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IMDbPro

We Bought a Zoo

  • 20112011
  • PGPG
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
143K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,056
224
Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, and Maggie Elizabeth Jones in We Bought a Zoo (2011)
A father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.
Play trailer2:28
5 Videos
81 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Family
Set in Southern California, a father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.Set in Southern California, a father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.Set in Southern California, a father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
143K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,056
224
  • Director
    • Cameron Crowe
  • Writers
    • Aline Brosh McKenna(screenplay)
    • Cameron Crowe(screenplay)
    • Benjamin Mee(book)
  • Stars
    • Matt Damon
    • Scarlett Johansson
    • Thomas Haden Church
Top credits
  • Director
    • Cameron Crowe
  • Writers
    • Aline Brosh McKenna(screenplay)
    • Cameron Crowe(screenplay)
    • Benjamin Mee(book)
  • Stars
    • Matt Damon
    • Scarlett Johansson
    • Thomas Haden Church
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 264User reviews
    • 259Critic reviews
    • 58Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 8 nominations

    Videos5

    Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:28
    Trailer #1
    "Modern Day Adventurers"
    Clip 0:55
    "Modern Day Adventurers"
    We Bought a Zoo
    Featurette 3:17
    We Bought a Zoo
    We Bought a Zoo
    Featurette 10:06
    We Bought a Zoo
    What Roles Has Matt Damon Turned Down?
    Video 3:27
    What Roles Has Matt Damon Turned Down?

    Photos81

    Matt Damon, Patrick Fugit, Scarlett Johansson, and Felix in We Bought a Zoo (2011)
    Matt Damon, Patrick Fugit, Carla Gallo, Scarlett Johansson, Elle Fanning, Colin Ford, and Maggie Elizabeth Jones in We Bought a Zoo (2011)
    Cameron Crowe in We Bought a Zoo (2011)
    Scarlett Johansson in We Bought a Zoo (2011)
    Matt Damon, Thomas Haden Church, Angus Macfadyen, Alice Marie Crowe, Patrick Fugit, Scarlett Johansson, Elle Fanning, Colin Ford, Maggie Elizabeth Jones, Dustin Ybarra, Ben Seeder, and Sam Fox in We Bought a Zoo (2011)
    Matt Damon in We Bought a Zoo (2011)
    We Bought a Zoo (2011)
    Matt Damon and Colin Ford in We Bought a Zoo (2011)
    Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson in We Bought a Zoo (2011)
    Scarlett Johansson and Maggie Elizabeth Jones in We Bought a Zoo (2011)
    Matt Damon, Cameron Crowe, and Scarlett Johansson in We Bought a Zoo (2011)
    Matt Damon and Cameron Crowe in We Bought a Zoo (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Matt Damon
    Matt Damon
    • Benjamin Mee
    Scarlett Johansson
    Scarlett Johansson
    • Kelly Foster
    Thomas Haden Church
    Thomas Haden Church
    • Duncan Mee
    Elle Fanning
    Elle Fanning
    • Lily Miska
    Colin Ford
    Colin Ford
    • Dylan Mee
    Maggie Elizabeth Jones
    Maggie Elizabeth Jones
    • Rosie Mee
    Angus Macfadyen
    Angus Macfadyen
    • Peter MacCready
    • (as Angus MacFadyen)
    Patrick Fugit
    Patrick Fugit
    • Robin Jones
    John Michael Higgins
    John Michael Higgins
    • Walter Ferris
    Carla Gallo
    Carla Gallo
    • Rhonda Blair
    J.B. Smoove
    J.B. Smoove
    • Mr. Stevens
    • (as JB Smoove)
    Stephanie Szostak
    Stephanie Szostak
    • Katherine Mee
    Michael Panes
    Michael Panes
    • Principal
    Kym Whitley
    Kym Whitley
    • Cashier
    Todd Stanton
    Todd Stanton
    • San Diego Vet
    Lauren Sanchez
    Lauren Sanchez
    • TV Anchor
    Peter Riegert
    Peter Riegert
    • Delbert McGinty
    Roberto Montesinos
    Roberto Montesinos
    • Hugo Chavez
    • Director
      • Cameron Crowe
    • Writers
      • Aline Brosh McKenna(screenplay)
      • Cameron Crowe(screenplay)
      • Benjamin Mee(book)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When Matt Damon's character climbs over the tree the real Benjamin Mee, Milo Mee (Dylan in the movie) and Ella Mee (Rosie in the movie) can be seen as the first family in line. In the scene, Benjamin Mee is wearing what appears to be a Dartmoor Zoological Park cap, which is the actual zoo in England on which the movie is based.
    • Goofs
      Kelly tells Rosie that tigers don't roar, they chuff. In actuality, tigers can roar; chuffing is their alternative to purring.
    • Quotes

      Benjamin Mee: 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.

    • Alternate versions
      The North America DVD includes an alternate audio track that removes the swearing.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #20.46 (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Don't Come Around Here No More
      Written by Tom Petty and David A. Stewart (as Dave Stewart)

      Performed by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

      Courtesy of Geffen Records

      Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

    User reviews264

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    In praise of earnestness
    I am grateful that in this cynical world, there are still artists who are courageous enough not to run from earnestness, but to embrace it. Cameron Crowe has done just that with WE BOUGHT A ZOO. This is a beautiful movie, full of life - truthfully acted, beautifully shot and lovingly directed. I expected to cry (which I did, many times) but I didn't know that it would also be so funny with levity coming just when you need it. Matt Damon was brilliant as the heartbroken but hopeful father. And my only gripe about Thomas Haden Church is that there wasn't more of him! The kids were all brilliant -- not an ounce of self-consciousness to their acting, which is rare when it comes to child actors. And the final scene alone is worth the price of admission. Anyone willing to open his or her heart will fall in love with this movie like I did. Kudos to all involved.
    helpful•132
    37
    • holdenkara
    • Dec 26, 2011

    FAQ2

    • Where is the real zoo that the film is based on?
    • What song is heard when Benjamin is looking for new houses to buy?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 23, 2011 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • 20th Century Fox (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Mua Cả Sở Thú
    • Filming locations
      • Thousand Oaks, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • LBI Entertainment
      • Vinyl Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $50,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $75,624,550
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $9,360,434
      • Dec 25, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $120,081,841
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 4 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
      • Datasat
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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