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We Bought a Zoo
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We Bought a Zoo

2011
Comedy
Drama
2h 4m
Set in Southern California, a father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo. (imdb)
Directed by:
Cameron Crowe Cameron Crowe
Written by:
Cameron Crowe Cameron Crowe Aline Brosh McKenna Aline Brosh McKenna Benjamin Mee
+2 more
Starring:
Matt Damon Matt Damon Patrick Fugit Patrick Fugit Scarlett Johansson Scarlett Johansson Elle Fanning Elle Fanning John Michael Higgins John Michael Higgins Angus Macfadyen Angus Macfadyen Thomas Haden Church Thomas Haden Church Carla Gallo Stephanie Szostak Stephanie Szostak Colin Ford Colin Ford J.B. Smoove J.B. Smoove Maggie Elizabeth Jones
More
Genres:
Comedy, Drama
Country:
USA
Languages:
English, Spanish
imdb More information at IMDb
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We Bought a Zoo

2011
Comedy
Drama
2h 4m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 42.43% from 1307 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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ytadelYtadel
Rated 05 Jan 2012
4
43rd
I'm not a heartless man, nor do I reject sentiment in films - hell, I'm the only person on Criticker who loved War Horse - but good lord, the way this film tries to surgically crack open your chest so it can reach right in there and yank your heart strings is kind of galling. The final scene had me cringing away from the screen with its schmaltz. It's so, so cheesy. But, that said, the performances are good. I enjoyed John Michael Higgins as the dick zoo inspector.
Rated 05 Jan 2012
terrymacterrymac
Rated 15 Sep 2019
65
47th
I felt exploited watching this; it was so charming it almost eroded entirely my inherent cynicism. Much of this was down to the fine performances by the solid cast; I was rooting for them. Transparently feelgood fare that I need to be more accepting of. Damn you, Crowe.
Rated 15 Sep 2019
cmonsterCMonster
Rated 29 May 2012
57
34th
An endless stream of scenes of forced sentimentality, but its all balanced out with the humor of Matt Damon having a dead wife. It works well enough.
Rated 29 May 2012
leonardisLeonardis
Rated 27 May 2012
78
26th
I enjoyed it. Obviously not Crowe's finest work, but it is adorable and everyone is likable from the younger cast to Damon and Johansson. If you're looking for a decent, throughly enjoyable family film for you or your own family zoo, this is a good one to check out.
Rated 27 May 2012
nobambanobamba
Rated 13 Oct 2019
50
45th
The animals looked very convincing. I enjoyed the relationship with the brother. Fav scene: emotional breakdown between the father and the son. But then the son's other scenes were quite annoying and his romance lame.
Rated 13 Oct 2019
muutanetmuutanet
Rated 25 Dec 2012
51
40th
A watchable solid melodrama.
Rated 25 Dec 2012
mjvmoviemanMJVmovieMan
Rated 09 Apr 2012
78
76th
Why did sappy sink Spielberg's 'War Horse' and yet shoots Cameron Crowe's 'We Bought a Zoo' straight to the heart? I loved the raw earnestness at play here, even if it occasionally comes off as manufactured through some blunt line readings. No matter. Matt Damon is superb here as a widower trying to keep his family together. Crowe gives us intimate relationships that are easy to cling to. It's one of the cutest movies I've seen in years.
Rated 09 Apr 2012
martrynmartryn
Rated 05 Jan 2018
60
28th
They took a true story, changed basically everything about it, and decided that they have a movie worth making. Some heartfelt scenes and decent acting doesn't completely patch up a mostly boring and formulaic plot. This is a film that you'll watch, be mildly entertained by, and then largely forget.
