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Big Fish
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Big Fish

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

Screenwriter:

John August, Daniel Wallace

Starring:

Billy Crudup, Steve Buscemi, Danny DeVito, Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Jessica Lange, Alison Lohman, Helena Bonham Carter, Missi Pyle, Marion Cotillard, David Denman, Robert Guillaume

Genres:

Romance, Drama, Fantasy, Adventure

Country:

USA

Languages:

English, Cantonese
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Big Fish

2003
Romance, Drama
2h 5m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 60.11% from 14907 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
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
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
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
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
kubricksuckskubricksucks
Rated 11 Mar 2007
60
14th
Tim Burton can't do a goddamn thing right without clay
Rated 11 Mar 2007
mwgerbmwgerb
Rated 01 Oct 2013
56
55th
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
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
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
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
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
timmotimmo
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
66th
I wept.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
imomercetinImOmerCetin
Rated 07 May 2021
60
29th
Okay.
Rated 07 May 2021
magdabagmagdabag
Rated 01 Oct 2020
89
75th
I'm a big fan of big fish, and you could be too!
Rated 01 Oct 2020
carpetgiantCarpetgiant
Rated 09 May 2014
87
74th
One Burton, two Burton, red Burton, blue Burton.
Rated 09 May 2014
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
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
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
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
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
ozleemozleem
Rated 22 Oct 2010
84
82nd
hayal mi gerçek mi?
Rated 22 Oct 2010
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
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
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
rtomatoesRTomatoes
Rated 29 May 2009
77
69th
A charming father-and-son tale filled with typical Tim Burton flourishes.
Rated 29 May 2009
cahadras1Cahadras1
Rated 15 Apr 2009
96
96th
I love it
Rated 15 Apr 2009
cultofsamecult_of_same
Rated 15 Nov 2008
85
98th
A reimagined life with saturated colour <3 <3
Rated 15 Nov 2008
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
bampbamp
Rated 08 Jul 2008
90
62nd
ewan, billy, family stuffs.
Rated 08 Jul 2008
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
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
purgatospurgatos
Rated 15 May 2008
69
46th
Manipulative and sappy, but looks really pretty.
Rated 15 May 2008
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
alex_watkinsAlex Watkins
Rated 05 Jan 2008
3
38th
S'alright.
Rated 05 Jan 2008
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
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
rockwellrockwell
Rated 14 Aug 2007
60
24th
we get it tim burton you are excentric
Rated 14 Aug 2007
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
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
fabfunkfabfunk
Rated 14 Aug 2007
53
46th
Superficial but mostly pleasing drama about a stubborn son and his fantastical father.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
nrhughesnrhughes
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
72nd
Poignant, charming, and all around a beautiful film.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
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
chiliChili
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
81st
Great feel to throughout the whole film. Very enjoyable and very grabbing.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
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
lokiLoki
Rated 14 Aug 2007
80
73rd
Thoughtful and moving and full of great Burton visuals.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
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
duaneneitzelDuaneNeitzel
Rated 14 Aug 2007
65
35th
The parent's story is good. The son's angst is tiresome.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 14 Aug 2007
58
48th
Eye-poppingly eccentric on one hand, maudlin on the other.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
cclzaCCLZA
Rated 17 Feb 2007
60
33rd
