We Bought a Zoo

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We Bought a Zoo

PG

2011

2h 4m

Kids & Family

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

64%

Tomatometer

171 Reviews

71%

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100,000+ Ratings

Following his wife's untimely death, Los Angeles journalist Benjamin Mee decides to make a fresh start by quitting his job and moving his children to an 18-acre property containing the Rosemoor Wildlife Park. Though closed for years, Rosemoor is still home to many animals, cared for by Kelly Foster and her small staff. Mee opens his heart and his checkbook as he, Kelly and the others work to renovate and reopen the zoo.

Critics Consensus

We Bought a Zoo is a transparently cloying effort by director Cameron Crowe, but Matt Damon makes for a sympathetic central character.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

08/31/2018

Everything is, indeed, tied up exactly the way you know it will be tied up, because it is that sort of film, but it still provides a perfectly agreeable way to spend the two hours you weren't going to do anything with anyway.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

03/19/2012

3/5

It unfolds like military assault on the tear ducts. Don't know when to cry? Here comes Sigur Rs' Jnsi with an evocative sonic swoop to help you on your way.

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David Sexton

London Evening Standard

03/16/2012

3/5

You have to admire the thoroughness with which We Bought a Zoo - which is the film Disney would make if they still knew how - caters to the whole family.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

03/06/2023

2.5/4

Crowe’s film doesn’t love animals the way it should and never acknowledges the intangible way in which animals affect humans.

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

08/21/2022

2/5

...a movie that’s full of forced sentiment and familiar themes that play out exactly as they have in countless other films.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

06/26/2022

4/5

The wonderful interactions and work with the animal co-stars is well done, but it's only effective window dressing to the real project.

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Yash B

@yashbansal May 14

"We Bought a Zoo" does what it needs to do to be a satisfying PG-rated family movie. I feel like the movie's themes are something most can latch onto, and it is very touching in many moments. The premise gets started quickly, and then for a while, I felt the movie became a bit repetitive. I still think it is an engaging story that is bolstered well by Matt Damon's lead performance. I don't think all of the dialogue always necessarily works, but I felt the emotions the movie wanted me to feel, so it was fairly effective. Overall, it is a sweet movie that audiences of all ages can enjoy together, which has something entertaining for everyone.

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Daniel M

@MazzaQuePasa Feb 20

It was a good wholesome movie that was charming

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Nathan T

@FieryRavens Jan 14

Such an amazing movie that I never get tired of seeing.

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Frans B

@FransB Jan 5

Cameron Crowe did good with this one. Forget the harsh technical scrutiny, it entertains. Well written, great cinematography and visually stunning. Damon and Johansson shines in character, well whole cast convinces in character. Easy to watch, popular with kids and some good quotes to boot. Enjoyed it

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Tyler G

@tylergross121 Jul 30

Pretty good. It is painfully earnest and lacking cynicism, but I have come to expect that from Crowe. It works better than Vanilla Sky and Elizabethtown, but not as well as Say Anything and Jerry Maguire.

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Mike P

@RT09890132 Jul 15

You bought a zoo? Well Coo Coo Ca Choo Matt Damon! At least you and Cameron Crowe aren't resorting to making alot of studio financed garbage! I mean THIS is a movie that'll really change the world! Platypii of the world, UNITE!! Attica! Attica!

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Cameron Crowe

Director

Matt Damon

Benjamin Mee

Scarlett Johansson

Kelly Foster

Thomas Haden Church

Duncan Mee

Patrick Fugit

Robin Jones

Colin Ford

Dylan Mee

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Synopsis

Following his wife's untimely death, Los Angeles journalist Benjamin Mee decides to make a fresh start by quitting his job and moving his children to an 18-acre property containing the Rosemoor Wildlife Park. Though closed for years, Rosemoor is still home to many animals, cared for by Kelly Foster and her small staff. Mee opens his heart and his checkbook as he, Kelly and the others work to renovate and reopen the zoo.

Director: Cameron Crowe
Producer: Julie Yorn, Cameron Crowe, Rick Yorn
Screenwriter: Aline Brosh McKenna, Cameron Crowe
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Dune, Twentieth Century Fox, Vinyl Films
Rating: PG (Some Thematic Elements|Language)
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 23, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $75.6M
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital