Movie · 1983 · Comedy, Drama · 1h 45m · R · English
Curator score: 4.6/10 (97.9K ratings)
The story of eight old friends searching for something they lost, and finding that all they needed was each other.
Overview
Seven old college friends gather for a weekend reunion after the funeral of one of their own.
Ratings
Curator score: 4.6/10
IMDb: 7.1/10
Letterboxd: 3.51/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 70%
Metacritic: 61
TMDB: 6.8/10
Director
Lawrence Kasdan
Production
Carson Productions
Cast
Tom Berenger, Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Mary Kay Place, Meg Tilly, JoBeth Williams, Don Galloway, James Gillis, Ken Place, Jon Kasdan, Ira Stiltner, Jake Kasdan, Muriel Moore, Meg Kasdan, Patricia Gaul, Kevin Costner
Curator Review
Verdict
A smart, talky reunion dramedy with strong ensemble chemistry, sharp period detail, and a memorable soundtrack, but its privileged, self-regarding characters and early-80s yuppie perspective can be a turnoff. It works best as a time capsule of post-60s disillusionment and adult friendship rather than as an especially deep emotional drama.
Best for
fans of ensemble character pieces
viewers who like dialogue-driven dramas with comic edge
people interested in 1980s cultural time capsules
audiences who enjoy reunion stories and midlife reflection
Skip if
you want a plot-heavy movie
you dislike affluent, self-absorbed characters
you’re sensitive to dated social attitudes and narrow perspective
you prefer emotionally raw or formally adventurous dramas
Overview
The Big Chill is one of the defining reunion movies: a group of old friends, now older and professionally settled, spend a weekend circling grief, regret, flirtation, and the uneasy sense that adulthood has made them smaller than they expected. Lawrence Kasdan keeps the movie light on plot and heavy on conversation, letting the ensemble chemistry do the work.
Worth noting
What gives it staying power is the tension between warmth and irritation. The characters are funny, recognizable, and often deeply annoying, which is exactly the point. The film captures a very specific early-80s moment when idealism had curdled into comfort, and the soundtrack and wardrobe are part of the argument as much as the dialogue.
Bottom line
It’s not a universally lovable movie, and some viewers will bounce off its privilege and smugness. But if you enjoy movies that use a weekend gathering to reveal a whole social era, this is a polished, influential example of the form.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Patrick Willems (2.5★) · 742 likes
My friends and I are approaching the age of these characters, and on the one hand we’re not as rich and successful, but on the other hand I guarantee we are more fun to hang out with
Kyle Amato (2.5★) · 522 likes
Sorry your friend died and you’re boring in a nice house
Adam Nayman (2.5★) · 496 likes
I sort of hate this very enjoyable movie and watch it every two years to make sure
Bobby Wagner (3★) · 433 likes
I know I’m the ten millionth person to make this point, but people used to look normal in movies!!! why doesn’t anyone look normal in movies anymore!!!
Kristhian Morales (2★) · 385 likes
A movie ostensibly about a group of college friends getting together for a few days after the suicide of a common friend, The Big Chill is really about the upper middle class in the early years of Reaganism. A more vanilla subject is difficult to imagine and yet the movie intensely believes that the pseudo-problems of the central group are endlessly fascinating. In theory, the subject of middle class men and women feeling bad about their very first-world problems (mostly… more A movie ostensibly about a group of college friends getting together for a few days after the suicide of a common friend, The Big Chill is really about the upper middle class in the early years of Reaganism. A more vanilla subject is difficult to imagine and yet the movie intensely believes that the pseudo-problems of the central group are endlessly fascinating. In theory, the subject of middle class men and women feeling bad about their very first-world problems (mostly… more