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Trailer

The Way Way Back

2013Movie1 h 43 minPG-13

ComedyDrama
76
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.4Metacritic687.9Rotten Tomatoes83%84%

A hopeful, wholesome comedy movie about growing up and everyday modern life, with standout performances and characters.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

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Not for scares or brutality.

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Story

We've all been there.

Shy 14-year-old Duncan goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and her boyfriend's daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park.

Feels like

  • Summer Vacation
  • Coming-of-Age Drama
  • Family Dysfunction
  • Found Family
  • Heartwarming
  • Humorous
  • Authentic Performances
  • Self-Discovery
  • Independent Film

Cast

22 of 22

Crew

Directed by
Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
Written by
Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
Produced by
Kevin J. Walsh, Tom Rice
Music by
Rob Simonsen

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

June 6, 2013 · 1 h 43 min · PG-13

Released
June 6, 2013
Runtime
1 h 43 min
Age rating
PG-13
Content
Strong Language, Drug Use
Genres
Comedy, Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$5 million
Box office
$23 million
Available in
42 countries

Tropes

Censorship by Spelling, Vitriolic Best Buds, Nice Guy +9

  • Censorship by Spelling
  • Vitriolic Best Buds
  • Nice Guy
  • Flat Character
  • Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold
  • Jerk with a Heart of Jerk
  • The Cast Show Off
  • Plucky Comic Relief
  • Friend to All Children
  • Hate Sink
  • The Friend Nobody Likes
  • In-Series Nickname

12 of 75 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream The Way Way Back?"

Questions about The Way Way Back

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Way Way Back?

Cinemax

In the United States, The Way Way Back streams on Cinemax. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 13 other countries.

Is The Way Way Back worth watching?

76
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 76 (IMDb 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes 83%, and Metacritic 68).

Is The Way Way Back okay for kids?

PG-13Strong languageDrug use

Yes: it's rated PG-13 in the United States for strong language and drug use, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Will The Way Way Back make me laugh?

Light

Now and then: the humor is mostly sharp wit (7 of 10) and situational comedy (6 of 10).

Is The Way Way Back plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and dialogue centrality (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Was The Way Way Back a box office hit?

Budget$5 million
Box office$23 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $5 million to make and earned $23 million worldwide, 5.0 times its budget.

What tropes does The Way Way Back use?

Censorship by SpellingVitriolic Best BudsNice GuyFlat CharacterHair of Gold, Heart of GoldJerk with a Heart of JerkThe Cast Show OffPlucky Comic ReliefFriend to All ChildrenHate SinkThe Friend Nobody LikesIn-Series Nicknameand 63 more

TV Tropes lists 75 tropes for it, including Censorship by Spelling, Vitriolic Best Buds, and Nice Guy.