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Big Fish
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Big Fish

2003
Romance
Drama
2h 5m
A heartwarming journey that delves deep into a fabled relationship between a father and his son.
Directed by:
Tim Burton Tim Burton
Written by:
John August John August Daniel Wallace
+1 more
Starring:
Billy Crudup Billy Crudup Steve Buscemi Steve Buscemi Danny DeVito Danny DeVito Ewan McGregor Ewan McGregor Albert Finney Albert Finney Jessica Lange Jessica Lange Alison Lohman Alison Lohman Helena Bonham Carter Helena Bonham Carter Missi Pyle Missi Pyle Marion Cotillard Marion Cotillard David Denman David Denman Robert Guillaume Robert Guillaume
More
Genres:
Romance, Drama, Fantasy, Adventure
Country:
USA
Languages:
English, Cantonese
imdb More information at IMDb
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Big Fish

2003
Romance
Drama
2h 5m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 60.1% from 14975 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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jebJeb
Rated 24 Mar 2009
91
82nd
I sat down watching Big Fish expecting it to be regular Burton at his decent. However, Burton has completely altered his usual formula and has now concentrated not only on his preserved flair, but the plotline (Which all can appreciate and snuggle up to here). Steve Buscemi is astounding, quite hypnotic and he deserves a lot of recognition. Burton, instead of producing another remake, decided to make this and what a relief he actually did. Proves he's more than just a hollywood director.
Rated 24 Mar 2009
revolutionoRevolutiono
Rated 21 Dec 2008
9
93rd
By splitting the movie between the real and the fictional worlds, Tim Burton finds a way to keep the sentiment feeling true and still preserve his own style. The movie works as a defense of his own outlandish storytelling in addition to being a (just-short-of-too) emotional look at a father-son relationship.
Rated 21 Dec 2008
tripwyreTripwyre
Rated 24 Apr 2008
89
90th
Burton is a director famous for his visual style, but his storytelling abilities have always been a bit...off. Classics like Edward Scissorhands and Batman are memorable not for the stories they told so much as the flair with which they told them. Big Fish certainly benefits from that flair, but it uses it to tell a real heartfelt story -- style and substance are in equal measure here. The acting is all solid, but Buscemi steals the show. If this isn't Burton's best, it's certainly among them.
Rated 24 Apr 2008
cagedwisdomcagedwisdom
Rated 01 Feb 2009
100
90th
Something of a Tim Burton's Forrest Gump, this film has a few issues (such as an at times disjointed narrative structure) that are pretty much instantly rectified by a superb cast, fantastic visuals and quite strong direction from Burton. A truly great story. One of Burton's best, and easily his most heartwarming. If only he'd snap out of his now decade-long remake-producing coma more often.
Rated 01 Feb 2009
kubricksuckskubricksucks
Rated 11 Mar 2007
60
14th
Tim Burton can't do a goddamn thing right without clay
Rated 11 Mar 2007
manhattaManhatta
Rated 08 Mar 2008
65
34th
A sappy story with wonderful visuals (probably Burton's best as far as art direction goes) and decent performances, it just rings strangely hollow.
Rated 08 Mar 2008
ozymandius10ozymandius10
Rated 14 Aug 2007
88
95th
One of the few movies I almost cried in. I'm not usually a Tim Burton fan, but this is a great movie. The storytelling really does take you to another place, and it's really masterful.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
catfacercatfacer
Rated 03 Oct 2010
20
20th
This did not warm my heart, it made my brain melt with its tedious nonsense.
Rated 03 Oct 2010
mwgerbmwgerb
Rated 01 Oct 2013
56
56th
This is a good movie; it's certainly fun and light-hearted and pretty-looking. But I thought the tall tales and the frame stories clashed, rather than harmonized, invalidating and distracting from the other one, rather than adding meaning. So by the time they get to the REAL MEANING, it's pounded in so much that it feels ineffective and emotionally unengaging. Still, eminently watchable, even it didn't work on a deeper level for me.
Rated 01 Oct 2013
xakkmasterXakkMaster
Rated 14 Aug 2008
96
97th
All our lives are extraordinary if you know how to tell the story! Ewan McGregor stars as Edward Bloom, a man who has done quite alot in his lifetime by the sound of it. As his life nears its end, he is confronted by his son who wants to know the truth about all the tall tales he's heard over the years. Perhaps director Tim Burton's finest film, it is a fantasy tale that melds with the real world in a way few films ever have. Both charming and entirely heart warming.
