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IMDbPro

The Way Way Back

  • 20132013
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
153K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,856
224
Toni Collette, Allison Janney, Sam Rockwell, Steve Carell, Liam James, Maya Rudolph, and AnnaSophia Robb in The Way Way Back (2013)
Over the course of his summer break, a teenager comes into his own thanks in part to the friendship he strikes up with one of the park's managers.
Play trailer2:32
38 Videos
68 Photos
ComedyDrama
Shy 14-year-old Duncan goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and her boyfriend's daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in ... Read allShy 14-year-old Duncan goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and her boyfriend's daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park.Shy 14-year-old Duncan goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and her boyfriend's daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
153K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,856
224
  • Directors
    • Nat Faxon
    • Jim Rash
  • Writers
    • Nat Faxon
    • Jim Rash
  • Stars
    • Steve Carell
    • Toni Collette
    • Allison Janney
  • Directors
    • Nat Faxon
    • Jim Rash
  • Writers
    • Nat Faxon
    • Jim Rash
  • Stars
    • Steve Carell
    • Toni Collette
    • Allison Janney
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 311User reviews
    • 288Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 30 nominations

    Videos38

    Version 1
    Trailer 2:32
    Watch Version 1
    The Way, Way Back
    Clip 0:51
    Watch The Way, Way Back
    The Way, Way Back
    Clip 1:06
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    The Way, Way Back
    Clip 1:15
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    The Way, Way Back
    Clip 1:05
    Watch The Way, Way Back
    The Way, Way Back
    Clip 0:37
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    The Way, Way Back
    Clip 1:24
    Watch The Way, Way Back
    The Way Way Back: Carry A Laser
    Clip 1:20
    Watch The Way Way Back: Carry A Laser
    The Way Way Back: Is It A Homicide
    Clip 1:01
    Watch The Way Way Back: Is It A Homicide
    The Way Way Back: Relentless
    Clip 1:06
    Watch The Way Way Back: Relentless
    The Way Way Back: That's The One You Wait For
    Clip 1:01
    Watch The Way Way Back: That's The One You Wait For
    The Way Way Back: Return To Your Lady Friend
    Clip 1:11
    Watch The Way Way Back: Return To Your Lady Friend

    Photos68

    Toni Collette and Liam James in The Way Way Back (2013)
    Liam James in The Way Way Back (2013)
    Nat Faxon and Liam James in The Way Way Back (2013)
    Toni Collette, Sam Rockwell, Steve Carell, Liam James, and Zoe Levin in The Way Way Back (2013)
    Liam James and AnnaSophia Robb in The Way Way Back (2013)
    Allison Janney in The Way Way Back (2013)
    Maya Rudolph in The Way Way Back (2013)
    Toni Collette and Steve Carell in The Way Way Back (2013)
    Liam James and AnnaSophia Robb in The Way Way Back (2013)
    Toni Collette, Allison Janney, and Steve Carell in The Way Way Back (2013)
    Sam Rockwell, Liam James, and Jim Rash in The Way Way Back (2013)
    Toni Collette and Liam James in The Way Way Back (2013)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Steve Carell
    Steve Carell
    • Trent
    Toni Collette
    Toni Collette
    • Pam
    Allison Janney
    Allison Janney
    • Betty
    AnnaSophia Robb
    AnnaSophia Robb
    • Susanna
    Sam Rockwell
    Sam Rockwell
    • Owen
    Maya Rudolph
    Maya Rudolph
    • Caitlin
    Liam James
    Liam James
    • Duncan
    Rob Corddry
    Rob Corddry
    • Kip
    Amanda Peet
    Amanda Peet
    • Joan
    River Alexander
    River Alexander
    • Peter
    Zoe Levin
    Zoe Levin
    • Steph
    Nat Faxon
    Nat Faxon
    • Roddy
    Jim Rash
    Jim Rash
    • Lewis
    Adam Riegler
    • Neil
    Jeremy Weaver
    • Jason
    Robert Capron
    Robert Capron
    • Kyle
    • (as Robert Banfield Capron)
    Rodney Lodge
    • Malcolm
    Devon Werden
    • Laura
    • Directors
      • Nat Faxon
      • Jim Rash
    • Writers
      • Nat Faxon
      • Jim Rash
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In an interview, writer/director Jim Rash said the script's main inspiration was the opening scene, inspired by a similar conversation he had with his own stepfather when he was 14.
    • Goofs
      Microphone visible inside Owen's shirt when he and Duncan are on top of slide.
    • Quotes

      Owen: You disappoint me, kid. You're late. You planning on making a habit of this?

      Duncan: What?

      Owen: You're fired!

      Duncan: But I just...

      Owen: [sticks out his hand] You make a valid point. Welcome back. With benefits.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #21.185 (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      For The Time Being
      Written by Edie Brickell

      Performed by Edie Brickell and The Gaddabouts

    User reviews311

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Water Wizzdom
    Greetings again from the darkness. OK, before you accuse me of being the world's worst speller, you should know that my title "Water Wizzdom" is a play on words ... the waterpark in the film is known as Water Wizz and Sam Rockwell plays Owen, the man-child mentor to Liam James' Duncan. Duncan is a miserable 14 year old stuck in a beach house with his mom, her obnoxious boyfriend, and his snobby daughter.

    Steve Carell plays Trent, the condescending and bullying boyfriend who has no redeeming qualities that we can see (other than the beach house and a nice tan). Duncan's mom is played by Toni Collette, and her character Pam is a divorced, insecure single mom trying to balance her own happiness with that of her teen-angst-filled son. Pam and Duncan are the outsiders in this beach community as we quickly learn when next door neighbor Betty (Allison Janney) shows up with drink in hand and gossip for all.

    The well worn movie signs are all here ... we recognize the characters and their struggles, in fact, we all know someone like each of the people that co-writers and co-directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash present to us. We understand quickly that this is yet another coming-of-age tale with mostly clueless adults. Despite that, this one still mostly works. The writing and acting are such high quality that even though we are living in movie cliché-land, we still find ourselves caring about Duncan and Pam, laughing at Owen, and tossing tomatoes at Trent (Carell).

    Special recognition to Sam Rockwell. Even though Duncan is the key character, it's Rockwell's Owen who recognizes that a little faith and encouragement goes a long way. Behind the facade of rapid-fire banter and laugh-inducing one-liners, Owen is coming to grips with a life of reality and shattered dreams. While never stooping to the typical Hollywood "win one for the Gipper" speech, Owen manages to instill a bit of confidence in Duncan ... to the point where he refuses to let his mother pretend everything is OK with Trent.

    AnnaSophia Robb plays the cute girl-next-door who recognizes potential in Duncan, but the filmmakers never allow this to turn into some ridiculous fairy tale. Instead we get characters who are each flawed, but real and recognizable. While all the typical pieces are present, there is enough crackle to the dialogue and quality acting to help this one rise above the usual muck. It's a nice "little" alternative to the giant summer blockbusters. Nat Faxon and Jim Rash won an Oscar for co-writing The Descendants with Alexander Payne. In their directorial debut, they prove that they also have skills as filmmakers. The next one could be even better!
    helpful•50
    25
    • ferguson-6
    • Jul 7, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 26, 2013 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Way Back
    • Filming locations
      • Water Wizz - 3031 Cranberry Hwy, East Wareham, Massachusetts, USA
    • Production companies
      • Sycamore Pictures
      • The Walsh Company
      • Madison Wells
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $21,506,546
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $552,788
      • Jul 7, 2013
    • Gross worldwide
      • $26,474,920
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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