Rated 05 Jan 2018
thegreyfoxthegreyfox
Rated 27 Feb 2015
65
40th
As predictable a film as you can hope to find, replete with pantomine baddies, loose animals, a love interest, crazy and treacherous workers, financial worries, a family that just dont understand, and a hideously saccharin flavoured ending. But the reality is that Jones and Fanning bring such a sunny and warm presence to their roles that it is hard not to to be swept up by their performances, whilst the film quietly diverges from anything approaching real life almost unnoticed in the background
Rated 27 Feb 2015
eric_janeric-jan
Rated 20 Mar 2012
70
54th
Amazing feelgood movie! One thing I really have to say is, for a comedy, the acting was brilliant!! Obviously Matt Damon was the star of the show.. but I actually liked all the child-actors! Horay for Elle Fanning and Maggie Elizabeth Jones!
Rated 20 Mar 2012
moraesfelipemoraesfelipe
Rated 19 Dec 2011
47
27th
So now Cameron wants you to care about this father who can't let go his wife and his two kids and also about this old zoo he just bought, and he tries to win you over with a score by Jónsi, a soundtrack by Dylan, Neil Young, Bon Iver -- even Sigur Rós' Hoppipola is there --, but this is just a lazy and, of course, too long romance. Cameron still have a signature -- this feeling of grandeur in simple things --, and I just don't know if I like it now. I like that "20 sec courage" stuff, though.
Rated 19 Dec 2011
gnalkhereGnalkhere
Rated 14 May 2023
65
33rd
Leapt and cheered whenever they said the title.
Rated 14 May 2023
tjekhovTjekhov
Rated 19 Apr 2012
10
3rd
Worst ending, well, ever. I was so furious by the apple endorsement that I went straight home and through my Ipod out the window. No film will ever tell me what to buy again(especially if it has MAAAATTTTT DAAAMMMOOOON in it).
Rated 19 Apr 2012
jordanligejordanlige
Rated 29 Dec 2011
100
51st
cute movie 10 out of 10
Rated 29 Dec 2011
maartenmaarten
Rated 03 Jun 2012
66
67th
Certain films are are unexpected, but pleasant surprises. 'We bought a zoo' is a warm, heartfelt picture that is - just - not too cheesy. Damon stars as usual, well assisted by the rest of the cast. Won't reach this year's top-10, but very nice to watch after all.
Rated 03 Jun 2012
gemteagemtea
Rated 03 Sep 2012
75
39th
An almost overly sweet piece of family fluff but not bad at all. However, some traditions that some families have need watch out. The Easter bunny exposed just like Santa Claus was done in Gremlins. Don't put that stuff in movies. You can never explain it to little children and it can be heartbreaking for them. Otherwise a rare film that the entire family can enjoy
Rated 03 Sep 2012
3names3Names
Rated 22 Jan 2012
80
40th
Some winning performances make this delightful enough... It certainly causes no harm... Enjoy!
Rated 22 Jan 2012
tashatTashaT
Rated 26 Nov 2012
40
57th
A tear-jerker.
Rated 26 Nov 2012
mkellinsmkellins
Rated 25 Dec 2013
35
16th
It's a very clumsy and awkward film. None of the characters are fully developed and all of their interactions seem forced. I couldn't get emotionally involved with the story, there just didn't seem to be anything genuine about it. The numerous close-ups of furry animals didn't exactly help either.
Rated 25 Dec 2013
emir_hanEmir Han
Rated 30 Jan 2015
74
38th
I always loved Cameron Crowe's movies. Even I liked the controversial Vanilla Sky. We Bought a Zoo is a standard family drama. Nothing new in this movie. But that doesn't mean it is not watchable.
Rated 30 Jan 2015
cinematicespCinematicESP
Rated 04 Oct 2012
76
37th
A bit saccharine with a few tonal missteps into goofiness, but Damon does a good job and the premise is fun enough.
Rated 04 Oct 2012
rttntomatoesrttntomatoes
Rated 23 Dec 2013
66
38th
We Bought a Zoo is a transparently cloying effort by director Cameron Crowe, but Matt Damon makes for a sympathetic central character.
Rated 23 Dec 2013
filmfreak88filmfreak88
Rated 23 Feb 2013
40
15th
Basically some likable actors required to trudge through tons of melodramatic cliches and sappy dialogue.
