Opening

74% World War Z Jun 21
79% Monsters University Jun 21
62% The Bling Ring Jun 21
58% Maniac Jun 21
100% A Hijacking Jun 21
68% Unfinished Song Jun 21
100% The Attack Jun 21
—— The Haunting of Helena Jun 21

Top Box Office

56% Man of Steel $116.6M
85% This Is the End $20.7M
50% Now You See Me $11.0M
71% Fast & Furious 6 $9.6M
38% The Purge $8.3M
34% The Internship $7.1M
62% Epic $6.3M
87% Star Trek Into Darkness $6.3M
11% After Earth $4.1M
78% Iron Man 3 $3.0M

Coming Soon

—— How To Make Money Selling Drugs Jun 26
—— White House Down Jun 28
—— The Heat Jun 28
56% I'm So Excited! Jun 28

Big Fat Liar (2002)

tomatometer

43

Average Rating: 5/10
Reviews Counted: 90
Fresh: 39 | Rotten: 51

Though there's nothing that offensive about Big Fat Liar, it is filled with Hollywood cliches and cartoonish slapstick, making it strictly for kids.

30

Average Rating: 4.3/10
Critic Reviews: 23
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 16

Though there's nothing that offensive about Big Fat Liar, it is filled with Hollywood cliches and cartoonish slapstick, making it strictly for kids.

audience

52

liked it
Average Rating: 2.9/5
User Ratings: 380,844

My Rating

Movie Info

Former co-stars of the TV sitcom Head of the Class teamed up to write the story and script for this teen comedy. When junior high-school student Jason Shepherd (Frankie Muniz) realizes that his class paper has been ripped off and turned into a hit motion picture called "Big Fat Liar," he takes matters into his own hands. Along with his best friend, Kaylee (Amanda Bynes), Jason travels to Los Angeles, where he intends to confront Hollywood big shot Marty Wolf (Paul Giamatti), the sleazy producer

PG,

Comedy, Kids & Family

Dan Schneider

Sep 24, 2002

$47.8M

Universal Pictures - Official Site External Icon

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Cast

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All Critics (104) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (39) | Rotten (51) | DVD (17)

[A]n utterly charming and hilarious film that reminded me of the best of the Disney comedies from the 60s.

February 11, 2002 Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper
Ebert & Roeper
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Home Alone goes Hollywood, a funny premise until the kids start pulling off stunts not even Steven Spielberg would know how to do. Besides, real movie producers aren't this nice.

February 11, 2002
ABCNEWS.COM
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Manages to be sweet and wickedly satisfying at the same time.

February 8, 2002 Full Review Source: Washington Post
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Unless you're part of the Nickelodeon Nation, the cold, hard truth is you're better off dropping your 'tween at the multiplex and spending that hour and a half doing something more worthwhile.

February 8, 2002 Full Review Source: Seattle Times
Seattle Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A children's movie that's almost worth seeing even when not accompanied by a child.

February 8, 2002 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Really likeable family comedy set in cutthroat Hollywood.

December 22, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment (1)
Common Sense Media

...for a so-called comedy, there are few laughs to be had.

August 1, 2003 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews
Reel Film Reviews

Billed as a family film, only very young children will be able to dive into the story without banging their heads.

May 20, 2003
Palo Alto Weekly

...a well-meaning but brain-dead film...

February 8, 2003 Full Review Source: Film Quips Online
Film Quips Online

Looks like a so-so TV movie that kept getting zeros put on its budget without the gags being added in equal measure.

January 30, 2003 Full Review Source: RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)

A hilarious film for anyone who remembers lying as a kid -- and anyone who wants to see a movie that's just plain fun.

December 8, 2002 Full Review Source: Film Threat
Film Threat

The makers of Big Fat Liar understand kids. That alone earns it a place in the list of genuinely funny comedies for kids.

October 15, 2002 Full Review Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati Enquirer

Even adults will appreciate the comedy, and making a film that gets the whole family chuckling is tougher than it sounds.

September 13, 2002

Uneven at best, but it has a certain giddy charm that makes it worth checking out.

August 29, 2002 Full Review Source: Montreal Film Journal
Montreal Film Journal

It's crafty, energetic and smart -- the kid is sort of like a fourteen-year old Ferris Bueller.

July 16, 2002

It's more enjoyable than I expected, though, and that's because the laughs come from fairly basic comedic constructs. Cinematic pratfalls given a working over. The cast is spot on and the mood is laid back.

July 4, 2002 Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile
Urban Cinefile

A fitfully amusing romp that, if nothing else, will appeal to fans of Malcolm in the Middle and its pubescent star, Frankie Muniz.

June 11, 2002 Full Review Source: BBC

Can’t quite work itself up to affirm that Lying is Bad, but proclaims with great conviction that The Truth Isn’t Overrated.

May 9, 2002 Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide
Decent Films Guide

...rarely rises above the level of a decent sitcom...

April 16, 2002 Full Review Source: Countingdown.com
Countingdown.com

The movie thinks it's being funny simply by throwing concepts up on the screen.

April 1, 2002 Full Review Source: Film Blather
Film Blather

Big Fat Liar is just futile silliness looking to tap into the kiddie sensibilities.

March 4, 2002 Full Review Source: Movie Eye
Movie Eye

I have yet to be disappointed by Paul Giamatti, regardless of the actual vehicle.

March 2, 2002 Full Review

Charming and funny (but ultimately silly) movie.

February 23, 2002 Full Review Source: Film Journal International
Film Journal International

Most of the jokes can be spotted a mile away.

February 16, 2002 Full Review Source: eye WEEKLY
eye WEEKLY

Another so-called 'family film' that will only have appeal to a certain segment of the household unit.

February 15, 2002 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com
TheMovieReport.com

Audience Reviews for Big Fat Liar

A good comedy, not great!
June 23, 2011
murphmann93
Bethany Murphy

Super Reviewer

I loved this as a kid, but now as I watch it again, it's not that good. It has it's moments though. The whole "blue" part with Paul Giamatti makes it hilarious.

Grade: B-
January 23, 2011
CreedsDelight

Super Reviewer

    1. Marty Wolf: God bless you all, God bless America, & God Bless BIG FAT LIAR! [everyone cheers]
    – Submitted by David E (5 months ago)
    1. Marty Wolf: [almost hits a car] GET GLASSES, GRANDMA!
    2. Old Lady: UP YOURS, BLUE BOY!
    – Submitted by David E (6 months ago)
    1. Marty Wolf: [after seeing himself dyed in blue] OH MY... GOD!
    – Submitted by David E (6 months ago)

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Latest News on Big Fat Liar

January 31, 2006:
Levy's "Museum" Hires a Few New Staff Members
Zap2it.com reports that British funnyman Ricky Gervais has signed on to appear in Shawn Levy's...
October 7, 2005:
Sommers Out, Levy In on "Museum"
Since Stephen ("The Mummy") Sommers will be helming the "When Worlds Collide"...
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