Overview
A poignant reunion of friends reveals the bittersweet realities of adulthood and lost dreams.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- wistful
- nostalgic
- nostalgic weekend
- adult movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the talented ensemble, perceptive examination of generational ennui, serious comedy, and memorable soundtrack, while some found the polished conversations emotionally limited.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The college friends reconvene after Alex's funeral and spend the weekend comparing their past aspirations with their present lives.
Alex's suicide prompts the surviving friends to confront regret, failed expectations, and the lives they chose.
The friends' discussions, arguments, reminiscences, and romantic disclosures carry most of the film's dramatic movement.
The characters explicitly question what happened to the idealism they shared as college students.
Films like The Big Chill, and why
The Return of the Secaucus 7
ensemble drama about former idealists confronting adulthood, regret, and emotional disconnection during a reunion
Diner
nostalgic, talkative ensemble gathering that revisits youthful ideals and unresolved relationships
Peter's Friends
bittersweet adult friendship drama centered on memory, mortality, and changing life paths
The Ice Storm
character-driven reunion comedy-drama using witty conversation to examine aging and lost idealism
Movie Details
- Director
- Lawrence Kasdan
- Release Date
- 1983-09-30
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (668)
Cast
- Tom Berenger
- Glenn Close
- Jeff Goldblum
- William Hurt
- Kevin Kline
- Mary Kay Place
- Meg Tilly
- JoBeth Williams
- Don Galloway
- James Gillis
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 The Big Chill about?
- Former college friends gather after a suicide and use one uneasy weekend to measure youthful idealism against adult compromise.
- What is The Big Chill like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Big Chill as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Big Chill violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Big Chill as mild.
- What did critics think of The Big Chill?
- Critics broadly praised the talented ensemble, perceptive examination of generational ennui, serious comedy, and memorable soundtrack, while some found the polished conversations emotionally limited.
- Which films are like The Big Chill?
- Films with a similar feel include The Return of the Secaucus 7, Diner, Peter's Friends, and The Ice Storm.
- How long is The Big Chill?
- The Big Chill runs 105 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Big Chill?
- In United States, The Big Chill is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
