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The Big Chill Reviews

1983 DVD Certificate 15.gif
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 1691 members

Seven members of a close-knit college group of friends are reunited fifteen years later after the eighth commits suicide. The funeral and reception lead to an extended weekend for all as they decide to spend time together pondering the recent events. Amidst a barrage of Motown classics, the members each offer little tidbits .. Read more

Starring Tom Berenger, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Kevin Kline
Director Lawrence Kasdan
Genres Comedy

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  • Critics' reviews (5) of The Big Chill

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  • 4 stars out of 5

    At one time a cult movie among 20-somethings, this chic comedy is now better known as the picture from which Kevin Costner had all his scenes cut. Smartly written by director Lawrence Kasdan and Barbara Benedek, the Oscar-nominated script clearly owes a debt to John Sayles's overlooked and infinitely superior reunion drama The Return of the Secaucus Seven. However, there are still plenty of original insights into both 1960s counterculture and the pretensions of the chattering classes. There's a dream cast, although Meg Tilly upstages her more famous co-stars, while the soundtrack is packed with the anthems of an age. It's over-clever, but very slick.

    • Radio Times
  • A funeral reunites a group of friends from the idealistic '60s who have gone their separate ways in the pragmatic '80s.... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • "...All of [the actors] are given opportunities to shine, and all rise to the occasion with seeming effortlessness..."

    • Variety
  • Most helpful members' reviews (3) of The Big Chill

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  • 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    A Classic fun movie

    Just a classic fun movie. Good music, good friends, good feelings. Enough thought provoking topics to have a conversation about but no stress.

      • Shay3 from Maidenhead
  • 3 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Hippies try to grow up, with great soundtrack

    Middle-aged sixties revolutionaries try to come to terms with their changing personas. Strangely believable. If you watch the 'making of' extras you will begin to see how such a naturalism was achieved. Probably mainly appeal to the same generation, unless very broadminded.

      • Hilda from London
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    warm to the chill

    It is astonishing that something so 'of its time' can still feel so fresh. I expected it to seem dated, but was blown away by the subtlety of the performances. Kevin Kline - a mere youth here - shows his colours as an actor of great depth in the making, with strong and moving performances by his co-stars. The big chill manages to study the existential question of why not kill yourself while entertaining with appropriate light hearted touches. See it!

      • Karen Dawson from edinburgh
  • Most recent members' reviews (2) of The Big Chill

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Customer Review

    If you can look past the 80s perms, knitwear and the nostalgic soundtrack, this is a very rich expression of so many human complications, truths and disappointments. Not the kind of thing Hollywood makes much any more. Very enjoyable.

      • A customer from UK
  • 3 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Hippies try to grow up, with great soundtrack

    Middle-aged sixties revolutionaries try to come to terms with their changing personas. Strangely believable. If you watch the 'making of' extras you will begin to see how such a naturalism was achieved. Probably mainly appeal to the same generation, unless very broadminded.

      • Hilda from London
  • 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    A Classic fun movie

    Just a classic fun movie. Good music, good friends, good feelings. Enough thought provoking topics to have a conversation about but no stress.

      • Shay3 from Maidenhead
  • 3 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Hippies try to grow up, with great soundtrack

    Middle-aged sixties revolutionaries try to come to terms with their changing personas. Strangely believable. If you watch the 'making of' extras you will begin to see how such a naturalism was achieved. Probably mainly appeal to the same generation, unless very broadminded.

      • Hilda from London
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    warm to the chill

    It is astonishing that something so 'of its time' can still feel so fresh. I expected it to seem dated, but was blown away by the subtlety of the performances. Kevin Kline - a mere youth here - shows his colours as an actor of great depth in the making, with strong and moving performances by his co-stars. The big chill manages to study the existential question of why not kill yourself while entertaining with appropriate light hearted touches. See it!

      • Karen Dawson from edinburgh
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Customer Review

    If you can look past the 80s perms, knitwear and the nostalgic soundtrack, this is a very rich expression of so many human complications, truths and disappointments. Not the kind of thing Hollywood makes much any more. Very enjoyable.

      • A customer from UK
  • Rated - 4 stars

    an oldie but goodie

    am wondering if sikelsh (bottom reviewer) is reviewing the correct film

    am also confused why kevin costner is listed as starring as his part was totally on the cutting room floor

    anyway, i love this film. great soundtrack, relaxed pace and does what it's supposed to. some great actors in before they became 'big' names too

      • A customer from staffs, uk
  • Rated - 2 stars

    The big bore

    I was bored from beginning to end of this film, the only thing that kept me going was the brilliant music. I found it very difficult to empathise with any of the actors, nor did I feel able to really get to know any of them. I'm sure that's because the film is American, and even though we speak the same language, our cultures are worlds apart. If you want to see a similar film that's British, look at 'Peter's Friends'. It's set in a similar genre, with a brilliant list of actors (Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, Kenneth Branagh, Imelda Staunton), and it happens to be one of my favourite films.

      • A customer from Herefordshire
  • Rated - 3 stars

    Of it's time

    This film is a rewarding way to spend 100 minutes. It gives a snap-shot of some old college friends some ten years after graduation. It reflects on the differences people have faced through their lives when they are drawn together for a bereavement. They are warm and engaging, somewhat like the film.

      • A customer from Cheltenham, UK
  • Rated - 4 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Yuppies doing 70s cinema

    80s satire about hippies who've grown up and become yuppies. If you can get past the middle class angst there's quite a lot to enjoy from a good ensemble piece. It could have been more satirical but the chemistry between the actors fills in where the general script doesn't.

      • McClennan from St Helens
  • Rated - 5 stars

    The Big Chill

    Great cast, good plot. We enjoyed this.

      • A customer from Stroud
  • Rated - 5 stars

    30-something highs and lows

    A real gem of a film. Stellar cast, funny, pertinent dialogue, soul-searching of the classiest order. The way the group of once-vital college friends review where their passion and ideals went sounds like it's going to be a yawn-fest but it's not. Try this film - you'll be pleasantly surprised. Great soundtrack too.

      • A customer from Cambridge
  • Critics' reviews (5)

  • 4 stars out of 5

    At one time a cult movie among 20-somethings, this chic comedy is now better known as the picture from which Kevin Costner had all his scenes cut. Smartly written by director Lawrence Kasdan and Barbara Benedek, the Oscar-nominated script clearly owes a debt to John Sayles's overlooked and infinitely superior reunion drama The Return of the Secaucus Seven. However, there are still plenty of original insights into both 1960s counterculture and the pretensions of the chattering classes. There's a dream cast, although Meg Tilly upstages her more famous co-stars, while the soundtrack is packed with the anthems of an age. It's over-clever, but very slick.

    • Radio Times
  • A funeral reunites a group of friends from the idealistic '60s who have gone their separate ways in the pragmatic '80s.... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • "...All of [the actors] are given opportunities to shine, and all rise to the occasion with seeming effortlessness..."

    • Variety
  • 3 stars out of 4

    Wry satirical comedy which seems to be nostalgic for the sixties, but is funny anyway.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • Included in The New York Times "10 BEST FILMS OF 1983"

    • New York Times

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    • Seven members of a close-knit college group of friends are reunited fifteen years later after the eighth commits suicide. The funeral and reception lead to an extended weekend for all as they decide ...

Rating breakdown

1,691 Member ratings
  • 100
154
  • 90
138
  • 80
269
  • 70
281
  • 60
321
  • 50
192
  • 40
139
  • 30
91
  • 20
72
  • 10
34

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