Rated 23 Feb 2013
nick_hamdenNick Hamden
Rated 06 Jun 2013
60
47th
http://gorgview.com/we-bought-a-zoo
Rated 06 Jun 2013
hellboy76hellboy76
Rated 17 Nov 2012
66
51st
It's over the top melodrama can be forgiven due to some solid acting and another good soundtrack from Crowe.
Rated 17 Nov 2012
stewballStewball
Rated 03 Jan 2012
80
80th
Another one of those movies with a greatly underachieving misguided disaster of a preview. I echo the positive point about the "20 sec. of courage". It's what put it above a 7 (Hollywood average) for me.
Rated 03 Jan 2012
entrapmenentrapmen
Rated 11 Apr 2012
74
66th
It's all about right casting. Loved Maggie Elizabeth Jones! I was already inlove (in her acting and cuteness) with Elle Fanning and who doesn't love Matt Damon? Scarlett? Screw her.
Rated 11 Apr 2012
ryan_luedersRyan Lueders
Rated 25 Mar 2014
80
57th
They bought a Zoo, I didn't buy this movie, but I'm glad that I watched it. Cameron Crowe brings another heartfelt movie into the mix with We Bought a Zoo. Matt Damon is the single father/widower that you just have to root for. The others in the cast also have great chemistry and you just fall in love with them...
Rated 25 Mar 2014
dougcollinsDougCollins
Rated 13 May 2012
85
54th
Good movie but not really family friendly.
Rated 13 May 2012
wicheWiche
Rated 03 Jul 2013
55
28th
Quite entertaining. This film offers a joyous story and tends to be a feel good movie, but offers little more. It's cheesy, it's sassy, it has some unbelievable characters and a way too predictable and simple plot.
Rated 03 Jul 2013
murravenerMurravener
Rated 24 Jan 2012
96
98th
Cameron Crowe is back at the top of his game, proving you can have a clean film that people of any age can enjoy. Make no mistake, this is not a kids film (you'll find yourself blushing in certain scenes if you bring them), this film is superbly directed and you'll find yourself so immersed in this incredible tale of human experience, as Cameron Crowe can so often do to his audiences.
Rated 24 Jan 2012
bookhouseboybookhouseboy
Rated 23 Feb 2014
53
68th
A likeable cast, a decent story and a great soundtrack manipulating along quite pleasantly. *Preview*: #14#, liked, rewatch(2) }*{ #12#, story, creator Crowe/2, cast.
Rated 23 Feb 2014
luna6ixLuna6ix
Rated 20 Nov 2013
71
38th
If you're a stereotypical woman that loves sappy flicks, watch this, it'll be like crack. If you're the rest of the population, don't.
Rated 20 Nov 2013
astrakhanastrakhan
Rated 04 Jan 2020
75
37th
Ok, Matt & Scarlett, just bonk already and start filling a petting zoo with your gorgeous talented children! Don't know why they wasted 2 hours pretending this was not the plan all along.
Rated 04 Jan 2020
isaboojumisaboojum
Rated 15 Jan 2013
3
59th
Sweet.
Rated 15 Jan 2013
superargoSuperargo
Rated 18 Jan 2012
66
55th
Stupendously sappy, and there's not a thing that happens that you don't see coming a thousand miles away. But it's so aggressively, puppy-dog earnest and sincere and well-meaning that you can't help but give in to it after awhile, and beneath all the animal bonding tomfoolery is a surprisingly tender, mature, clear-eyed portrait of widowhood. Damon's intelligent, smoothly modulated performance makes you thankful Ben Affleck isn't playing this part.
Rated 18 Jan 2012
notitlenotitle
Rated 25 Jan 2014
58
14th
Watched it for S.C.
Rated 25 Jan 2014
nutcrackrnutcrackr
Rated 06 Apr 2012
80
79th
Sweet and effective tale of loss and courage. Good performances.
Rated 06 Apr 2012
timon88Timon88
Rated 23 Dec 2012
32
21st
"Zoo of Dreams". Although the "AWWWWWW....." factor of animals and a cutesy little girl is much greater than baseball-playing ghosts.
