The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

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The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

PG

Released Dec 25, 2013

1h 54m

Comedy

Adventure

Fantasy

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Popcornmeter

52%

Tomatometer

196 Reviews

71%

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50,000+ Ratings

Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller), an employee at Life magazine, spends day after monotonous day developing photos for the publication. To escape the tedium, Walter inhabits a world of exciting daydreams in which he is the undeniable hero. Walter fancies a fellow employee named Cheryl (Kristen Wiig) and would love to date her, but he feels unworthy. However, he gets a chance to have a real adventure when Life's new owners send him on a mission to obtain the perfect photo for the final print issue.

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Critics Consensus

It doesn't lack for ambition, but The Secret Life of Walter Mitty fails to back up its grand designs with enough substance to anchor the spectacle.

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

With such high aims, it's too bad that 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' falls somewhat short of greatness. But it's not often that you come across a "big" movie as earnest and patently un-cynical as this one.

Jun 19, 2016

Full Review

Dana Stevens

Slate

Stiller's attempt to braid together introspection and humor kept me engaged and curious, even when I wasn't quite sure what he was setting out to do.

Jan 1, 2014

Full Review

Donald Clarke

Irish Times

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty probably succeeds on its own terms. Given the elusive nature of those terms, it is, however, hard to tell for certain.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 1, 2014

Full Review

Emiliano Basile

EscribiendoCine

While not genial, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty recaptures the charm of hopeful stories by giving a comedy twist... [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 7/10

Dec 11, 2023

Full Review

Wael Khairy

The Cairo Scene

I admire the film’s originality, and the thought-provoking twist ending, but daydream of a deeper director’s cut.

Sep 23, 2022

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Less about Walter Mitty’s secret life than his actual, perfectly romantic, impossibly realized adventures, the film loses itself in a fantasy world all its own and never fully embraces the everyday balance of reality and imagination.

Rated: 1.5/4

Aug 19, 2022

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Muhammad Hani Danial K

Excellent Underated Movie. About an average man thoughts and can be adventurous. We all can be adventurous the way we want. Just do it and go all the way.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/13/25

Full Review

Lewis S

If you don’t like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty then you need to have a deep think about your view on life, and what it means to be alive.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/12/25

Full Review

Armin F

I really don't get the hate from the critics, this movie is awesome.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/09/25

Full Review

Daniel H

No idea what all the critic hate is for, easily his best acting and movie all together. Truly a heartfelt role acted completely honestly... even the imagination scenes weren't over the top compared to his typical roles and acting. Quit being pretentious and let it in and shed a tear for the life less journeyed, choices unchosen and adventures passed by.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/09/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Beginning to end, an observant journey I fell apart of. Character arc is well articulated & paced out. Visuals and color are exceptional. Soundtrack is refreshing and not really distracting. Ben Stiller delivers such an extraordinary piece of cinema to the world.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

Full Review

Tobey L

Can't believe some of the critics comments. I watched it when I was younger, and as I have gotten older every time I watch it the perspective changes. Everything about the movie is amazing from the music to the film shots. A great, soul-searching movie to watch!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/01/25

Full Review

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Ben Stiller

Director

Ben Stiller

Walter Mitty

Kristen Wiig

Cheryl

Shirley MacLaine

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Adam Scott

Ted Hendricks

Kathryn Hahn

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Synopsis

Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller), an employee at Life magazine, spends day after monotonous day developing photos for the publication. To escape the tedium, Walter inhabits a world of exciting daydreams in which he is the undeniable hero. Walter fancies a fellow employee named Cheryl (Kristen Wiig) and would love to date her, but he feels unworthy. However, he gets a chance to have a real adventure when Life's new owners send him on a mission to obtain the perfect photo for the final print issue.

Director: Ben Stiller
Producer: Samuel Goldwyn Jr., John Goldwyn, Stuart Cornfeld, Ben Stiller
Screenwriter: Steve Conrad
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Red Hour Productions, Samuel Goldwyn Films
Rating: PG (Language|Action/Violence|Some Crude Comments)
Genre: Comedy, Adventure, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 30, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $58.2M
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: Datasat, Dolby

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