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We Bought a Zoo

  • 2011
  • PG
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
155K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,534
719
Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Maggie Elizabeth Jones, and Felix in We Bought a Zoo (2011)
A father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.
Play trailer2:28
17 Videos
90 Photos
ComedyDramaFamily

Set in Southern California, a father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.Set in Southern California, a father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.Set in Southern California, a father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.

  • Director
    • Cameron Crowe
  • Writers
    • Aline Brosh McKenna
    • Cameron Crowe
    • Benjamin Mee
  • Stars
    • Matt Damon
    • Scarlett Johansson
    • Thomas Haden Church
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    155K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,534
    719
    • Director
      • Cameron Crowe
    • Writers
      • Aline Brosh McKenna
      • Cameron Crowe
      • Benjamin Mee
    • Stars
      • Matt Damon
      • Scarlett Johansson
      • Thomas Haden Church
    • 272User reviews
    • 261Critic reviews
    • 58Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 8 nominations total

    Videos17

    Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:28
    Trailer #1
    "Modern Day Adventurers"
    Clip 0:55
    "Modern Day Adventurers"
    "Modern Day Adventurers"
    Clip 0:55
    "Modern Day Adventurers"
    We Bought A Zoo: Modern Day Adventurers
    Clip 0:55
    We Bought A Zoo: Modern Day Adventurers
    We Bought A Zoo: That's True Joy
    Clip 0:47
    We Bought A Zoo: That's True Joy
    We Bought A Zoo: It's A Zoo
    Clip 0:50
    We Bought A Zoo: It's A Zoo
    We Bought A Zoo: Why Did You Buy This Place?
    Clip 1:11
    We Bought A Zoo: Why Did You Buy This Place?

    Photos90

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    + 83
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    Top cast75

    Edit
    Matt Damon
    Matt Damon
    • Benjamin Mee
    Scarlett Johansson
    Scarlett Johansson
    • Kelly Foster
    Thomas Haden Church
    Thomas Haden Church
    • Duncan Mee
    Elle Fanning
    Elle Fanning
    • Lily Miska
    Colin Ford
    Colin Ford
    • Dylan Mee
    Maggie Elizabeth Jones
    Maggie Elizabeth Jones
    • Rosie Mee
    Angus Macfadyen
    Angus Macfadyen
    • Peter MacCready
    • (as Angus MacFadyen)
    Patrick Fugit
    Patrick Fugit
    • Robin Jones
    John Michael Higgins
    John Michael Higgins
    • Walter Ferris
    Carla Gallo
    Carla Gallo
    • Rhonda Blair
    J.B. Smoove
    J.B. Smoove
    • Mr. Stevens
    • (as JB Smoove)
    Stephanie Szostak
    Stephanie Szostak
    • Katherine Mee
    Michael Panes
    Michael Panes
    • Principal
    Kym Whitley
    Kym Whitley
    • Cashier
    Todd Stanton
    Todd Stanton
    • San Diego Vet
    Lauren Sanchez
    Lauren Sanchez
    • TV Anchor
    Peter Riegert
    Peter Riegert
    • Delbert McGinty
    Roberto Montesinos
    Roberto Montesinos
    • Hugo Chavez
    • Director
      • Cameron Crowe
    • Writers
      • Aline Brosh McKenna
      • Cameron Crowe
      • Benjamin Mee
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When Matt Damon's character climbs over the tree, the real Benjamin Mee, Milo Mee (Dylan in the movie), and Ella Mee (Rosie in the movie) can be seen as the first family in line. In the scene, Benjamin Mee is wearing what appears to be a Dartmoor Zoological Park cap, the actual zoo in England on which the movie is based.
    • Goofs
      The zoo opens on July 7, 2010 but when we see Benjamin Mee holding papers in the car when they go house hunting, in all the papers of the house listings, the date is Jan 3,2011.
    • Quotes

      Benjamin Mee: You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.

    • Alternate versions
      The North America DVD includes an alternate audio track that removes the swearing.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #20.46 (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Don't Come Around Here No More
      Written by Tom Petty and David A. Stewart (as Dave Stewart)
      Performed by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
      Courtesy of Geffen Records
      Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

    User reviews272

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10

    Stop comparing to Jerry Maguire! This is a great family film.

    We bought a zoo is a great movie to go see with the family. Damon flaunts his emotional acting abilities with great form but the stage stealer is young Maggie Elizebeth Jones playing Damon's seven year old daughter. Jones is an eccentric little girl who is bound to bring laughter and Aww's out of you. Elle Fanning does a great job as always; Tomas Haden Church plays his perfect role, and Scarlett Johansson levels things out very nicely.

    If you want a lot of emotion with consistent laughter, We Bought a Zoo is a great Sunday afternoon choice. Bound to bring tears, smiles and laughter, with a great true story to back it up.
    • SoloHero5
    • Dec 31, 2011
    • Permalink

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    FAQ22

    • How long is We Bought a Zoo?Powered by Alexa
    • Where is the real zoo that the film is based on?
    • What song is heard when Benjamin is looking for new houses to buy?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 23, 2011 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • 20th Century Fox (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Un zoológico en casa
    • Filming locations
      • Thousand Oaks, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • LBI Entertainment
      • Vinyl Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $50,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $75,624,550
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $9,360,434
      • Dec 25, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $120,081,841
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 4 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
      • Datasat
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Maggie Elizabeth Jones, and Felix in We Bought a Zoo (2011)
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