The Great Outdoors (1988) movie poster

The Great Outdoors (1988)

"This is no holiday… this is war!"
ThumbScore
πŸ‘ 76%Google users liked it archived
Critics Score
🎬 33% (RT: 42%, MC: 24) ℹ️RT = Rotten Tomatoes (critic reviews). MC = Metacritic (weighted critic average). Critics Score is the average of both.
Comedy

Where to Watch

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Director
Runtime
1h 31m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
TMDB Rating
6.5/10 (591 votes)
Rotten Tomatoes
42%
Metacritic
24
Cast
Dan Aykroyd as Roman Craig
John Candy as Chet Ripley
Stephanie Faracy as Connie Ripley
Annette Bening as Kate Craig
Chris Young as Buck Ripley
Lucy Deakins as Cammie
Robert Prosky as Wally
Ian Giatti as Ben Ripley
Most people think so. 76% of audiences gave it a thumbs up based on 591 votes. Critics scored it lower at 33%, but audiences disagreed.
Overview
It's vacation time for outdoorsy Chicago man Chet Ripley, along with his wife, Connie, and their two kids, Buck and Ben. But a serene weekend of fishing at a Wisconsin lakeside cabin gets crashed by Connie's obnoxious brother-in-law, Roman Craig, his wife, Kate, and the couple's two daughters. As the excursion wears on, the Ripleys find themselves at odds with the stuffy Craig family. Wikipedia β†—
Fun Facts
  • Dan Aykroyd spent months preparing for the role, heavily researching the subject matter.
  • During production of The Great Outdoors, the crew faced numerous challenges but managed to complete the shoot ahead of schedule.
  • Many of the background extras were actually locals from the filming locations.
Audience Consensus

The Great Outdoors is a 1988 comedy film directed by Howard Deutch. It's vacation time for outdoorsy Chicago man Chet Ripley, along with his wife, Connie, and their two kids, Buck and Ben. But a serene weekend of fishing at a Wisconsin lakeside cabin gets crashed by Connie's obnoxious brother-in-law, Roman Craig, his wife, Kate, and the couple's two daughters.

As the excursion wears on, the Ripleys find themselves at odds with the stuffy Craig family. The film has been rated by 591 audiences on ThumbScore, reflecting its reach and engagement with viewers. As a comedy film, The Great Outdoors delivers on the expectations of its genre while bringing its own distinctive perspective to the storytelling.

The production showcases the creative vision of its filmmaking team, bringing together performances, cinematography, and narrative elements that have resonated with audiences. The Great Outdoors (1988) continues to find viewers through theatrical releases, streaming platforms, and home media, maintaining its place in the contemporary entertainment landscape. The film represents the kind of cinematic experience that has attracted a dedicated audience, with viewers appreciating its approach to the story and characters it presents.

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