Rated 23 Dec 2012
amazedemonamazedemon
Rated 05 Sep 2015
66
70th
We Bought a Zoo is sweet but not really that memorable. Crowe favours his obviously emotionally manipulative style, and while he missed the mark a few times (for me at least), when he lands a moment it is a very good scene. The strength of the movie lies with Damon and Johansson performances, and Fanning and Smoove are utilised well. The weak link is Ford (the son) whose on-screen presence is uneven at best. Overall, the plot is highly contrived, but the film is still very watchable.
Rated 05 Sep 2015
dougiedDougieD
Rated 29 Dec 2011
75
43rd
An extremely sentimental drama that is well made and filled with strong performances from Matt Damon, Elle Fanning, Thomas Haden-Church and Scarlett Johannson. It's not at the same level as Cameron Crowe's best work (Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire, Say Anything), but it has a sweet story that really got to me. Some critics have called it manipulative, but I don't care. I got lost in its story.
Rated 29 Dec 2011
theescapistTheEscapist
Rated 08 Oct 2013
70
47th
Despite some clichés and cheesiness I thought this was fairly decent for a family film, I enjoyed the uplifting soundtrack.
Rated 08 Oct 2013
nothingsgoodNothingsGood
Rated 11 Jan 2012
65
65th
Cameron Crowe's script contains elements of sheer brilliance, but its Crowe's direction that interferes with this film being anything more than above-average schmultz. We Bought a Zoo can't decide if it wants to be a zany character comedy or a heartful human study. While Crowe's earlier works walk that line much more firmly, We Bought a Zoo is certainly a tale of two films, maybe the signs of an older and more systematic Crowe.
Rated 11 Jan 2012
spaceflohspacefloh
Rated 11 Aug 2014
56
46th
ger; [wir kaufen einen zoo; we bought a zoo]; ein vater will mit seinen kindern neu anfangen und kauft einen zoo der viel renovierung benötigt, die tiere und der kontakt mit anderen menschen sollen ihnen helfen.;
Rated 11 Aug 2014
guardangelguard.angel
Rated 02 Feb 2014
100
99th
I tried so hard to fault this film but couldn't. It moved me to tears and uplifted my spirit like only the best stories can. Wonderful.
Rated 02 Feb 2014
frnk23frnk23
Rated 17 Mar 2012
55
32nd
i dont really care
Rated 17 Mar 2012
futurememoryfuturememory
Rated 19 Sep 2012
50
15th
Perfectly average family movie.
Rated 19 Sep 2012
arossaross
Rated 21 Nov 2016
51
5th
Bad I don't get the good or even so-so reviews. Couldn't help but laugh at it the entire time
Rated 21 Nov 2016
okkervilOkkervil
Rated 01 Jan 2018
37
25th
It's not really a bad film, but too saccharine and twee for me.
Rated 01 Jan 2018
jack_parsonsjack parsons
Rated 18 Mar 2012
10
92nd
There seems to be some hate for Cameron Crowe's latest, and I couldn't disagree more. Maybe its because I'm a young father and I find feel good family movies relatable, but I loved everything about this film. Amazing performances and such a great story. I didn't find the heartfeltness over reaching at all, the moments seemed genuine and nicely written. Excellent job across the board!
Rated 18 Mar 2012
boomdiddlyboomdiddly
Rated 23 Oct 2014
1
0th
We Bought a Zoo stinks worse than the hippo house.
Rated 23 Oct 2014
ggeorgiewGgeorgiew
Rated 03 Dec 2016
100
97th
incredible, strong, powerful!
Rated 03 Dec 2016
driscarpindriscarpin
Rated 09 Nov 2018
44
20th
Uma coisa que nunca podemos reclamar dos filmes do Cameron Crowe são as trilhas sonoras, por outro lado esse filme segue um viés diferente de seus filmes que é o aspecto dramédia familiar visto por último em Jerry Maguire, mas sabemos que o diretor sempre privilegiou coming-age que ele até tentou inserir aqui mudando o livro baseado para ter um romance adolescente. Enfim, ainda prefiro o Crowe de Almost Famous e Singles. TV aberta.
