Free Birds

Play trailer

1:57

Free Birds

PG

2013

1h 31m

Kids & Family

Holiday

Comedy

Adventure

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

20%

Tomatometer

89 Reviews

45%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Pardoned by the president, a lucky turkey (Owen Wilson) named Reggie gets to live a carefree lifestyle, until fellow fowl Jake (Woody Harrelson) recruits him for a history-changing mission. Jake and Reggie travel back in time to the year 1621, just before the first Thanksgiving. The plan: Prevent all turkeys from ever becoming holiday dinners. Unfortunately, the two birds encounter colonist Myles Standish (Colm Meaney), out to capture feathered friends for all the hungry Pilgrims.

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Critics Consensus

Technically proficient yet creatively moribund, Free Birds begs unfortunate comparisons with the dim-witted fowl that inspired it.

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Dec 1, 2013

2/5

Anyone who's seen Chicken Run will wonder why they're not enjoying a well-constructed Aardman animation rather than attempting to make sense of this incoherent transatlantic trifle.

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Charlotte O'Sullivan

London Evening Standard

Nov 29, 2013

2/5

Ultimately embarrassing and even offensive but has an offbeat premise, some neat characters and plenty of guffaw-worthy gags.

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Sophie Monks Kaufman

Little White Lies

Nov 29, 2013

2/5

Surely Owen Wilson can do a lot better than a slipshod animation about time travelling turkeys?

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

Jan 31, 2021

2.5/5

Feels average, like a flightless bird trying to soar with the Pixars of the genre.

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Brent McKnight

The Last Thing I See

Jul 8, 2020

B-

It's nice to get a Thanksgiving movie that doesn't revolve around tedious family drama. Though you may wind up having in uncomfortable conversation with your kids about exactly where your holiday meal comes from.

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Kathi Maio

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction

Mar 11, 2020

Much can be overlooked if such a movie is rollicking good fun. But Free Birds isn't even that. That's right, I'm going to say it. It's a turkey-and not one of the time-traveling freedom-fighter species, either.

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Collin P

@RT82879116 Oct 4, 2026

We’re Going Back In Time To The First Thanksgiving To Get Turkeys Off The Menu! That’s Right! We’re Going Back In Time To The First Thanksgiving To Get Turkeys Off The Menu!

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 29, 2026

Free Birds = a *2* star Movie!

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Chelsey H

@BunnyNose Sep 25, 2026

Surprisingly awesome movie

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Vanguard Man V

@Vanguard_Guy Aug 7, 2026

Bro, this movie is kinda horrible and 2 Playing Pixar!?

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Jim S

@RT81276479 Aug 6, 2026

What on earth did I just watch. This cinematic shartsterpeice genuinely never failed to amaze me with the amount of bullcrap there was. watched it with a friend and we could not stop laughing with how much rando stuff happened. genuinely so bad its good. 10/10 would never watch again I don't even know how this has 20%

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peter H

@RT13209377 Aug 6, 2026

what on earth did i just spend 1 and a half hours watching gng

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Jimmy Hayward

Director

Owen Wilson

Reggie

Woody Harrelson

Jake

Amy Poehler

Jenny

George Takei

S.T.E.V.E.

Colm Meaney

Myles Standish

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Synopsis

Pardoned by the president, a lucky turkey (Owen Wilson) named Reggie gets to live a carefree lifestyle, until fellow fowl Jake (Woody Harrelson) recruits him for a history-changing mission. Jake and Reggie travel back in time to the year 1621, just before the first Thanksgiving. The plan: Prevent all turkeys from ever becoming holiday dinners. Unfortunately, the two birds encounter colonist Myles Standish (Colm Meaney), out to capture feathered friends for all the hungry Pilgrims.

Director: Jimmy Hayward
Producer: Scott Mosier
Screenwriter: Scott Mosier, Jimmy Hayward
Distributor: Relativity Media
Production Co: Relativity, Reel FX Animation Studios
Rating: PG (Some Action/Peril|Rude Humor)
Genre: Kids & Family, Holiday, Comedy, Adventure, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 1, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 31, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $55.7M
Runtime: 1h 31m

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