Rated 14 Aug 2008
mini_tMini-T
Rated 18 May 2009
90
90th
Mesmerizing. Incredible nice work by the great mind of Tim Burton. Amazing to watch it , without being bored a second. The story will move everybody who watches it. And by the way , Danny DeVito looks great as an old man.
Rated 18 May 2009
timmotimmo
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
66th
I wept.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 14 Aug 2007
63
22nd
Whimsical, cute, well-done. No big complaints. Not much to say... it doesn't stick with you very long.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
neonmanNeonman
Rated 01 Oct 2010
54
9th
Such, such, such, such, such, such, such, such, such, such, such, such, such, such, such, such, such, such, such, such, such, such, such, such, such a short film idea. Would've been better if it were an hour and a half shorter.
Rated 01 Oct 2010
roofsrunnerroofs_runner
Rated 09 Nov 2009
100
99th
One of my all times movies, though it's constantly being blamed for not being really Burtonish, but it's our life, where there is always a place for such a warm and touching story about the power of love and imagination.
Rated 09 Nov 2009
bojanglesBojangles
Rated 14 Oct 2009
10
2nd
Sink-in-your-chair schmaltz at a constant and full force. So much so that as you're watching it you kind of want to kill yourself.
Rated 14 Oct 2009
purgatospurgatos
Rated 15 May 2008
69
46th
Manipulative and sappy, but looks really pretty.
Rated 15 May 2008
cclzaCCLZA
Rated 17 Feb 2007
60
33rd
Sadly, it's a beautifully over-stylized case of poor direction and writing.
Rated 17 Feb 2007
rufamRufam
Rated 28 Sep 2011
75
72nd
"Big Fish" fails to avoid cliché and sentimentality, the editing is occasionally problematic and sometimes the whimsy feels forced. That doesn't stop it from being one of Burton's finest efforts, a sweet and imaginable fable, told with great energy, conviction, passion for the material and entertaining visual flourishes. The cast is also impressive.
Rated 28 Sep 2011
amirmovieamirmovie
Rated 08 Oct 2012
89
93rd
It's a movie, the way it's meant to be, with all needed fantasies, emotions and great..really great pictures. I love it!
Rated 08 Oct 2012
jarmannJarmann
Rated 24 Nov 2007
65
31st
While great on visuals, the movie is too weak in the story-telling. Too bad.
Rated 24 Nov 2007
bampbamp
Rated 08 Jul 2008
90
62nd
ewan, billy, family stuffs.
Rated 08 Jul 2008
lokiLoki
Rated 14 Aug 2007
80
73rd
Thoughtful and moving and full of great Burton visuals.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
filmdotfilmdot
Rated 28 Jun 2010
95
93rd
Wow. Gorgeously amusing and wondrous. Billy Crudup and Ewan Mcgregor are great here but Albert Finney is marvelous. A story for the ages. That ending was beautiful.
Rated 28 Jun 2010
paxtonPaxton
Rated 26 May 2012
89
88th
Aside from my looking twice as handsome as Ewan McGregor, the stories about my past aren't embellished at all.
Rated 26 May 2012
tripleshTripleSH
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
53rd
If you like Tim Burton, you should like this film. There's not much else to say about this.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
alon_reterAlon Reter
Rated 11 Feb 2011
15
11th
This is one of the of the biggest pieces of kitch and corniness I have ever seen. It barely even has Burton's great eccentric style or iconic creativity, it's a celebration of american tackiness in disguise, and in a bad one too.
Rated 11 Feb 2011
cultofsamecult_of_same
Rated 15 Nov 2008
85
98th
A reimagined life with saturated colour <3 <3
Rated 15 Nov 2008
bethelysabethelysa
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
51st
Not as good as the book, but charming nonetheless. Albert Finney is top-notch, and Alison Lohman is luminescent. Though parts of the movie were a bit over-the-top, the ending brought genuine and well-earned tears to my eyes.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
nathandarkoNathanDarko
Rated 12 Sep 2008
98
98th
Big Fish isn't the typical Burton Movie, maybe it's his multifaceted Movie ever.Full of incredible characters, ideas and beautiful scenes. I love this Movie.
