Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- hopeful
- warm
- sincere
- family movie night
- environmental awareness viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found the real-life rescue story surprisingly satisfying as a family drama, even if its sentimentality and conventional structure limited its impact.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Adam's television report turns the trapped whales into a national news event, drawing in broadcasters, the White House, Greenpeace, and corporate interests.
The Inupiat community weighs traditional hunting practices and local survival against outside demands to preserve the whales.
Rachel Kramer and Adam Carlson must work together despite their antagonistic breakup and unresolved feelings.
The whales are trapped beneath sea ice near Barrow, while helicopters, icebreaking equipment, and open water define the rescue effort.
Films like Big Miracle, and why
Dolphin Tale
family-friendly true-events drama centered on an animal rescue and broad public cooperation
Free Willy
uplifting family drama about endangered animals, environmental responsibility, and competing human interests
The Finest Hours
true-story rescue drama combining media attention, political maneuvering, and emotional stakes
The Incredible Journey
warm ensemble adventure built around a community rallying to save animals in peril
Movie Details
- Director
- Ken Kwapis
- Release Date
- 2012-02-02
- Runtime
- 107 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (534)
Cast
- Drew Barrymore
- John Krasinski
- Kristen Bell
- Vinessa Shaw
- Dermot Mulroney
- Ted Danson
- Kathy Baker
- Tim Blake Nelson
- Stephen Root
- John Michael Higgins
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Big Miracle about?
- A determined activist and a television reporter overcome old resentments and political rivalries to rally an unlikely coalition around three whales trapped in Arctic ice.
- What is Big Miracle like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Big Miracle as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Big Miracle violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Big Miracle.
- What did critics think of Big Miracle?
- Critics broadly found the real-life rescue story surprisingly satisfying as a family drama, even if its sentimentality and conventional structure limited its impact.
- Which films are like Big Miracle?
- Films with a similar feel include Dolphin Tale, Free Willy, The Finest Hours, and The Incredible Journey.
- How long is Big Miracle?
- Big Miracle runs 107 minutes.
- Where can I watch Big Miracle?
- In United States, Big Miracle is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