Rated 09 Nov 2018
doughbarondoughbaron
Rated 09 Jun 2012
50
15th
A long series of cliches intertwined with a mix of emotionally charged pop music isn't enough to make me feel connected with these characters. I don't mind being able to predict nearly every sequence and turn, but getting there should at least be entertaining.
Rated 09 Jun 2012
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 24 Jul 2012
50
35th
Passes the time.
Rated 24 Jul 2012
danastevensdanastevens
Rated 30 Nov 2012
30
6th
The realities that Crowe creates all seem like pleasant enough places to be, but you'd never mistake them for real life. The fuzzy, squishy world of We Bought a Zoo may be the Cameron Crowe-iest of them all.
Rated 30 Nov 2012
gkfilmgkfilm
Rated 12 Aug 2019
70
77th
Entertainment 3/4. Sustainability: 1.5/3. Spirituality 1.5/3. Fam: 1/1
Rated 12 Aug 2019
ecitizeneCitizen
Rated 19 Oct 2014
40
32nd
A cute story with mediocre acting opportunities for all involved. Scarlett Johansson is almost wasted in this but puts forth a good effort. Matt Damon was somewhat unmemorable as was most of the movie. Family friendly, and just a little too much schmaltz for me, but watchable.
Rated 19 Oct 2014
anniehallAnnieHall
Rated 23 Jul 2021
75
52nd
You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.
Rated 23 Jul 2021
bakcheiabakcheia
Rated 07 Nov 2012
60
46th
It may be laiden with cliches (and maybe Jonsi's music is enough to make any movie emotionally significant for me), but I must say I did enjoy it. Damon's performance was good.
Rated 07 Nov 2012
snallygastersnallygaster
Rated 18 Aug 2012
49
47th
I really did enjoy this movie overall, but at some point the extreme doses of Hollywood sentimentality and heartfelt dialogue (tm) wore me down. I also was a bit irked by the suggestion that a random city slicker buying a zoo on a whim is A-OK, and the zoo inspector is the bad guy for threatening to enforce legal standards.
Rated 18 Aug 2012
roonay3kroonay3k
Rated 15 May 2012
50
24th
Barely watchable!
Rated 15 May 2012
roofsrunnerroofs_runner
Rated 15 May 2012
68
31st
Interesting story, although the script is really weak and too easily holds together. Good actors, which is probably the only reason that pushes to watch it.
Rated 15 May 2012
chmulcr0nchmul_cr0n
Rated 18 Mar 2012
62
33rd
Writing/direction is very cliché and cheesy, dialogue is actually crappy every once in a while...but you've got pretty much the whole cast selling the hell outa that shit. Esp. Matt Damon and Elle Fanning...man they're good! And there was some really cool shit in there, too. The father/son confrontation scene for example...and some of the cheesyness played really really well with the soundtrack. I guess the movie is a pretty even mix of really cheap and awesome...with emphasis on the latter.
Rated 18 Mar 2012
wezzoWezzo
Rated 18 Mar 2012
85
67th
As warm and kind-hearted as movies get. Slow but never boring, succeeds where The Big Year failed
Rated 18 Mar 2012
tyler78tyler78
Rated 04 Apr 2012
70
36th
Not a masterpiece definitely but worth to watch. Very nice and heart warming movie.
Rated 04 Apr 2012
lenaclena_c
Rated 23 Aug 2017
3
43rd
The daughter is the cutest ever (!) Damon works surprisingly well as a father and their relation is adorable. Really nice story and I suddenly have a bigger heart for zoo animals. *Recommendable
Rated 23 Aug 2017
wwallce4prezWWallce4prez
Rated 04 Nov 2012
42
9th
Monologue about love and loss. Monkey. Monologue about adventure. Tiger. Another monologue about love and loss. More Tiger. Jonsi. Monologue about trying your best. Roll credits. The number of Hallmark-inspired lines was pretty incredible.
Rated 04 Nov 2012

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