Featured Audience Ratings

• Daniel P

  
  Until the second half, this film is great. We get to know the characters and we start to understand the tensions that have long existed between them, the way this group of old friends reunited for one member's funeral has changed over time and may not be what it once was. The… More
  Until the second half, this film is great. We get to know the characters and we start to understand the tensions that have long existed between them, the way this group of old friends reunited for one member's funeral has changed over time and may not be what it once was. The sense of loss is compelling, and the prospect for rediscovery and rebirth sucks you in, but in the end I walked away disappointed. I can't say for sure why, but everything seemed to get stagier as the ending approached, and aside from a pithy reality check from William Hurt's character, nothing really comes of it all. Some characters get closer to getting what they've wanted and struggled to find all these years, but mostly, it just fades away again, and not in any way that makes an impact or makes you think about this scene. I'm told that, as someone born in the 80s, this film isn't really for me - that it's something that Boomers identified much more with. It's searching for that dirty realism of Last Picture Show or a Raymond Carver story, the hard business of day-to-day life, but once the enticing exposition finishes, you realize that the stakes are pretty low. I was kind of wishing that they all find the stiff's long-lost treasure map or the draft of his novel, or something, but you get the sense that when the characters leave this place, though they'll realize how much they've changed since they were young, the time they spent here probably won't change them at all... and thus, in the end, the films lets you down, failing to provide that "and this is why it matters" punch in the gut that "small stories" have to.

• Sajin P

  
  This one is a timeless gem. Seven friends are reunited after a long time, not for the best of reasons though - the eighth member of their once intimate group having committed suicide. With emotions teetering between joy and sorrow, they decide to make the most out of the time they… More
  This one is a timeless gem. Seven friends are reunited after a long time, not for the best of reasons though - the eighth member of their once intimate group having committed suicide. With emotions teetering between joy and sorrow, they decide to make the most out of the time they have. A night of booze and laughs follows, and soon each one realize how much things have changed in their lives. The most captivating aspect about the movie, something every viewer relates to himself, is that sense of dreams lost and ideals surrendered - how life never turn out as we plan it to be.

• Sophie B

  
  A decent cast with a decent story but somehow this just felt like a 10 hour bore. Way too talky and with the amount of characters it was sometimes difficult to keep up because they weren't well established in the beginning. I didn't know until 20 minutes in that they all… More
  A decent cast with a decent story but somehow this just felt like a 10 hour bore. Way too talky and with the amount of characters it was sometimes difficult to keep up because they weren't well established in the beginning. I didn't know until 20 minutes in that they all were old friends, and too much of a significance was put on the dead man. Never watch again.

• Jennifer X

  
  I love, love reunion movies. I love seeing the changes between people, the illicit exchanges that materialize behind closed doors. The script here is great. I really feel the history behind these friendships.

• Steven C

  
  "The Big Chill" may not be a bon-a-fied classic but it's certainly considered one by the 'Baby Boomer' generation. The picture perfectly captures the lost hope that generation was facing in the 1980s thus making it the go to zeitgeist film of the time period.… More
  "The Big Chill" may not be a bon-a-fied classic but it's certainly considered one by the 'Baby Boomer' generation. The picture perfectly captures the lost hope that generation was facing in the 1980s thus making it the go to zeitgeist film of the time period. As it stands today "The Big Chill" is still a nice little film. It may be light but it's elegantly acted and constructed with an incredible soundtrack to boot. In fact, music is so prevalent in the film that one can almost call it a musical of sorts. The music is like another character, adding depth and fun to the at times gloomy story. "The Big Chill" is a nice piece of nostalgia and a lovely snapshot of a generation.

• Cassie H

  
  Very cute and romantic,and it kinda reminded me of St.Elmo's Fire a little bit since it circled around a group of 7 former college friends. VERY GOOD!!! :) Great actors too!!! :) William Hurt is my favorite every time that I watch this movie. :) Just an fantastic movie!!!!!! :) I… More
  Very cute and romantic,and it kinda reminded me of St.Elmo's Fire a little bit since it circled around a group of 7 former college friends. VERY GOOD!!! :) Great actors too!!! :) William Hurt is my favorite every time that I watch this movie. :) Just an fantastic movie!!!!!! :) I love it!!!!! :) Just great :)

• AJ V

  
  This is a good movie, it has a lot of stars, and they all give good performances. It has a good story about the life and growing up and friends, but I was a bit disappointed in how it ends. Overall, it's a good drama, and it has a lot of good music too.

