The Big Year

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The Big Year

PG

Released Oct 14, 2011

1h 40m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

41%

Tomatometer

100 Reviews

41%

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10,000+ Ratings

Three men find that they have come to a turning point. Stu (Steve Martin) faces a late-life crisis, Kenny (Owen Wilson) is in the grip of a midlife crisis, and Brad (Jack Black) is wallowing in a no-life crisis. Determined to kick-start their stagnant lives, Stu, Kenny and Brad decide to enter a prestigious contest. During the course of one calendar year, the three friendly rivals criss-cross North America in a quest to count more species of birds than anyone else.

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Critics Consensus

Though made with care and affection for its characters, The Big Year plods along, rarely reaching any comedic heights.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

The movie roams through its numerous picturesque locations with a pleasant enough grace, while Frankel adds just enough idiosyncratic musical and visual quirks to keep things interesting.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 27, 2012

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Andrew Pulver

Guardian

It's theoretically possible for laughs to be gouged out of this scenario, but you won't find them here: every move, every joke, every emotion is heaved lumberingly into place.

Rated: 1/5

Dec 1, 2011

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Robbie Collin

Daily Telegraph (UK)

The Big Year is as glossy and inert as Martin's face, which these days seems to require more foundation than the Burj Khalifa.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 1, 2011

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

All three actors play their usual stock characters here.

Rated: 2.5/4.0

Sep 3, 2020

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Eric Melin

Scene-Stealers.com

The Big Year is completely predictable and full of way too many bird-watching montages set to inspiring music, but it's such an upbeat, cheery film that it's pretty hard to resist.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 23, 2012

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Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

If you can get past the obviously obscure subject matter, you'll find a really sweet film beneath.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 13, 2012

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Claudia B

I thought this movie was charmingly funny and beautiful. Not sure why it received bad reviews. This is the time to ignore other people and decide for yourself.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/09/25

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Audience Member

Talented comedic cast wasted in a movie that should never have been made. Hardly any laughs…..It’s hard to imagine these bright actors didn’t know they were in a stinker.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

06/28/25

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Jacob B

A perfectly harmless watch that helps sell the appeal of birdwatching, has moments of heart and some really nice scenery even if the film doesn't utilise its cast to their full comedic potential and lacks the added depth of the director's previous films. Not sure why the movie sold itself as a comedy when, while lighthearted, isn't majorly interested in telling jokes and focused more on birders doing what they love. And apparently the trailers kept the subject matter under wraps, so that didn't help either. Even though Fox had no problem with films focused on feathered friends that year with Rio and Mr. Popper's Penguins. There's really not much else to say about this film. It's a movie about birders. Uh...representation? Still seems more plausible to me that Owen Wilson would be married to a woman who looks like Rosamund Pike than one who looks like Jennifer Aniston, but that's probably a "me" thing.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/07/25

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Aiden S

I absolutly LOVE this movie! I am a big birder myself and the movie is well done! Actors are great! Overall, it is a relaxing / good movie for birders!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/03/25

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hardy c

Very well done film with fine performances from some comedic heavyweights. But it's not laughs this movie is out for; it's a study in obsession and priorities in life.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/06/25

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Shaun K

It was a pleasant, character driven movie with a great cast. The perfect feel good kind of movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/25

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David Frankel

Director

Steve Martin

Stu Preissler

Jack Black

Brad Harris

Owen Wilson

Kenny Bostick

Brian Dennehy

Raymond

Anjelica Huston

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Synopsis

Three men find that they have come to a turning point. Stu (Steve Martin) faces a late-life crisis, Kenny (Owen Wilson) is in the grip of a midlife crisis, and Brad (Jack Black) is wallowing in a no-life crisis. Determined to kick-start their stagnant lives, Stu, Kenny and Brad decide to enter a prestigious contest. During the course of one calendar year, the three friendly rivals criss-cross North America in a quest to count more species of birds than anyone else.

Director: David Frankel
Producer: Karen Rosenfelt, Stuart Cornfeld, Curtis Hanson
Screenwriter: Howard Franklin
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Red Hour Films, Sunswept Entertainment, Deuce Three Prods.
Rating: PG (Some Sensuality|Language)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 14, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.2M
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: Dolby, SDDS

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