Fly Away Home

1996

Fly Away Home

Critics Consensus

Well-acted and beautifully filmed, Fly Away Home offers heartwarming entertainment for moviegoers of all ages.

87%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 46

69%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 58,667
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Fly Away Home Photos

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Movie Info

Carroll Ballard returns to the form of his 1979 classic, "The Black Stallion" with this heartwarming, stunningly photographed tale about a father and daughter who train a flock of abandoned geese to follow their ultralight planes from Canada to a winter home in North Carolina.

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Cast

Jeff Daniels
as Thomas Alden
Anna Paquin
as Amy Alden
Dana Delany
as Susan Barnes
Terry Kinney
as David Alden
Holter Graham
as Barry Strickland
Jeremy Ratchford
as Glen Seifert
Deborah Verginella
as Amy's Mother
Michael J. Reynolds
as General
David Hemblen
as Dr. Killian
Ken James
as Developer
Nora Ballard
as Jackie
Sarena Paton
as Laura
Carmen Lishman
as Older Girl
Christi Soper Hill
as Older Girl
Judith Orban
as Teacher
Jeff Braunstein
as Chairman
John Friesen
as Smalltown Businessman
Chris Benson
as Farmer
Kevin Jubinville
as Military Police
Philip Akin
as Air Force Reporter
Gladys O'Connor
as Farm Woman
Geoff McBride
as Clerk
Dick Callahan
as Customs Inspector
Cheryl MacInnis
as Reporter
Mark Wilson
as Reporter
J. Craig Sandy
as Reporter
Wendy Walsh
as Televison Anchor
Larry McCormick
as Television Anchor
Richard Saxton
as Television Anchor
Linden Chiles
as Television Anchor
Timm Zemanek
as Husband
Diane Douglass
as Wife
Azura Bates
as Bratty Sister
Jonathan Bates
as Bratty Brother
Michael Vollans
as Bratty Brother
Michael Copeman
as Gun Shop Owner
John E. Nelles
as Tower Supervisor
Jeffrey W. Poulis
as Tower Operator
Christopher Lorenz
as Tower Operator
Melissa Tanti
as Dune Woman
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Critic Reviews for Fly Away Home

All Critics (46) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (40) | Rotten (6)

  • No better children's film has appeared all year, but my bet is it'll be the grown-ups, not the kids, who come away with a lump in the throat.

    Feb 26, 2018 | Full Review…

    David Ansen

    Newsweek
    Top Critic

  • The dynamic between Daniels' vigorous, if self-involved, artist father and Paquin's initially sullen, eventually self-discovering teenager is warmly and believably conveyed, with both thesps doing strongly individualistic work.

    Nov 27, 2008

    Todd McCarthy

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • Anna Paquin proves again what an expressive, soulful actress she is, and Daniels' madcap dad is a winning study in hippy ingenuity and indefatigability.

    Jan 26, 2006 | Full Review…
    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • The tender beauty of Carroll Ballard's ''Fly Away Home'' goes well beyond what might be expected from a movie about things that hatch.

    Jan 1, 2000

    Janet Maslin

    New York Times
    Top Critic

  • From bumbling infants to majestic adults, a flock hasn't been this charismatic onscreen since Hitchcock went bird-watching.

    Jan 1, 2000 | Rating: 3.5/4

    Susan Wloszczyna

    USA Today
    Top Critic

  • It's a movie about dreamers that, for once, doesn't make you feel like a sap for buying into their dreams.

    Jan 1, 2000 | Full Review…

    Hal Hinson

    Washington Post
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (46)

Audience Reviews for Fly Away Home

  • Sep 06, 2010
    I hadn't realized that this was based on a true story, but either way it's a good family drama with ducks. Yes, ducks. Father and daughter have to work together to raise these cute little ducklings. The actors are good, the story is good, and the ending is cool.
    Aj V Super Reviewer
  • Jan 13, 2010
    Not as inspirational as meeting the man in person but this was a nicely executed simple film of hope and inspiration.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Sep 11, 2009
    In "Fly Away Home," a young girl named Amy (Anna Paquin), has to go live with her dad (Jeff Daniels) in Canada after her mom dies. She doesn't remember her dad or where he lives that well, so she's real lonely. That is, until she raises some geese. Like you might expect, these geese think Amy is their mom and they become VERY spoiled :-) . But that's not bad. The bad part is that winter is coming up and the geese have to somehow find out how to migrate to the South. If you like family movies at all, I recommend getting "Fly Away Home." It's a good movie that has a great story to go along with it. It's not only about becoming friends with animals, it's a story about growing up and learning to adapt to new people and a new place to live. "Fly Away Home" also has good cinematography and the acting isn't bad either. Get this high-flyer before it flies away! NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2001. Good movie.
    Jason O Super Reviewer
  • Mar 18, 2009
    Cheesy feel-good kid greeny movie.
    Angela A Super Reviewer
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