The Beaver

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The Beaver

PG-13

2011

1h 31m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

62%

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185 Reviews

55%

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10,000+ Ratings

Walter Black (Mel Gibson), the head of a failing toy company, is deeply depressed. His marriage to Meredith (Jodie Foster) is broken and his oldest son, Porter (Anton Yelchin), hates him. When Meredith finally throws him out of the house, Walter begins his final tailspin. Drunk and alone, Walter is about to commit suicide -- but is saved by the voice of the beaver puppet he found in a dumpster. Wearing the puppet on his hand, Walter speaks only through it and tries to get his life on track.

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Critics Consensus

Jodie Foster's visual instincts and Mel Gibson's all-in performance sell this earnest, straightforward movie.

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Anna Smith

metro.co.uk

This might have been better as an intimate drama about mental illness and it doesn't have time to explore all of its themes.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 24, 2018

Full Review

Leah Rozen

TheWrap

It's a bummer of a movie -- dark and at cross-purposes with both itself and any image do-over [Gibson] might be seeking.

Oct 7, 2011

Full Review

Ed Gibbs

Sydney Morning Herald

This is a wholly wasted opportunity for Gibson -- and a disappointing misfire from Foster.

Rated: 3/10

Aug 1, 2011

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Are you willing to watch a good actor at work, or is the mugshot and scandals all you see and hear? Where you come from with your perspective on that essential question will (unfortunately) factor into how well you like or dislike The Beaver.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 16, 2024

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Foster does her audience an injustice by adopting a humorless tone and refusing to have more fun with the obvious elephant in the room.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 9, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

I only wish that Gibson and Yelchin had more screen time.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 19, 2022

Full Review

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Ti H.

The Beaver started out terrific--as a comedy. Then, it got serious and tried to be serious, and it went off the rails. Ultimately, what a lousy movie that could've been something truly special instead of the depressing 3/4 of a movie that we were given. The movie was more depressing than depression. They could've kept the Jennifer Lawrence part and the Sun's part they didn't have to have Mel Gibson cutting off his hand that just borders on a ridiculous and damaging. It is no way helps or furthers the cause of actual depressive people.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/13/25

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Dani G

I don't know really what to say... Maybe there's a reason why this film isn't so well known

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/16/25

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Ernest B

"The Beaver" You mean "Idle Hands" if it was sad?

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/17/25

Full Review

Faiz D

The Beaver is a strange, but a sensitive film with great performances from Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster (also the director of the film). In my opinion it is a very underrated movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/29/24

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Amanda L

“And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out…” Watch this movie if you’re old enough to want to make yourself new again. Or young enough to hate the parent whose demons you fear you’ve inherited. Or really into sexy gravelly Aussie accents—regardless of their origins.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/09/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Mel Gibson is so ****ing funny, original, and sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

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Jodie Foster

Director

Mel Gibson

Walter Black

Jodie Foster

Meredith Black

Anton Yelchin

Porter Black

Jennifer Lawrence

Norah

Riley Thomas Stewart

Henry Black

The Beaver: Official Clip - Can Your Mother Stitch?

2:12

The Beaver: Official Clip - Starting Over Isn't Crazy

2:13

The Beaver: Official Clip - I'm the Beaver

2:29

The Beaver: Official Clip - I'm Not A Puppet

1:52

The Beaver: Official Clip - You May Simply Call Me, The Beaver

2:12

The Beaver: Official Clip - This Man Is A Dead End

2:32

The Beaver: Official Clip - Dumpster Beaver

2:17

The Beaver: Official Clip - A Prescription Puppet

2:13

The Beaver: Official Clip - Mr. Beaver's Woodchopper Kit

2:10

The Beaver: Official Clip - You Made This For Me

2:12

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Synopsis

Walter Black (Mel Gibson), the head of a failing toy company, is deeply depressed. His marriage to Meredith (Jodie Foster) is broken and his oldest son, Porter (Anton Yelchin), hates him. When Meredith finally throws him out of the house, Walter begins his final tailspin. Drunk and alone, Walter is about to commit suicide -- but is saved by the voice of the beaver puppet he found in a dumpster. Wearing the puppet on his hand, Walter speaks only through it and tries to get his life on track.

Director: Jodie Foster
Producer: Steve Golin
Screenwriter: Kyle Killen
Distributor: Summit Entertainment
Production Co: Anonymous Content
Rating: PG-13 (Language|A Drug Reference|Mature Thematic Material|Sexuality|Some Disturbing Content)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 6, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 3, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $958.3K
Runtime: 1h 31m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, DTS

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