving Turkey Chicks

2:28

Free Birds: Official Clip - Bromantic Dancing

1:29

Free Birds: Official Clip - The Cranberry Sauce Joke

2:30

Free Birds: Official Clip - Laser Pointer Chase

1:36

Free Birds: Official Clip - The Turkey Hunt

2:30

Free Birds: Official Clip - We're All Idiots

2:29

Free Birds: Official Clip - Trapped by the Pilgrims

2:30

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Free Birds: Trailer 2

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Synopsis

Pardoned by the president, a lucky turkey (Owen Wilson) named Reggie gets to live a carefree lifestyle, until fellow fowl Jake (Woody Harrelson) recruits him for a history-changing mission. Jake and Reggie travel back in time to the year 1621, just before the first Thanksgiving. The plan: Prevent all turkeys from ever becoming holiday dinners. Unfortunately, the two birds encounter colonist Myles Standish (Colm Meaney), out to capture feathered friends for all the hungry Pilgrims.

Director: Jimmy Hayward
Producer: Scott Mosier
Screenwriter: Scott Mosier, Jimmy Hayward
Distributor: Relativity Media
Production Co: Relativity, Reel FX Animation Studios
Rating: PG (Some Action/Peril|Rude Humor)
Genre: Kids & Family, Holiday, Comedy, Adventure, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 1, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 31, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $55.7M
Runtime: 1h 31m

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