Sadly, it's a beautifully over-stylized case of poor direction and writing.
Rated 17 Feb 2007
muhammadjhhMuhammadjhh
Rated 21 Sep 2024
75
58th
Good
Rated 21 Sep 2024
rotaciravrotacirav
Rated 29 Aug 2024
52
52nd
kudos for being surreal in Hollywood, but that doesn’t actually make it less cliché
Rated 29 Aug 2024
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
bookhouseboybookhouseboy
Rated 14 Feb 2024
65
87th
#24#, rw3, liked, cast!, "Project 100-80-60-40-20"-2003#3, oldies(2) }*{ #00s(m)#, ratings, story, director Burton, cast!
Rated 14 Feb 2024
plasticprimateplasticprimate
Rated 02 Jan 2024
90
27th
Tim Burton's best live-action film. Heartfelt, nostalgic, and imaginative.
Rated 02 Jan 2024
thatyoungmthatyoungm
Rated 05 Oct 2023
88
60th
Burton is able to let his weird sense of humor and creativity fly here in a film that feels more grounded in old school filmmaking than the director's previous, more goth/steampunk tinged aesthetic. Many compare this to Forrest Gump and, similar to that film, at times the plot does seems a little episodic. But the truly magical conclusion, the beautiful cinematography and special effects, and the character actors that pop up in unexpected roles make this worthwhile.
Rated 05 Oct 2023
tpbradburytpbradbury
Rated 03 Jul 2023
53
46th
A bit disappointing
Rated 03 Jul 2023
kingcrim413kingcrim413
Rated 30 Jun 2023
55
3rd
A cheesy, overly nostalgic celebration of storytelling. Though its insistent sentimentality did tug at my heartstrings a little bit, it always felt forced and never earned, save for maybe the payoff at the end. Billy Crudup's performance was wooden and distant, which perhaps lent itself to the character, perhaps not, though it certainly failed to endear me to him. I can't say it aged well.
Rated 30 Jun 2023
omniavanitasOmniaVanitas
Rated 20 May 2023
4
68th
I expected this to be glurgy out-of-touch feel-good tripe, but you know what? It actually is pretty heartwarming. Who knew.
Rated 20 May 2023
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
tevtev
Rated 15 Mar 2023
45
41st
had to watch this in school
Rated 15 Mar 2023
jimmcl61JimMcL61
Rated 25 Nov 2021
90
26th
Qwerky, but mind bending. Very creative story telling.
Rated 25 Nov 2021
croweycrowey
Rated 16 Nov 2021
80
79th
This would be an all time favorite if I didn't think the ending was a little weak. Contentwise, it wasn't bad, but somehow it just lacked in other ways and cheapened the rest of the film. That said, still worth watching, still an incredible work of cinema. The son was an incredibly irritating smug bastard, and total disappointment given the father.
Rated 16 Nov 2021
monsieurmonsieur
Rated 09 Oct 2021
46
20th
Exhausting
Rated 09 Oct 2021
hawkinsHawkins
Rated 19 Aug 2021
78
65th
Nobody in this movie actually has a believable southern accent but that's okay. Floating popcorn scene is still movie magic. Unfortunately the 'stalk her until she loves you' take on courtship is woooff. I don't get why this guy pursues an engaged woman he doesn't know but runs away from a perfectly horny Missi Pyle hitting on him.
Rated 19 Aug 2021
greenerGreener
Rated 29 May 2021
83
89th
I'm not a big fan of ridiculous fables myself, so I could better sympathize with the son, and maybe that's why I was able to wholeheartedly enjoy his journey throughout the movie.
Rated 29 May 2021
seideseide
Rated 28 Apr 2021
65
6th
might be good but made me tired while I am watching.
Rated 28 Apr 2021
bartbaardBartbaard
Rated 13 Mar 2021
65
55th
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
margustaMargusTa
Rated 05 Feb 2021
91
90th
I cried many times during this movie. Not because it was sad but beautiful it was. Tim Burtons style beautiful. After some mediocre movies, Burton delivers true gem. As this movie came to cinemas at the very end of 2003, its the fabulous endnote of that great year of movies.
Rated 05 Feb 2021
gatoquentegatoquente
Rated 04 Aug 2020
97
90th
It started like any normal family conversation, then the story begins to blossom like a beautiful flower that shows various shades of hues and fragrances all pleasant to the senses. Though some episodes border in fairy tale, the movie retains its power to make you smile and cry as you ponder your own journey in life. MY SCORING: 99-96=Great; 95-90=Very good; 89-85=Good; 84-80=So-so; 79-70=Boring; 69-1=Forget it
Rated 04 Aug 2020
chengmingchengming
Rated 06 May 2020
70
62nd
I first watched this movie in my formative years. It's message of not letting reality get in the way of a good story impressed me deeply, and I still think back to it frequently. Given that powerful message, it's a bit sad to see how often this dips into clichés (not least in the generic road movie soundtrack).
