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We Bought a Zoo

Play trailer Poster for We Bought a Zoo PG Released Dec 23, 2011 2h 4m Kids & Family Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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64% Tomatometer 172 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Following his wife's untimely death, Los Angeles journalist Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) decides to make a fresh start by quitting his job and moving his children (Colin Ford, Maggie Elizabeth Jones) to an 18-acre property containing the Rosemoor Wildlife Park. Though closed for years, Rosemoor is still home to many animals, cared for by Kelly Foster (Scarlett Johansson) and her small staff. Mee opens his heart and his checkbook as he, Kelly and the others work to renovate and reopen the zoo.
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We Bought a Zoo

We Bought a Zoo

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Critics Consensus

We Bought a Zoo is a transparently cloying effort by director Cameron Crowe, but Matt Damon makes for a sympathetic central character.

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Critics Reviews

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Deborah Ross The Spectator Everything is, indeed, tied up exactly the way you know it will be tied up, because it is that sort of film, but it still provides a perfectly agreeable way to spend the two hours you weren't going to do anything with anyway. Aug 31, 2018 Full Review Tara Brady Irish Times It unfolds like military assault on the tear ducts. Don't know when to cry? Here comes Sigur Rs' Jnsi with an evocative sonic swoop to help you on your way. Rated: 3/5 Mar 19, 2012 Full Review Empire Magazine Rated: 3/5 Mar 16, 2012 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Crowe’s film doesn’t love animals the way it should and never acknowledges the intangible way in which animals affect humans. Rated: 2.5/4 Mar 6, 2023 Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies ...a movie that’s full of forced sentiment and familiar themes that play out exactly as they have in countless other films. Rated: 2/5 Aug 21, 2022 Full Review Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson The wonderful interactions and work with the animal co-stars is well done, but it's only effective window dressing to the real project. Rated: 4/5 Jun 26, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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thiago s Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fraco, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, a história é fraca, os personagens sao fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes para fazer o filme ser bom. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 05/05/25 Full Review Allison P This is one of my favorite comfort movies. It’s a satisfying combination of happy tears and hope. Its predictably is one of the things that makes it feel like a warm hug. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/04/25 Full Review Anne P Really enjoyed this film! Its a movie that will make you cry, laugh, and relate with. My family watched this movie at least 5 times. You should definitely get back on your couch and watch it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/01/25 Full Review Jamie K The first hour of this film really builds a great and heartwarming, feel-good film, however it's second half is filled with moments that feel so awkward due to its writing, i understand that it's based on a true story however the farther/son dynamic is really poorly done in this film, had this film been longer and better written in parts, it would have allowed for a longer build up of emotion so that the inevitable clash of the farther and son can really hit the marks its aiming for. Ultimately it's a solid film with a great cast who really give the film its feelgood tone and even with moments of awkwardness, it still manages to hit most of the right notes. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/06/25 Full Review Noosha A Just rewatched this movie today and thought I should add a review. I genuinely do not know how this movie didn’t become more popular. Light-hearted, intense, inspiring I mean it truly has it all. Great watch if you have kids too, absolutely would recommend for all age groups. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/06/25 Full Review Steven S "Their happy is too loud" really got me Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/29/24 Full Review Read all reviews
We Bought a Zoo

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Movie Info

Synopsis Following his wife's untimely death, Los Angeles journalist Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) decides to make a fresh start by quitting his job and moving his children (Colin Ford, Maggie Elizabeth Jones) to an 18-acre property containing the Rosemoor Wildlife Park. Though closed for years, Rosemoor is still home to many animals, cared for by Kelly Foster (Scarlett Johansson) and her small staff. Mee opens his heart and his checkbook as he, Kelly and the others work to renovate and reopen the zoo.
Director
Cameron Crowe
Producer
Julie Yorn, Cameron Crowe, Rick Yorn
Screenwriter
Aline Brosh McKenna, Cameron Crowe
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Dune, Twentieth Century Fox, Vinyl Films
Rating
PG (Some Thematic Elements|Language)
Genre
Kids & Family, Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 23, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$75.6M
Runtime
2h 4m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital
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