The Big Year
Directed by David Frankel6.241%41%6.0
Three fanatical bird-watchers spend an entire year competing to spot the highest number of species as El Nino sends an extraordinary variety of rare breeds flying up into the U.S., but they quickly discover that there are more important things than coming out on top of the competition.
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The Big Year Ratings & Reviews
- interz8December 13, 2025The original theatrical release was a good movie, but this far superior extended version (with John Cleese narration) is magnificent. Steve Martin shines in a rare, gentle, non-comedic role, as do the rest of the tremendous cast including Jack Black, Rashida Jones, Angelica Huston, and the great Brian Dennehy. A beautiful, moving, joyous, visually gorgeous tale of obsession, love, travel, friendship, and the majesty of the natural world. Not to mention the smokin' soundtrack which includes top songs by Guster and Coldplay. I'd likely put this extended version in my top ten favorite films of all time.
- pmp5zJune 15, 2025I loved this movie when I was young, and still do. Jack Black, Steve Martin, and Owen Wilson is such a good combo!
- ርልዪረFebruary 2, 2025Birding (bird watching) and the 'Big Year' challenge of spotting as many birds as possible in a year may not seem the most exciting of subjects for a film, but The Big Year manages to engage and entertain throughout. Jack Black, Steve Martin & Owen Wilson play (essentially themselves) Birders all seeking to set a new record for the number of species spotted. Whilst badged as a comedy, it's no rip-roarer (Jack Black falls over a couple of times, which is about the extent of it) but the film is certainly light hearted and completely harmless. I'm not a birder, or particularly interested in our feathered friends, but I was drawn in by the concept and particularly the beautiful scenery across the USA. There are also some really powerful messages within the plot, which are delivered subtly and thoughtfully. If you want good, clean, family fun with the potential for a few laughs and broadening of the mind then you could do a lot worse.
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The Big Year Trivia
The Big Year was released on October 14, 2011.
The Big Year was directed by David Frankel.
The Big Year has a runtime of 1 hr 42 min.
The Big Year was produced by Stuart Cornfeld, Curtis Hanson, Karen Rosenfelt.
The key characters in The Big Year are Stu Preissler (Steve Martin), Brad Harris (Jack Black), Kenny Bostick (Owen Wilson).
The Big Year is rated PG.
The Big Year is a Comedy film.
The Big Year has an audience rating of 4.1 out of 10.