The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

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The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

PG

2013

1h 54m

Comedy

Adventure

Fantasy

Action

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

52%

Tomatometer

195 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller), an employee at Life magazine, spends day after monotonous day developing photos for the publication. To escape the tedium, Walter inhabits a world of exciting daydreams in which he is the undeniable hero. Walter fancies a fellow employee named Cheryl (Kristen Wiig) and would love to date her, but he feels unworthy. However, he gets a chance to have a real adventure when Life's new owners send him on a mission to obtain the perfect photo for the final print issue.

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Critics Consensus

It doesn't lack for ambition, but The Secret Life of Walter Mitty fails to back up its grand designs with enough substance to anchor the spectacle.

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

06/19/2016

With such high aims, it's too bad that 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' falls somewhat short of greatness. But it's not often that you come across a "big" movie as earnest and patently un-cynical as this one.

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Dana Stevens

Slate

01/01/2014

Stiller's attempt to braid together introspection and humor kept me engaged and curious, even when I wasn't quite sure what he was setting out to do.

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

01/01/2014

3/5

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty probably succeeds on its own terms. Given the elusive nature of those terms, it is, however, hard to tell for certain.

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Emiliano Basile

EscribiendoCine

12/11/2023

7/10

While not genial, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty recaptures the charm of hopeful stories by giving a comedy twist... [Full review in Spanish]

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Wael Khairy

The Cairo Scene

09/23/2022

I admire the film’s originality, and the thought-provoking twist ending, but daydream of a deeper director’s cut.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

08/19/2022

1.5/4

Less about Walter Mitty’s secret life than his actual, perfectly romantic, impossibly realized adventures, the film loses itself in a fantasy world all its own and never fully embraces the everyday balance of reality and imagination.

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Mckenzie M

@CriticKenz Apr 25

8/10 really good movie. definitely should watch

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Widdly S

@RT76052853 Apr 20

One of the best movies I've ever seen. I don't understand the negative reviews. It's one of those movies that you think about after watching for years.

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Leslie K.

@Wilbur380 Apr 18

Love this movie. Artistic, beautiful cinematography, lovely music, imaginative, warm and funny! So many layers to this movie. It a repeatable watch. I need to visit Iceland and Greenland!! Sometimes I just need me some Walter Mitty

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steve J

@RT31983731 Apr 18

Just watched it. Him losing in the moments of his life is funnier and we all do that sometimes. Definitely recommend to watch it when you are bored. Trust me you won’t be bored.

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Neal H.

@nhooper40 Mar 22

Love it. My favorite movie of all time.

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Andy L

@RT02391391 Mar 22

Some films entertain you for 2 hours and then fade. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty did something else entirely to me. It's the story of a man who has spent his whole life almost living — retreating into daydreams instead of stepping into the world. Watching him, you recognize something uncomfortable in yourself. The message doesn't lecture you. It just shows you — through stunning images of this planet — that the world is enormous and beautiful and right there. And the music! José González makes you feel like you're standing alone somewhere vast and quiet. Of Monsters and Men fill the Icelandic landscapes with something almost mythic. And when David Bowie comes in — you'll know the moment. Ben Stiller never gets enough credit for this. He plays him with such quiet dignity. No easy laughs. Just a man slowly realizing his own life has been waiting for him. It's the kind of film that makes you want to book a flight somewhere. Anywhere. If you haven't seen it — what are you waiting for?

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Director

Ben Stiller

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Synopsis

Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller), an employee at Life magazine, spends day after monotonous day developing photos for the publication. To escape the tedium, Walter inhabits a world of exciting daydreams in which he is the undeniable hero. Walter fancies a fellow employee named Cheryl (Kristen Wiig) and would love to date her, but he feels unworthy. However, he gets a chance to have a real adventure when Life's new owners send him on a mission to obtain the perfect photo for the final print issue.

Director: Ben Stiller
Producer: Samuel Goldwyn Jr., John Goldwyn, Stuart Cornfeld, Ben Stiller
Screenwriter: Steve Conrad
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Red Hour Productions, Samuel Goldwyn Films
Rating: PG (Language|Action/Violence|Some Crude Comments)
Genre: Comedy, Adventure, Fantasy, Action, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 30, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $58.2M
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: Datasat, Dolby