The Great Outdoors (1988)
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Movie Details
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Videos & Photos
- Trailer one (01:36)
- Trailer two (01:08)
Movie Info & Cast
Synopsis
A Chicago man's hope for a peaceful family vacation in the woods is shattered when the annoying in-laws drop in.
Cast
- Dan Aykroyd
- John Candy
- Stephanie Faracy
- Annette Bening
- Robert Prosky
- Chris Young
- Ian Giatti
- Hilary Gordon
- Rebecca Gordon
Letterboxd User Reviews
3.2
73.2K
14.0K
15.4K
- May 17, 2023
There is nothing greater than staying indoors and watching the Great Outdoors! Yakety Yak (don't talk back) Would have given this five stars if it wasn't for the tacked on romance between Buck Ripley and Cammie that didn't go anywhere which before I watched this…
VIVE_le_FILTHJan 30, 2022John Candy movies have a feeling of being home that I can’t quite explain.
Dan MarinaraMay 3, 2025the great outdoors walked, so that cheaper by the dozen could run
theo - Jun 24, 2022
Dan ackroyd and John candy are likeable and great fun but the jokes don't always land, some are weak and predictable. The stuf with the bear and the subtitled raccoons are gold though. This couldve been way better, theres there's annoying subplot involving a teen romance…
ComicbookfanJun 29, 2025For myself, The Great Outdoors brings back memories of family trips to the Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg, Tennessee that I went on yearly as a kid. There’s a nostalgic element at play which certainly gives it a slight edge upon viewing, but in all actuality, John Candy and…
JaredJun 17, 2025Was there ever a time where John Candy starred in a John Hughes movie and it *wasn't* iconic? Case in point The Great Outdoors. Topping something like Plains, Trains and Automobiles (or his supporting role in Home Alone for that matter) might be hard to do, but the whole…
madmonsterparty - Jun 9, 2013
You see the Size of that fucking Steak!!!
Warren WilkinsonAug 17, 2020John Candy and Dan Aykroyd together in a John Hughes 80's camping comedy is the recipe for hilariousness, except it's not really full of gutbusting guffaws, just a few smirks here and there. It's definitely second tier John Hughes, first tier being Planes, Trains and…
Lebowskidoo 🇨🇦 🎬 🍿🦞Aug 7, 2024I had a lot of fun watching this! Candy and Aykroyd are a blast together. Every time I watch John Candy in a movie I miss him more! I crack up thinking about how my family would handle some of these situations. Especially how we’d handle the bat and the bear getting…
Brennan
Queue Community Reviews
90%
Community 1,503
Top Reviews
- MovieDaddy lovedThe Great Outdoors
One of the all-time great 80s comedies. Aykroyd and Candy’s chemistry on camera makes their rivalry something to behold. Between the raccoons, the bald bear, and the Ol’ 96er, this one has all the classic quotable lines. Sentimental, laugh-out-loud comedy.
CvptvinHowdy likedThe Great OutdoorsHow can you not have a good time in the outdoors with John Candy? My favorite scenes were the ones involving the bear and the old 96er challenge lol.
M C likedThe Great OutdoorsFunny movie. Best part of the movie was John candy eating the old 96er. Best part by far
- Mickerdoo lovedThe Great Outdoors
Candy and Aykroyd make a great duo. Yet another fun, funny family flick from the 80s.
Brett Kuprowski lovedThe Great OutdoorsOne of my Favorite movies 🎥, my dad and I loved it. Reminded us of the lake!! ❤️
Justy bust lovedThe Great OutdoorsOne of my favorite movies when i was a kid and it still holds up today
- Jake H watched_neutraldThe Great Outdoors
It is so funny and very good movie. I ❤️ the great outdoors
Skylar is "meh" onThe Great OutdoorsWell acted and not a bad story. it was just ok overall
Ghoulish21347 likedThe Great OutdoorsEvery year my family has to watch this at the lake 🦝
Atom Users Reviews
Metacritic
Entertaining family movie for rainy nights and Christmas holidays.
William Thomas
Empire
The Great Outdoors is about as much fun as ants at a picnic for anyone over the age of 10. It's a crass, blah comedy about summer vacation perils that teams Dan Aykroyd and John Candy, but gives them next to nothing to work with. If the prolific and profit-making John Hughes weren't the writer--as well as the co-executive producer--of this scattershot nonsense directed frenetically by Howard Deutch, it's hard to imagine the film getting made, let alone attracting Aykroyd and Candy.
Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
Though the film never becomes actively unfunny, neither does it do much more than tread water. The raccoons have a better time than the audience will.
Janet Maslin
The New York Times
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Great Outdoors (1988) (1988) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as PG (Parental Guidance Suggested). It's generally considered a family-friendly movie.
How long is The Great Outdoors (1988) (1988)?
The movie is 1hr 31min long.
What's The Great Outdoors (1988) (1988) about?
A Chicago man's hope for a peaceful family vacation in the woods is shattered when the annoying in-laws drop in.
Who's the cast of The Great Outdoors (1988) (1988)?
- Dan Aykroyd as Roman Craig
- John Candy as Chet Ripley
- Stephanie Faracy as Connie Ripley
- Annette Bening as Kate Craig
- Robert Prosky as Wally
- Chris Young as Buck Ripley
- Ian Giatti as Ben Ripley
- Hilary Gordon as Cara Craig
- Rebecca Gordon as Mara Craig
Who's the director behind The Great Outdoors (1988) (1988)?
Howard Deutch directed The Great Outdoors (1988) (1988).
Who produced The Great Outdoors (1988) (1988)?
Arne Schmidt produced The Great Outdoors (1988) (1988).
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