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The Big Chill (1983) 7.2
Ratings:
7.2/10 from 24,318 users
Metascore: 62/100
Reviews: 174 user | 61 critic | 11 from Metacritic.com A group of seven former college friends gather for a weekend reunion at a South Carolina winter house after the funeral of one of their friends. Director:Lawrence Kasdan |
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Tom Berenger | ... | ||
| Glenn Close | ... | ||
| Jeff Goldblum | ... | ||
| William Hurt | ... | ||
| Kevin Kline | ... | ||
| Mary Kay Place | ... | ||
| Meg Tilly | ... | ||
| JoBeth Williams | ... | ||
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Don Galloway | ... |
Richard Bowens
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James Gillis | ... |
Minister
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Ken Place | ... |
Peter the Cop
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| Jon Kasdan | ... |
Harold and Sarah's Son
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Ira Stiltner | ... |
Running Dog Driver
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| Jake Kasdan | ... |
Autograph Seeker
(as Jacob Kasdan)
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Muriel Moore | ... |
Alex's Mother
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
A seminal Thirty-Something movie in which a group of old college friends who are now all grown up and hardened by the big wide world come together for the funeral of Alex, a barely glimpsed corpse, who was at one time the brightest and the best of them, and yet who never managed to achieve half as much as any of the others. The friends use the occasion to reacquaint themselves with each other and to speculate as to what happened to their idealism which had been abundant when they were younger. Written by Mark Thompson <mrt@oasis.icl.co.uk>
Taglines:
In a cold world, you need your friends to keep you warm. See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
30 September 1983 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Reencuentro See more »Box Office
Opening Weekend:
$56,968 (USA) (6 November 1998)Gross:
$56,400,000 (USA)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (Metrocolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Written by Calvin Lewis (as Calvin H. Lewis) and Andrew Wright
Performed by Percy Sledge
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corporation
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Michael's girlfriend Annie (seen only during the opening titles) is played by Jeff Goldblum's then-wife Patricia Gaul. See more »Goofs
At the beginning, during the graveside service, the sun is on the verge of setting, yet moments later the funeral luncheon at the Cooper's home is bathed in mid-day sun. See more »Quotes
Richard: [Richard is having a late-night snack while talking to Sam and Nick] There's some asshole at work you have to kowtow to, and you find yourself doing things you thought you'd never do. But you try and minimize that stuff; be the best person you can be. But you set your priorities. And that's the way life is. I wonder if your friend Alex knew that. One thing's for sure, he couldn't live with it. I know I shouldn't talk; you guys knew him. But the thing is... no one ever said it would be fun. At ...See more »
Soundtracks
WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMANWritten by Calvin Lewis (as Calvin H. Lewis) and Andrew Wright
Performed by Percy Sledge
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corporation
See more »
1983's THE BIG CHILL is one of those beautifully crafted and wonderfully acted films that is so ingratiating that I can watch it over and over and never tire of it. Director Lawrence Kasdan hits the bullseye in this alternately hilarious and moving variation on the earlier RETURN OF THE SECAUCUS SEVEN. This film follows the reunion of a group of friends who went to college together, who have gathered for the funeral of their mutual friend, Alex, who has committed suicide. The original screenplay included scenes with Alex, who was played by Kevin Costner, but, in a stroke of genius, it was decide to delete all of the Alex scenes in the film, lending a wonderful air of mystery to the character of Alex and allowing the audience more input as to why Alex decided to end his life. Alex's friends are Harold Cooper (Kevin Kline), who now owns a shoe store franchise and his doctor-wife, Sarah (Glenn Close), who also serve as our hosts ; Michael (Jeff Goldblum), a writer for PEOPLE magazine; Meg (Mary Kay Place)an attorney who wants to have a baby; Sam (Tom Berenger) an actor with his own TV show who misses the simple life; Karen (JoBeth Williams), a restless housewife who would really like to be a writer and Nick (William Hurt) a drug dealer who would like to be anything else. Also thrown into the mix is Chloe (Meg Tilly) Alex's girlfriend, who knows a completely different Alex than his friends do. This gathering of old and new friends sets the stage for some long-dormant resentments to bubble to the surface and for some long buried passions to be re-ignited. Kasdan has a sharp directorial eye and a flawless ear for dialogue with one of the most quotable screenplays ever and it is all set to a soundtrack of the greatest music from the 1960's ever compiled for a movie soundtrack. The cast is perfection...Close received a Best Supporting Actress nomination but the entire cast works at the same level and to honor one without honoring the ensemble wouldn't have been right. This is the ultimate ensemble piece and it works just about perfectly. Anyway you slice it, an instant classic.