Uncle Buck

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Uncle Buck

PG,

1989,

1h 40m,

Comedy

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Watchlist

Watchlist

61%

28 Reviews

Tomatometer

77%

100,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

61%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

When Cindy (Elaine Bromka) and her husband, Bob (Garrett M. Brown), have to leave town for a family emergency, there is only one person available to babysit for their three kids: Bob's lazy, carefree brother, Buck (John Candy). While he immediately gets along with the two younger children (Gaby Hoffman, Macaulay Culkin), Buck must change his bachelor lifestyle if he wants to be a responsible caregiver for the angst-filled teenager, Tia (Jean Louisa Kelly).

Critics Consensus

Uncle Buck has its ups and downs, but there's undeniable comedic magic that comes from uniting John Hughes, John Candy, and a house full of precocious kids.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

1.5/4

Uncle Buck attempts to tell a heart-warming story through a series of uncomfortable and unpleasant scenes; it's a tug-of-war between its ambitions and its methods.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Oct 9, 2025

3.5/5

Candy was really just beginning to come into his prime as an actor when the film was released...

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Feb 22, 2025

2.5/4

The kids are cute and Candy is game, and it’s largely their personalities that allow the film to survive its series of underwhelming set-pieces.

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Jul 11, 2022

Uncle Buck accumulates too much bile and the formula falls apart. [Full review in Spanish]

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Ryan Murphy

Miami Herald

Aug 17, 2021

2.5/4

Wickedly underplayed, the role of Uncle Buck allows the adroit comic actor to blend physical comedy with small moments of tender reflection.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Mar 16, 2021

3/5

...Hughes and Candy may take a sloppy, anything-goes approach here, but it works...

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Theodore G

Apr 16, 2019

Hilarious. Hilarious is all I have to say about this movie. Candy as the titular Buck is amazing he's funny and just warms my heart. Also the end is very satisfying and very heartfelt, although a little dark and crazy, but in a good way.

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Hermione S

Feb 10, 2019

Three stars for the movie itself. Five stars for John Candy.

Feb 9, 2019

Set back and let the past time swash over you. This is funny

Finn P

Feb 5, 2019

Love this film. One of my favorites of John Candy. They don't make them like they used to!

Abraham P

Dec 24, 2018

A riveting comedy about understanding and appreciating family. John Candy steals the show as the lovable oaf Uncle Buck in the 1989 film of the same name. John Hughes does not reinvent the wheel as a director, but his oddly realistic suburban community overview is charming unto itself. His angles and sequences are clever and fun, but never interesting by themselves. Hughes' genius is thanks to his writing. Hughes brings witty and hilarious script writing with a biting sense of sarcasm to the fold. His films do not always hold up thanks to his creepier sexual material through into the mix, but Uncle Buck is still hilarious. Again, Candy is the star with his massive stature and the physical comedy that comes with him, but his likable personality and genuine attitude feel quite natural. Candy doesn't overplay his ridiculous character and wins you over because of it. Macaulay Culkin is very charming and fun as Miles in this early role of his, while Gaby Hoffman is equally adorable and sweet as Maizy. The great foil in the teenage daughter for Uncle Buck is portrayed beautifully by the spunky and smarmy Jean Kelly. She is the other standout star of Uncle Buck alongside Candy. The music feels right out of Risky Business from the previous year, while not standing out as great for a 1980's score. Other than the wonderful scene wherein the daughter and mother make up and come to a new understanding with sweet synths playing in the background. Overall, Uncle Buck is short and quick, while it does not try much new, it plays up slapstick and mature humor in this family oriented comedy that gets funnier the older you get.

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Hermione S

Dec 11, 2018

Absolutely hilarious! Great message of family love and entertainment. Every christmas i watch this classic. R.I.P JOHN CANDY

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John Hughes

Director

John Candy

Buck Russell

Amy Madigan

Chanice Kobolowski

Jean Louisa Kelly

Tia Russell

Gaby Hoffmann

Maizy Russell

Macaulay Culkin

Miles Russell

Uncle Buck: Official Clip - So Much For Promises

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Uncle Buck: Official Clip - Moley Russel's Wart

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Uncle Buck: Official Clip - Would Ya Like to See My Hatchet?

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Uncle Buck: Official Clip - Happy Birthday, Miles

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Uncle Buck: Official Clip - His Name is Bug

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Uncle Buck: Official Clip - Battle of Wills

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Uncle Buck: Official Clip - Squashing a Bug

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Uncle Buck: Official Clip - Here Comes Buck

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Uncle Buck: Official Clip - I'm Your Uncle Buck

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Uncle Buck: Official Clip - The Buck-mobile

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Synopsis

When Cindy (Elaine Bromka) and her husband, Bob (Garrett M. Brown), have to leave town for a family emergency, there is only one person available to babysit for their three kids: Bob's lazy, carefree brother, Buck (John Candy). While he immediately gets along with the two younger children (Gaby Hoffman, Macaulay Culkin), Buck must change his bachelor lifestyle if he wants to be a responsible caregiver for the angst-filled teenager, Tia (Jean Louisa Kelly).

Director: John Hughes
Producer: John Hughes, Tom Jacobson
Screenwriter: John Hughes
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Hughes Entertainment
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 16, 1989, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 2, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $63.9M
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: Surround

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