The Great Outdoors

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The Great Outdoors

PG,

1988,

1h 31m,

Comedy

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Watchlist

44%

39 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

25,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

44%

Tomatometer

39 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

It's vacation time for outdoorsy Chicago man Chet Ripley (John Candy), along with his wife, Connie (Stephanie Faracy), and their two kids, Buck (Chris Young) and Ben (Ian Giatti). But a serene weekend of fishing at a Wisconsin lakeside cabin gets crashed by Connie's obnoxious brother-in-law, Roman Craig (Dan Aykroyd), his wife, Kate (Annette Bening), and the couple's two daughters. As the excursion wears on, the Ripleys find themselves at odds with the stuffy Craig family.

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Critics Consensus

Even with a pair of talented comedians trying their best, vacation-from-hell comedy The Great Outdoors is merely mediocre.

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Jay Carr

Boston Globe

Jun 16, 2023

In short, "The Great Outdoors" has the wit of "Summer Rental" and the sparkle of "Harry and the Hendersons."

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Martha K. Baker

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Jun 16, 2023

"The Great Outdoors" succeeds as a perfect summer's movie: not too deep, not too long, not too verbally witty or politically witty, not too embarrassing, not too sexy. Just a good time in air conditioning.

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Steve Dollar

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Jun 16, 2023

It's impossible to watch Candy and not laugh, even when the shtick is as stock as bear chases and bat combat.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

May 31, 2026

1.5/4

Puerile pablum notable only for marking the film debut of Annette Bening.

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Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

May 22, 2026

... a string of events mostly disconnected which serve, in their individual portions, to connect to a larger story of familial respect and the importance of communication.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Apr 4, 2026

3/5

‘…an agreeable lazy watch, even just for the impromptu dance-party at the end…’

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Hermione S

Nov 4, 2018

John Candy at his best.

Hermione R

Aug 8, 2018

Funny family comedy! John candy at his best!

Leia R

Jun 9, 2018

Favorite Summer Movie Ever!!!

Poe P

May 9, 2018

Perfect comedy and John Candy with Dan Ackroid at their finest! Reminds me of my family camping trips! ??

Mar 3, 2018

Love love love this movie so much so funny it will never get old watched this so many times

Abraham S

Dec 25, 2017

another great movie classic

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Howard Deutch

Director

Dan Aykroyd

Roman Craig

John Candy

Chet Ripley

Stephanie Faracy

Connie Ripley

Annette Bening

Kate Craig

Robert Prosky

Wally

The Great Outdoors: Official Clip - Big Bear Chase Me!

2:40

Now Playing

The Great Outdoors: Official Clip - Suck My Wake

2:53

Now Playing

The Great Outdoors: Official Clip - Chet and the Bald Bear

2:34

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The Great Outdoors: Official Clip - Horny the Bear

2:26

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The Great Outdoors: Official Clip - It All Starts to Ooze Out

2:54

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The Great Outdoors: Official Clip - He's on My Face!

2:05

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The Great Outdoors: Official Clip - Golf and Go-Karts

0:34

Now Playing

The Great Outdoors: Official Clip - Baiting the Bears

2:56

Now Playing

The Great Outdoors: Official Clip - Accidental Waterskiing

2:23

Now Playing

The Great Outdoors: Official Clip - The Old '96er

2:55

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Synopsis

It's vacation time for outdoorsy Chicago man Chet Ripley (John Candy), along with his wife, Connie (Stephanie Faracy), and their two kids, Buck (Chris Young) and Ben (Ian Giatti). But a serene weekend of fishing at a Wisconsin lakeside cabin gets crashed by Connie's obnoxious brother-in-law, Roman Craig (Dan Aykroyd), his wife, Kate (Annette Bening), and the couple's two daughters. As the excursion wears on, the Ripleys find themselves at odds with the stuffy Craig family.

Director: Howard Deutch
Producer: Arne Schmidt
Screenwriter: John Hughes
Production Co: Hughes Entertainment
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 18, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $37.3M
Runtime: 1h 31m
Sound Mix: Surround

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