Rated 12 Sep 2008
duaneneitzelDuaneNeitzel
Rated 14 Aug 2007
65
35th
The parent's story is good. The son's angst is tiresome.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
imomercetinImOmerCetin
Rated 07 May 2021
60
29th
Okay.
Rated 07 May 2021
rtomatoesRTomatoes
Rated 29 May 2009
77
69th
A charming father-and-son tale filled with typical Tim Burton flourishes.
Rated 29 May 2009
nrhughesnrhughes
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
72nd
Poignant, charming, and all around a beautiful film.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
citysqwirlcitysqwirl
Rated 14 Aug 2007
64
26th
I should have loved this movie -- imagination rising above the mundane pedantries of daily life -- but the moments of imagination started feeling repetative, and when are directors and editors going to realize that slow and ponderous does not equal meaningful and heartwarming?
Rated 14 Aug 2007
gr8googlyGr8Googly
Rated 21 Jun 2008
82
79th
Burton's best film in my opinion. Finally hitting a perfect link between fantasy and real world emotional connections. Burton surprised many with this one after the disastrous Planet of the Apes remake.
Rated 21 Jun 2008
battletoadBattleToad
Rated 14 Aug 2007
80
63rd
Once again, Tim Burton goes and does something that at least temporarily proves that he is a great director. Big Fish is fun and heartwarming, and the outstanding cast deserves recognition for each of their very strange roles in this film. Really good!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
davidblastDavidBlast
Rated 09 Feb 2012
35
20th
I probably give this movie less credit than deserves, but I don't like stories that are obviously taking place in someones fantasy. It's better than 'Sucker Punch', mind, but, listen, If I really wanted to imagine-imagine something, and I were too cheap to buy 3D glasses, I'd go to that great whore house of pretentiousness: The theatre.
Rated 09 Feb 2012
josauucejosauuce
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
53rd
not a huge tim burton fan, but this one was pretty cute. minus the end when the fish jumps out of the water into the sky.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
magdabagmagdabag
Rated 01 Oct 2020
89
75th
I'm a big fan of big fish, and you could be too!
Rated 01 Oct 2020
ozleemozleem
Rated 22 Oct 2010
84
82nd
hayal mi gerçek mi?
Rated 22 Oct 2010
cahadras1Cahadras1
Rated 15 Apr 2009
96
96th
I love it
Rated 15 Apr 2009
ssmodkssmodk
Rated 14 Aug 2007
88
78th
Hard to explain in simple terms, but an enjoyable tall tale of the roads we walk in life and what it all means in the end. Heartfelt and the most well-crafted work Burton has ever done, devoid of his usual pretensions.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
ktappektappe
Rated 12 Feb 2008
71
42nd
A wee bit too much fantasy and nostalgia for my tastes. Yes, that's kind of the point of the film so I've not knocked it too hard, but you really have to be in the mood for an "out there" type of flick to enjoy this one. It had great potential with the father-son relationship, but that never really felt...um....real. In fact, the fantasy setting of the film gets in the way of the viewer truly taking that relationship to heart.
Rated 12 Feb 2008
fabfunkfabfunk
Rated 14 Aug 2007
53
46th
Superficial but mostly pleasing drama about a stubborn son and his fantastical father.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
alex_watkinsAlex Watkins
Rated 05 Jan 2008
3
38th
S'alright.
Rated 05 Jan 2008
chiliChili
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
81st
Great feel to throughout the whole film. Very enjoyable and very grabbing.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
rockwellrockwell
Rated 14 Aug 2007
60
24th
we get it tim burton you are excentric
Rated 14 Aug 2007
eglantineEglantine
Rated 29 May 2008
90
84th
Sweet film! The most important thing is how you see your life, not how it really is! Your imagination can change and rearrenge everything!
Rated 29 May 2008
pewbengpewbeng
Rated 02 Dec 2009
89
88th
Watched this movie with two buddies. So, three grown up men are sitting there and say absolutely nothing throughout the movie. After the film ended we were teary-eyed and swore to never talk about it again. Oops..
Rated 02 Dec 2009
carpetgiantCarpetgiant
Rated 09 May 2014
87
74th
One Burton, two Burton, red Burton, blue Burton.
