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The Big Empty

Play trailer Poster for The Big Empty R 2003 1h 34m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
67% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 48% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Struggling actor John Person (Jon Favreau) agrees to drive a blue suitcase from Los Angeles to the small town of Baker, Calif., and hand it over to a mysterious cowboy in return for having his credit card debt of $27,000 paid off. Upon his arrival, John can't find the cowboy but receives an ominously head-shaped package he's supposed to hang onto. While waiting, John gets close to Ruthie (Rachael Leigh Cook), whose psychotic boyfriend, Randy (Adam Beach), keeps threatening to kill him.
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The Big Empty

Critics Reviews

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Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times 11/20/2003
3/5
The Big Empty is much more a romantic fable than Swingers, the singles comedy that established Favreau but has a similarly jovial, unpretentious charm. Go to Full Review Christopher Null Filmcritic.com 05/02/2004
3/5
If any film is destined to find a cult audience on DVD, it's The Big Empty. Go to Full Review Todd Gilchrist FilmStew.com 12/03/2003
Thanks to Favreau, even the film's most ridiculous detours carry a certain plausibility; he shines his indignities on and perseveres, and we can't help but sympathize. Go to Full Review Josh Bell Las Vegas Weekly 11/21/2003
2/5
Anderson squanders the setting's potential and a cast of indie-movie all-stars in his muddled and weak feature. Go to Full Review Chuck Wilson L.A. Weekly 11/20/2003
More amiable than laugh-out-loud funny. Go to Full Review Carlo Cavagna AboutFilm.com 11/15/2003
F
Some may praise The Big Empty as a poor man's David Lynch-meets-The X-Files, but it's more of a starving homeless man's David Lynch-meets-The X-Files. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 06/19/2025 Unfunny in 1 hour and 34 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more 04/18/2017 If you are led to this movie, it is a sign. 1111 <3 See more 04/28/2015 A quirky dark comedy that has slightly sinister fun with a bunch of familiar memes from SF and suspense thrillers. Well written; well acted; and well made. See more 02/09/2014 A quirky comedy-thriller with decidedly noir feel. It sounds like a bizarre combination but it works. Unfortunately the movie tries to be a bit too clever, and some the story's potential doesn't quite materialize. It could have been much more, but settles for a slight and easily forgettable comedy. See more 07/24/2013 Interesting ride to an uninteresting destination. See more inta k @intuciic 04/26/2013 there was something in this movie, although it could be done in a better way! was nice to see Fasier actor there!:) See more Read all reviews
The Big Empty

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Cast & Crew

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Steve Anderson

Director

Jon Favreau

John Person

Joey Lauren Adams

Grace

Bud Cort

Neely

Jon Gries

Elron

Daryl Hannah

Stella

Movie Clips

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The Big Empty

The Big Empty: Official Clip - Dan the Conspiracy Theory Man The Big Empty: Official Clip - Dan the Conspiracy Theory Man 1:58 The Big Empty: Official Clip - I'm Just a Cowboy The Big Empty: Official Clip - I'm Just a Cowboy 3:00 The Big Empty: Official Clip - Whip Cream and Jack Daniels The Big Empty: Official Clip - Whip Cream and Jack Daniels 2:15 The Big Empty: Official Clip - A Tough Old Road The Big Empty: Official Clip - A Tough Old Road 2:17 The Big Empty: Official Clip - The Blue Suitcase The Big Empty: Official Clip - The Blue Suitcase 3:50 The Big Empty: Official Clip - Quiet Desperation The Big Empty: Official Clip - Quiet Desperation 2:41 The Big Empty: Official Clip - Pistol vs. Chainsaw The Big Empty: Official Clip - Pistol vs. Chainsaw 1:52 The Big Empty: Official Clip - Candy 4 U The Big Empty: Official Clip - Candy 4 U 3:03 The Big Empty: Official Clip - The Man in Black The Big Empty: Official Clip - The Man in Black 2:00 View more videos

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The Big Empty

A scene from the film "The Big Empty." A scene from the film "The Big Empty." A scene from the film "The Big Empty." A scene from the film "The Big Empty." A scene from the film "The Big Empty." A scene from the film "The Big Empty." A scene from the film "The Big Empty." A scene from the film "The Big Empty." A scene from the film "The Big Empty." A scene from the film "The Big Empty." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Struggling actor John Person (Jon Favreau) agrees to drive a blue suitcase from Los Angeles to the small town of Baker, Calif., and hand it over to a mysterious cowboy in return for having his credit card debt of $27,000 paid off. Upon his arrival, John can't find the cowboy but receives an ominously head-shaped package he's supposed to hang onto. While waiting, John gets close to Ruthie (Rachael Leigh Cook), whose psychotic boyfriend, Randy (Adam Beach), keeps threatening to kill him.
Director
Steve Anderson
Producer
Doug Mankoff, Gregg L. Daniel, Andrew Spaulding, Keith Resnick
Screenwriter
Steve Anderson
Production Co
Artisan Entertainment
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 16, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 8, 2016
Runtime
1h 34m
Sound Mix
Surround