Rated 06 May 2020
jmjones001jmjones001
Rated 17 Mar 2020
98
90th
REALLY enjoyed this movie. At first I was somewhat hesitant, but found it very amusing and inspiring.
Rated 17 Mar 2020
mckmollymck_molly
Rated 13 Mar 2020
65
76th
☆ This is possibly one of the least Tim-Burton-y films he did, but I am a fan. It's super iconic in it's own way, and somehow gives me forrest gump meets princess bride vibes? Really sweet film. ☆
Rated 13 Mar 2020
matthagenmatthagen
Rated 11 Mar 2020
96
98th
Seen: 3.
Rated 11 Mar 2020
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
zanginZangin
Rated 02 Aug 2019
77
78th
This is a movie that really captured my imagination as a child. And now, well over a decade later, I approach it with some of the same disillusionment as the son displays in this film.Today, I find that although some of the magic is lost for me now, it still packs an emotional punch and tells a phenomenal story.
Rated 02 Aug 2019
metalhankmetalhank
Rated 16 Feb 2019
62
51st
I dunno, it didn't really connect with me, and I like Burton films and I really like fantasy as well. I should probably give er another go some day.
Rated 16 Feb 2019
velvet_croweVelvet Crowe
Rated 31 Dec 2018
38
33rd
Nauseating garbage. On one end I do like how the narrator was used to justify the exaggerations of the story, but this was used to poor effect as the movie tries too hard to make us think Edward is the greatest human being on the planet (despite being the most easily manipulated moron imaginable) and much of the visual symbolism comes across as pretentious. When everything in the movie is designed to just make me think the lead of character is this great, morally perfect human being you lost me.
Rated 31 Dec 2018
lethiaslethias
Rated 27 Jul 2018
90
89th
This is why I watch movies and this is why movies are made. Life sometimes sucks and we have to take it seriously, but sometimes life doesn't have to be so serious and stuff shouldn't be taken so seriously. For our own good. Movie is not perfect, far from it, but it gives you lifelong lessons that are more important than this score, review or mistakes made.
Rated 27 Jul 2018
milkacowmilkacow
Rated 05 Jul 2018
100
96th
Had a great time. And couldn't think of a better ending to the movie. Had some quotes i used for many years. Best family movie ever.
Rated 05 Jul 2018
90scoffee90sCoffee
Rated 10 Jan 2018
73
39th
Ambitiously cheesy
Rated 10 Jan 2018
jordanraidenjordanraiden
Rated 19 Dec 2017
4
1st
7/7
Rated 19 Dec 2017
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
fmoraesfmoraes
Rated 05 Oct 2017
50
15th
2017/10/03
Rated 05 Oct 2017
buffratingsbuffratings
Rated 23 Jul 2017
83
64th
Big Fish goes to show that Tim Burton hasn't lost his touch, providing audiences with one of his most accessible, yet unconventional, films to date.
Rated 23 Jul 2017
seenmanyseenmany
Rated 30 Mar 2017
87
76th
Along with everything it also gives a message that what makes a father happy is when his son starts doing things the father used to do. He would be extremely happy if he sees the son make the sacrifices he himself made.
Rated 30 Mar 2017
muutanetmuutanet
Rated 13 Jan 2017
77
77th
Nice storyline but I did not prefer much the style of the overacting.
Rated 13 Jan 2017
gorillanoshGorillaNosh
Rated 11 Jan 2017
90
59th
a bit a whimsey breathes life into one mans attempt to color his life...
Rated 11 Jan 2017
tonyway814tonyway814
Rated 28 Nov 2016
76
29th
cool movie , pretty sweet story
Rated 28 Nov 2016
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
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
rossRoss
Rated 03 Aug 2016
85
89th
The film is a little melodramatic, but is a beautiful and creative exploration of the father-son relationship. The acting is superb.
Rated 03 Aug 2016
sonoftaumpysonoftaumpy
Rated 23 Jul 2016
90
68th
Tim Burton's best drama under Ed Wood.
Rated 23 Jul 2016
cstewart64CStewart64
Rated 27 Apr 2016
17
94th
W4E1P2S2V2M1A2R3.
Rated 27 Apr 2016
zulfisaidzulfisaid
Rated 27 Apr 2016
80
72nd
İnsan o kadar çok hikaye anlatırsa kendisi hikaye olur
Rated 27 Apr 2016
recklessmessrecklessmess
Rated 25 Mar 2016
92
98th
I love a happy ending, and not just the kind you get at that massage parlor on the Lower East Side...
Rated 25 Mar 2016
war_machineWar Machine
Rated 02 Mar 2016
90
93rd
rvw
Rated 02 Mar 2016
baranatamanbaranataman
Rated 16 Jan 2016
93
71st
Brilliant movie ! I love Tim Burton universes in each of his movies ! Also, it has a striking ending which made me want to cry. A bit not-exiting in the middle of the movie, but totally I love this movie.
Rated 16 Jan 2016

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