• Dan S

  
  A good-feeling though somewhat formulaic and predictable film concerning a group of college friends who reunite after one of their friends suddenly commits suicide. While director Lawrence Kasdan aptly colors each one of his characters and makes us interested in these very human… More
  A good-feeling though somewhat formulaic and predictable film concerning a group of college friends who reunite after one of their friends suddenly commits suicide. While director Lawrence Kasdan aptly colors each one of his characters and makes us interested in these very human individuals, the film falls apart near the end especially. There is one act specifically that defies an audience's intelligence, as we are actually almost asked by Kasdan to admire the "good-will" of a few of his characters, when in fact its nothing short of unbelievable and a little insulting for us to believe and accept such a decision. With that said, this film is mostly enjoyable, and it has a nice atmosphere, but the last act just does a lot of damage to it that I could not for one forgive.

• Spencer S

  
  Now in my top five best soundtracks. Evocative, tender, and full of friendship and warmth, this is another in a long line of powerhouse 80's comedies. Kasdan does it again.

• Ross C

  
  Bland. An 80s "friends" movie with a good cast that may have meant more at the time but this style of movie has been done and redone so much better since.

• Cindy I

  
  Not my kind of movie, but I give it a better review because I loved the 60s soundtrack.

• Lanning :

  
  <b>01/14/09 update:</b>I just saw this again after quite a while. It's still 5-star worthy. Just a dynamite ensemble cast effort <b>(end update).</b><p>What is it with you? Is jail another "experience" you want to try? See what… More
  <b>01/14/09 update:</b>I just saw this again after quite a while. It's still 5-star worthy. Just a dynamite ensemble cast effort <b>(end update).</b><p>What is it with you? Is jail another "experience" you want to try? See what that's like? <p> Kevin Costner was perfectly cast here : ) I used to watch this every night when I was into one of my I-must-study-this-closely-so-I- can-engineer-my-own- great-script phases. It really is a fine script, and the movie holds up well after nearly a quarter of a century. Another great musical soundtrack, so incredibly periodizing that Jeff Goldblum's and Kevin Kline's characters actually comment about it in the middle of the movie : ) That may be a first. Goldblum is perfectly cast for his role as well. One of the best things William Hurt has done. Tom Berenger in an unusual role for him.<p>Wrong, a long time ago we knew each other for a short period of time; you don't know anything about me. It was easy back then. No one had a cushier berth than we did. It's not surprising our friendship could survive that. It's only out there in the real world that it gets tough.<p>By the way, I want more of Mary Kay Place on screen!

• jay n

  
  Okay but overhyped.

• Alice S

  
  Hilarious and touching with a very "Ordinary People" vibe which I love. The script is excellent, introducing you to scenes-in-progress without spelling out what the characters were just talking about.

• xGary X

  
  Dreary and soapy melodrama that's basically a grown-up version of The Breakfast Club. Without the charm and humour.

• Dean M

  
  Great drama of the thirtysomething group back together for a long weekend of talking, rediscovering, bonding, friendship remaking and the odd bit of nookie.

• John B

  
  I'm not one that worships the Big Chill. I found it an acceptable but not a brilliant film. Kevin Costner is great as the corpse. His best role ever.

• Alec B

  
  I know that as I am not a Baby Boomer, this film has no real connection for my generation. Ill say that the cast is very good, they all play the parts really well and there are some interesting moments. However the film is frustrating because the end reinforces the bullshit that… More
  I know that as I am not a Baby Boomer, this film has no real connection for my generation. Ill say that the cast is very good, they all play the parts really well and there are some interesting moments. However the film is frustrating because the end reinforces the bullshit that William Hurt's character calls everyone on. Its upsetting because for one brief moment the film seemed to be speaking something remarkably true.

• hawk l

  
  Seminal baby boomer angst session, aided by a catchy soundtrack, eulogizes the lost ideals and enthusiasms of the 1960s and ponders what, if anything, has taken their place, tending towards melancholy reflection.

• Lee K

  
  Great flick. Casting is excellent with a powerhouse storyline and 60-70's soundtrack to back it up.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings