Movie · 1987 · Comedy, Family, Fantasy · 1h 50m · PG · English
Curator score: 1.6/10 (68.4K ratings)
When You Can't Believe Your Eyes, Trust Your Heart.
Overview
Returning from a hunting trip in the forest, the Henderson family's car hits an animal in the road. At first they fear it was a man, but when they examine the "body" they find it's a "bigfoot". They think it's dead so they decide to take it home (there could be some money in this). As you guessed, it isn't dead. Far from being the ferocious monster they fear "Harry" to be, he's a friendly giant.
Ratings
Curator score: 1.6/10
IMDb: 6.1/10
Letterboxd: 3.03/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 48%
Metacritic: 42
TMDB: 6.1/10
Director
William Dear
Production
Amblin Entertainment, Universal Pictures
Cast
John Lithgow, Melinda Dillon, Don Ameche, David Suchet, Margaret Langrick, Joshua Rudoy, M. Emmet Walsh, John Bloom, Lainie Kazan, Kevin Peter Hall, William Ontiveros, David Richardt, Jacqueline Moscou, Laura Kenny, Richard Arnold, Sean Morgan, Nick Flynn, David MacIntyre, Peggy Platt, Orene Anderson
Curator Review
Verdict
A sweet, family-friendly Amblin-style creature comedy with real charm, a strong practical-effects centerpiece, and a committed John Lithgow performance. It’s more gentle and sitcom-like than wild or magical, so the appeal depends on whether you want cozy 80s nostalgia over big laughs or suspense.
Best for
families looking for an easygoing fantasy comedy
viewers who enjoy practical creature effects
fans of warm, nostalgic 1980s studio movies
people who like earnest, broad performances
audiences wanting a softer take on Bigfoot lore
Skip if
you want fast-paced comedy or big set pieces
you dislike sentimental family dynamics
you prefer your creature features to be scary or weird
you’re allergic to 80s studio polish and kid-friendly tone
Overview
Harry and the Hendersons is a pleasant, lightly goofy family fantasy that mostly succeeds on charm. The premise is simple and the movie knows it: the fun is less about plot twists than about watching a suburban family slowly realize the giant creature in their house is more sweet than savage. The practical effects still give Harry a tangible presence, which helps the movie feel warmer than its TV-movie reputation suggests.
Worth noting
It can feel a little too restrained, though. The movie often leans toward domestic comedy and broad sentiment when some viewers will be hoping for more Bigfoot chaos. That said, the cast commits fully, especially John Lithgow, whose manic energy keeps the film from becoming too soft around the edges.
Bottom line
As a piece of 80s family entertainment, it’s amiable and easy to like, even if it rarely surprises. If you want a cozy creature feature with heart, this is a solid pick; if you want something stranger or funnier, it may leave you wanting more.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Amanda the Jedi · 310 likes
This just came on TV and no one changed it - dear god why did no one change it
pd187 (4★) · 151 likes
gonna say this is actually a lil underrated, funnier than i remembered & lots of it even on purpose, maybe too sitcommy to fully enchant & its amblin so harrys just a lil too cute but it all looks great and lithgow (mandela effect: wasnt it JON?) is doing BIG acting here, a treat. i love any mainstream release that feels this much like a moonbeam production, right down to the nonstop casual swearing, harry looking kinda buechlery like cellar dweller & a… more gonna say this is actually a lil underrated, funnier than i remembered & lots of it even on purpose, maybe too sitcommy to fully enchant & its amblin so harrys just a lil too cute but it all looks great and lithgow (mandela effect: wasnt it JON?) is doing BIG acting here, a treat. i love any mainstream release that feels this much like a moonbeam production, right down to the nonstop casual swearing, harry looking kinda buechlery like cellar dweller & a… more
Dave Taylor (4★) · 142 likes
My 10 year old daughter still seems to be scared of any movie I enjoyed as a child.
For Father’s Day, her gift was watching a movie with me that I’ve been wanting to watch with her for forever (I have quite a few options for her to choose from). She picks Harry and we start watching it as a family during our Father’s Day dinner. Within the first 30 minutes she needs to turn it off. Harry and the… more
harris smith (3★) · 134 likes
Nobody talks about how palpable the sexual tension between John Lithgow and Harry is.
Rob Hill (3.5★) · 94 likes
I refuse to believe that Bigfoot in this isn't the direct inspiration for Ben Stiller's performance as Derek Zoolander. The eyes, head tilt, pouting expression: it's all there.
Besides laughing at the above roughly a hundred times, this is really competent! Solid family appropriate comedy combined with just th right amount of heart.
P.S. is Harry the first pescatarian in a major motion picture? Being as they consistently call him a vegetarian while he eats fish, I say yes.