Rated 09 May 2014
mlightle3mlightle3
Rated 23 Nov 2006
96
94th
Splendid return to the Burtonesque style of story telling.
Rated 23 Nov 2006
chuchaquiChuchaqui
Rated 30 Nov 2006
87
68th
Great poetic film about a father-son-relationship, lots of original ideas and one of the most moving end sequences in modern film.
Rated 30 Nov 2006
viciousVicious!
Rated 03 Jul 2011
73
45th
Ewan McGregor natürlich super, der Film ist aber leider zu zerstückelt und hat nicht diesen Sog den Forrest Gump erzeugt. Son ein bisschen nach dem Motto: Weder Fisch noch Fleisch. Außerdem sind die Geschichtchen dann auch nicht skurril oder unterhaltsam genug, um wirklich vollends zu überzeugen. Dafür war das Ende herrlich emotional ohne viel Kitsch und erzwungene Traurigkeit.
Rated 03 Jul 2011
robinmayRobinMay
Rated 12 Aug 2008
55
43rd
Beautifully shot. Jessica Tandy is fantasic.
Rated 12 Aug 2008
ugurakinugur.akin
Rated 28 Oct 2017
96
99th
the thin line between the narrative of our lives and life itself- enjoyable and emotional as well as intriguing in terms of its philosophical themes.
Rated 28 Oct 2017
florvdeFlorVdE
Rated 09 Feb 2007
4
87th
Beautiful visuals, as I've come to expect from Burton. This time the story was actually genuinely moving by itself though, which makes this my favorite of his.
Rated 09 Feb 2007
luna6ixLuna6ix
Rated 17 May 2008
90
97th
tim burtons odd direction truly shines in this film, it has a wonderful story.
Rated 17 May 2008
filmspitfilmspit
Rated 30 Dec 2007
58
7th
Burton not at his best.
Rated 30 Dec 2007
monstergearMonsterGear
Rated 20 Apr 2007
84
76th
The ending done made me get all misty.
Rated 20 Apr 2007
angrypierreangrypierre
Rated 10 Mar 2024
75
62nd
What starts out as a slightly goofy fairy tail morphs into a truly touching ode to the love between father and son.
Rated 10 Mar 2024
jonJon
Rated 29 Mar 2011
60
33rd
A Tim Burton film that doesn't feel like a Tim Burton film. It has a god idea, and while the execution isn't bad it also isn't perfect.
Rated 29 Mar 2011
houspillerhouspiller
Rated 05 Aug 2009
100
88th
A Full film, really exciting
Rated 05 Aug 2009
rymRYM
Rated 28 Mar 2015
70
73rd
3.49/5
Rated 28 Mar 2015
zephonithZephonith
Rated 08 Jun 2007
60
28th
Rambling movie with an average performance by Ewan MacGregor. Lacks a sense of depth (though Albert Finney tries his hardest), which isn't compensated for by its visuals.
Rated 08 Jun 2007
gnalkhereGnalkhere
Rated 16 Apr 2023
85
82nd
After this movie finished and the last line was uttered I turned to my best friend and said to her "we're never gonna die"
Rated 16 Apr 2023
cmonsterCMonster
Rated 25 Oct 2011
63
40th
Good but over rated.
Rated 25 Oct 2011
pampaPampa
Rated 31 Oct 2009
80
70th
Muy Buena
Rated 31 Oct 2009
spookymaskSpookyMask
Rated 15 Dec 2008
87
97th
I have a friend who wants to be just like the father in this movie. A big, fat, liar.
Rated 15 Dec 2008
tritwo1tritwo1
Rated 06 Aug 2010
25
19th
ehhhh
Rated 06 Aug 2010
sullypunchSullyPunch
Rated 14 Aug 2007
82
81st
Heartwarming but the ending isn't as good as it could've been.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
tevtev
Rated 15 Mar 2023
45
42nd
had to watch this in school
Rated 15 Mar 2023
ocelotOcelot
Rated 02 May 2014
25
17th
A Forrest Gump with all of the bullshit cut out, but the fantastical elements felt so... generic. Like, that's the best fantasy we get? I'm also not entirely sure what the takeaway from this is. It's not "your father is your father" but... I don't know? He is his stories, and that's why it was OK he was a shitty father? I don't know. The appeal of this is lost on me.
