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

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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

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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

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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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Audience Member

After an awkward and confusing start the film developed into something really quite enchanting and different to what I was expecting. Also a very satisfactory ending.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/18/25

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Tim H

I don't care for Ben Stiller movies, but those was very good and still relevant 12 years later.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/25

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Audience Member

I have never left a review for a Movie, ever. But I truthfully believe that this is a must-see movie for everyone. When I first watched it, I was captivated by the beauty of the film and the uniqueness of some of the shots. Although it has a strong message, the splashes of comedy keep you entertained while not losing track of the storyline. Now that I am older I have realized it's a movie that everyone can relate to. In the sense that you always have the subconscious desire for more, and that desire only comes to fruition when you're forced to step outside of your comfort zone. I have now seen this movie countless times and each time I am reminded of that desire I have to do and to see more, to willingly step outside of that comfort zone and follow my desires. Make that jump into the helicopter, but that plane ticket, talk to that girl of your dreams, you never know where it may take you. But one thing is for certain, in the end, just as Walter is, you will be rewarded for making that jump. "Beautiful things don't ask for attention" - Sean O'Connell

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/25

Full Review

F P

It is a visually beautiful movie, well directed, well crafted, but lacks any real danger. The plot is similar to a joke that reveals its punchline way too soon. It does feel underrated, but it doesn't engage you as much as its beauty would deserve. To quote Ben Stiller in Reality Bites ".. but it's still meat loaf".

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/25

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Anna Patricia d

Saw this movie for the 3rd time and its my quintessence.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/07/25

Full Review

Pat M

Came back to this after seeing it in theatres back in the day and I was pleasantly surprised how great of a movie it is. Glad to see the majority of the audience gets it and that's why it has a 20% higher score than the critics

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/29/25

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Ben Stiller

Director

Ben Stiller

Walter Mitty

Kristen Wiig

Cheryl

Shirley MacLaine

Edna

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: Samuel Goldwyn Films, Red Hour Productions
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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