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IMDbPro

Big Fish

  • 20032003
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 5m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
445K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,362
283
Big Fish (2003)
A son tries to learn more about his dying father by reliving stories and myths he told about his life.
Play trailer2:29
2 Videos
99+ Photos
AdventureDramaFantasy
A frustrated son tries to determine the fact from fiction in his dying father's life.A frustrated son tries to determine the fact from fiction in his dying father's life.A frustrated son tries to determine the fact from fiction in his dying father's life.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
445K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,362
283
    • Tim Burton
    • Daniel Wallace(novel "Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions")
    • John August(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Ewan McGregor
    • Albert Finney
    • Billy Crudup
    • Tim Burton
    • Daniel Wallace(novel "Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions")
    • John August(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Ewan McGregor
    • Albert Finney
    • Billy Crudup
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 946User reviews
    • 248Critic reviews
    • 58Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar

    Videos2

    Theatrical Version
    Trailer 2:29
    Watch Theatrical Version
    A Guide to the Films of Tim Burton
    Clip 2:11
    Watch A Guide to the Films of Tim Burton

    Photos240

    Ewan McGregor in Big Fish (2003)
    Ewan McGregor in Big Fish (2003)
    Ewan McGregor in Big Fish (2003)
    Albert Finney and Jessica Lange in Big Fish (2003)
    Albert Finney in Big Fish (2003)
    Billy Crudup in Big Fish (2003)
    Alison Lohman in Big Fish (2003)
    Matthew McGrory in Big Fish (2003)
    Ewan McGregor and Alison Lohman in Big Fish (2003)
    Ewan McGregor and Alison Lohman in Big Fish (2003)
    Ewan McGregor and Matthew McGrory in Big Fish (2003)
    Ewan McGregor and Matthew McGrory in Big Fish (2003)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ewan McGregor
    Ewan McGregor
    • Ed Bloom (young)
    Albert Finney
    Albert Finney
    • Ed Bloom (senior)
    Billy Crudup
    Billy Crudup
    • Will Bloom
    Jessica Lange
    Jessica Lange
    • Sandra Bloom (senior)
    Helena Bonham Carter
    Helena Bonham Carter
    • Jenny - Young…
    Alison Lohman
    Alison Lohman
    • Sandra Bloom (young)
    Robert Guillaume
    Robert Guillaume
    • Dr. Bennett (senior)
    Marion Cotillard
    Marion Cotillard
    • Josephine
    Matthew McGrory
    Matthew McGrory
    • Karl the Giant
    David Denman
    David Denman
    • Don Price - Age 18-22
    Missi Pyle
    Missi Pyle
    • Mildred
    Loudon Wainwright III
    Loudon Wainwright III
    • Beamen
    • (as Loudon Wainwright)
    Ada Tai
    Ada Tai
    • Ping
    Arlene Tai
    Arlene Tai
    • Jing
    Steve Buscemi
    Steve Buscemi
    • Norther Winslow
    Danny DeVito
    Danny DeVito
    • Amos Calloway
    Deep Roy
    Deep Roy
    • Mr. Soggybottom
    Perry Walston
    • Ed Bloom - Age 10
      • Tim Burton
      • Daniel Wallace(novel "Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions")
      • John August(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The joke with the elephant defecating while Edward daydreams was unscripted. The filming crew found it hilarious, and quickly zoomed out to get the whole thing.
    • Goofs
      Edward Bloom's "story" is set in a nostalgic, idealized amalgamation of the 1940s-1970s, so strict chronological and factual accuracy is not required.
    • Quotes

      Will Bloom: A man tells his stories so many times that he becomes the stories. They live on after him, and in that way he becomes immortal.

    • Crazy credits
      The Columbia logo runs in reverse.
    • Alternate versions
      A scene was slightly trimmed to reduce shots of a woman in a river showing her backside in Singapore and in India. The Singapore video nonsensically carries an 'NC-16' rating.
    • Connections
      Edited into Funny or Die Presents...: Fifty Shades of DeVito (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      Man of the Hour
      Written by Eddie Vedder

      Produced by Adam Kasper

      Performed by Pearl Jam

    User reviews946

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Not the Best Movie Ever, but My Favorite Nonetheless
    Big Fish is nowhere near a perfect movie. Sometimes the dialogue is awkward, the pacing drags at times, and Steve Buscemi is, as always, a weirdo. There are bizarre and fantastical ideas that can take you out of the movie. For all its flaws, I can't give it more than an 8. That being said, this is my favorite movie of all time.

    Big Fish strikes a chord with me. It examines the value of a life, our modern-day myths, and, ultimately, the nature of our humanity. I don't cry easily, and I'm not just saying that - I didn't cry at Schindler's List, or Titanic; but Big Fish makes me sob every time. The ultimate catharsis, where a man's identity, value, integrity, and family are all validated, and his life has been a life worth living.

    Tim Burton was definitely the man for the job on this film, and if you like his other classics like Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, and Batman, you'll probably enjoy this one, too. What else can I say, this is my favorite movie.
    helpful•38
    3
    • benjaminburt
    • Oct 7, 2017

    FAQ3

    • Is 'Big Fish' based on a book?
    • What war was Ed supposed to have been in?
    • How does the movie end?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 9, 2004 (United States)
      • United States
      • Sony Pictures Entertainment
      • English
      • Cantonese
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Wetumpka, Alabama, USA
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Jinks/Cohen Company
      • The Zanuck Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 5 minutes
      • Color
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • Dolby Atmos

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