Rated 02 May 2014
vandelay1Vandelay1
Rated 10 Jan 2009
90
97th
Great
Rated 10 Jan 2009
arossaross
Rated 21 Nov 2016
62
18th
I should flag all Tim Burton as do not watch. I've just never liked hardly any of his movies compared to the consensus.
Rated 21 Nov 2016
randallflaggrandallflagg
Rated 14 Aug 2007
100
83rd
Tim Burton!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
tonytheponyTonythePony
Rated 22 Jun 2009
71
57th
Made me smile often, laugh less so, and overcomes occasionally tiresome tales to finish solidly. The combination of the bright shiny visuals and present day sentimentality can be overwhelmingly sweet at times, but the strong performances make it palatable.
Rated 22 Jun 2009
bogsbogs
Rated 15 Aug 2016
38
8th
Gimmicky, disjointed narrative, terrible acting, schmaltzy. All the substance and poetry of a greeting card. Every part of this movie is obnoxious - even the soundtrack is saccharine and uninspired.
Rated 15 Aug 2016
mistersplicemistersplice
Rated 09 Jan 2012
85
91st
8+ excellent
Rated 09 Jan 2012
silmarwenSilmarwen
Rated 29 Jun 2008
10
21st
average
Rated 29 Jun 2008
tathieltathiel
Rated 03 Feb 2009
88
92nd
Very touching story!
Rated 03 Feb 2009
rashbamrashbam
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
59th
solid comedy, mind twirling
Rated 14 Aug 2007
seideseide
Rated 28 Apr 2021
65
6th
might be good but made me tired while I am watching.
Rated 28 Apr 2021
toolikeyouTooLikeYou
Rated 14 Sep 2015
80
56th
Watched the last scene through a film of tears and I'm borderline sociopathic.
Rated 14 Sep 2015
altf4altf4
Rated 14 Aug 2007
88
84th
Perfect
Rated 14 Aug 2007
bartbaardBartbaard
Rated 13 Mar 2021
65
54th
There is some good desktop wallpaper material in here, but the meandering about left me unfulfilled with messages that didn't stick around all that long
Rated 13 Mar 2021
slantmagSlantMag
Rated 14 Dec 2010
40
97th
"Big Fish is love and death, Burton style." - Ed Gonzalez
Rated 14 Dec 2010
alex_wsAlex WS
Rated 19 Jan 2013
67
54th
Segmented tale about this dude. At the end he dies. Emotional impact is okay.
Rated 19 Jan 2013
cruelclowncruelclown
Rated 04 Mar 2008
75
62nd
Actually that's the best Burton film in my book.
Rated 04 Mar 2008
jordanraidenjordanraiden
Rated 19 Dec 2017
4
1st
7/7
Rated 19 Dec 2017
optimusmikeOptimus_mike
Rated 28 Oct 2008
80
71st
A pleasant modern day fairy tale.
Rated 28 Oct 2008
budleonardBudLeonard
Rated 27 Oct 2007
95
70th
Burton's best since "Edward Scissorhands."
Rated 27 Oct 2007
matthagenmatthagen
Rated 11 Mar 2020
96
98th
Seen: 3.
Rated 11 Mar 2020
normalchaosnormalchaos
Rated 26 Feb 2015
70
52nd
It was a charming and heartwarming movie, but I think it would have benefited from being a bit shorter.
Rated 26 Feb 2015
cotote2018Cotote2018
Rated 12 Jun 2012
75
57th
A nice movie.
Rated 12 Jun 2012
visadarvisadar
Rated 06 Apr 2010
90
58th
Beautiful example of magic realism
Rated 06 Apr 2010
softskeletonsoftskeleton
Rated 05 Jul 2010
78
50th
I really enjoyed this film. The visuals are sumptuous and the story warmed the cockles of my heart. Thoroughly charming
Rated 05 Jul 2010
stflyst_fly
Rated 22 Aug 2007
35
35th
ok
Rated 22 Aug 2007
vahidtrvahidtr
Rated 11 Nov 2019
72
66th
If it wasn't for the perfect glamorous ending, I wouldn't like it at all.
Rated 11 Nov 2019
yolanda7gyolanda7g
Rated 27 Sep 2010
90
92nd
This film is very creative in many ways.
Rated 27 Sep 2010

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