The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

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The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

PG

2013

1h 54m

Comedy

Adventure

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

52%

Tomatometer

196 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

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

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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

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

Full Review

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Sebas B

Al inicio la historia se hace un poco tediosa, pero luego se vuelve bastante entretenida y tiene un final bastante bueno.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/20/25

Full Review

Meri S.

I adored this feel good movie. Great cast and cinematography.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/15/25

Full Review

alan G.

Pales in comparison to the Danny Kaye movie. Ben Stiller should not be allowed to make movies. Nepo baby.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/11/25

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the best movie I Have ever seen. Cinematographic is a piece of art. And the message is incredible.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/08/25

Full Review

sam Y.

عند الأنتهاء من مشاهدة الفلم سيختابك شعور بالسعادة العارمة كأنك كنت معهم . فعلاً على الأنسان أن يخرج عن دائرته و يذهب لمغامرة للأسف الشديد لا أسطيع ذالك لكن أنا في أمل أن افعل ذالك في يوماً ما . كانت مشاهدة رائعه بين أحلام اليقظة و الواقع ، تلميح جميل أن عندما بداء بالمغامرة قلت لديه أحلام اليقظة بمعنى الفراغ و الروتين سيجعلك تنفصل عن الواقع ، محاولة من العقل أن لا يموت من الملل ... حقاً يستحق أن يكون في قائمة أفلامي المفضلة

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/31/25

Full Review

Son N

I don't think the critics understand the message Ben Stiller wanted to deliver. More and more people of younger generations are starting to understand and appreciate its beauty. It's about the story of someone who got finally learned to step out and explore. It's accurate and simple that anyone from any generation can relate to.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/21/25

Full Review

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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: 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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