Big Trouble

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Big Trouble

PG-13

2002

1h 25m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

47%

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106 Reviews

54%

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10,000+ Ratings

Based on Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist Dave Barry's best-selling first novel, Big Trouble tells the story of how a mysterious suitcase brings together, and changes, the lives of a divorced dad, an unhappy housewife, two hitmen, a pair of street thugs, two love struck teens, two FBI men and a psychedelic toad.

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Critics Consensus

With its large cast and frantic comic pacing, Big Trouble labors for slapstick-style hilarity, but it never really gains steam.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 22, 2010

4/5

Sharp, funny movie for high schoolers and up.

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Jeff Strickler

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Nov 6, 2002

1.5/4

In this clumsy attempt to merge farce with satire, the jokes repeatedly miss the mark.

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Robert K. Elder

Chicago Tribune

Jul 20, 2002

2/4

Mostly ... Sonnenfeld mishandles the broad part of the comedic formula, preferring repetition to thematic development.

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Mark Halverson

Sacramento News & Review

Aug 7, 2008

2/5

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Jul 23, 2007

D

Faithful to the events in Barry's novel, lifts a good deal of his witty dialogue, and recruits a proven cast of laugh-winners. Why, then, is it so resolutely unfunny?

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Vanessa Sibbald

Zap2it.com

Feb 24, 2004

3.5/4

The worst thing someone could say about "Big Trouble" is that it's too much like "Get Shorty," which is one of the best reasons to go see the film

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Marcus T

@MarcusT12 Oct 27, 2026

Big Trouble is a little slow getting started with all the quirky characters taking a little while to get sorted, but it gains momentum and keeps on going. The humor is on the zany side and is good for quite few belly laughs. Don't expect any great revelations and you won't be disappointed. Great cast that is well utilized.

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Guy C

@RT84656352 Oct 5, 2026

A very underrated comedy that has a great ensemble cast. I normally don't care for Tim Allen, but he is great in this

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Les N

@Vegas628 Mar 14, 2026

How did I miss this one?

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Darryl W.

@BlackFedoraTheatre Mar 8, 2026

Big fan of Big Trouble! Great writing and wonderful comic performances. Love that in a way it’s a buddy movie but for multiple pairs of characters. Own this movie and return to it when I need some cheer.

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Jared W.

@Jdub666 Dec 20, 2025

Criminally underrated. Would have been far more popular if it hadn't come out just after September 11th.

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Charlie R

@CharlieBRM803 Jun 20, 2025

My biggest revelation was to find this is from a best selling novel by a Pulitzer Prize winning novelist. So that's where they set the bar . . . o . . . kayyy. I would suggest viewing Out Of Sight as a tonic after this.

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Synopsis

Based on Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist Dave Barry's best-selling first novel, Big Trouble tells the story of how a mysterious suitcase brings together, and changes, the lives of a divorced dad, an unhappy housewife, two hitmen, a pair of street thugs, two love struck teens, two FBI men and a psychedelic toad.

Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Producer: Barry Sonnenfeld, Barry Josephson, Tom Jacobson
Screenwriter: Robert Ramsey, Matthew Stone, Dave Barry
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures, Touchstone Pictures
Production Co: Sonnenfeld Josephson Worldwide Ent., Touchstone Pictures, Sundale Productions Inc., Jacobson Company
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Crude Humor|Sex-Related Material)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 5, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.3M
Runtime: 1h 25m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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