We Bought a Zoo
“A true zoo story.”
Synopsis
Benjamin has lost his wife and, in a bid to start his life over, purchases a large house that has a zoo – welcome news for his daughter, but his son is not happy about it. The zoo is in need of renovation and Benjamin sets about the work with the head keeper and the rest of the staff, but, the zoo soon runs into financial trouble.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
We Bought a Zoo - Dad And Son Fight | Emotional Scene (HD)
Type: Clip • Published 2019-11-02
Top Cast
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Matt Damon
Benjamin Mee
Scarlett Johansson
Kelly Foster
Thomas Haden Church
Duncan Mee
Colin Ford
Dylan Mee
Maggie Elizabeth Jones
Rosie Mee
Angus Macfadyen
Peter MacCready
Elle Fanning
Lily Miska
Patrick Fugit
Robin Jones
John Michael Higgins
Walter Ferris
Carla Gallo
Rhonda Blair
JB Smoove
Mr. Stevens
Stephanie Szostak
Katherine Mee
Michael Panes
Principal
Kym Whitley
Cashier
Todd Stanton
San Diego Vet
Lauren Sánchez Bezos
TV Anchor
Peter Riegert
Delbert McGinty
Roberto Montesinos
Hugo Chavez
Release History & Theatrical Window
Shanghai International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
November 26, 2011
Wide Cinema Exhibition
May 2, 2012
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$50M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$120.1M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
2.4x
+$70.1M net gain
Theatrical Status
Profitable
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Cameron Crowe
- Screenplay & Story
- Cameron Crowe, Aline Brosh McKenna
- Original Score
- Jon Thor Birgisson
- Original Title
- We Bought a Zoo
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 4m
- Production Budget
- $50M
- Worldwide Gross
- $120.1M
- Production Studios
- Dune Entertainment, Estrella Media, Vinyl Films, 20th Century Fox
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Cameron Crowe
Cameron Crowe, Aline Brosh McKenna, Benjamin Mee
Jon Thor Birgisson
Rodrigo Prieto
Mark Livolsi
Ilona Herzberg, Rick Yorn, Julie Yorn, Cameron Crowe
Department Leadership Roster
Rick Yorn
Producer
Rodrigo Prieto
Director of Photography
Jon Thor Birgisson
Original Music Composer
Paul Graff
Visual Effects Supervisor
Julie Yorn
Producer
Cameron Crowe
Producer
Cameron Crowe
Screenplay
Aline Brosh McKenna
Screenplay
Cameron Crowe
Director
Mark Livolsi
Editor
Clay A. Griffith
Production Design
Deborah L. Scott
Costume Design
Thomas Robinson Harper
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.
FSK 0 — Approved without age restriction.
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for We Bought a Zoo.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About We Bought a Zoo
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is We Bought a Zoo about?
Benjamin has lost his wife and, in a bid to start his life over, purchases a large house that has a zoo – welcome news for his daughter, but his son is not happy about it. The zoo is in need of renovation and Benjamin sets about the work with the head keeper and the rest of the staff, but, the zoo soon runs into financial trouble.
Who directed We Bought a Zoo?
We Bought a Zoo was directed by Cameron Crowe.
Who stars in We Bought a Zoo?
The principal cast of We Bought a Zoo includes Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Colin Ford, Maggie Elizabeth Jones.
When was We Bought a Zoo released and how long is it?
We Bought a Zoo was released in 2011 with a total runtime of 2h 4m.
What was the box office and production budget of We Bought a Zoo?
We Bought a Zoo had a reported production budget of $50M and grossed $120.1M at the worldwide box office (2.4 return on budget, classified as a commercial hit).
Who composed the musical score for We Bought a Zoo?
The original motion picture soundtrack for We Bought a Zoo was composed by Jon Thor Birgisson.
Is We Bought a Zoo based on a book or true story?
We Bought a Zoo is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Benjamin Mee".
What is the age rating and content advisory for We Bought a Zoo?
We Bought a Zoo holds official age classifications: AU: PG (Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.); DE: 0 (FSK 0 — Approved without age restriction.); GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).