Free Birds
Free Birds is a 2013 American animated science fiction comedy buddy film directed by Jimmy Hayward (As of 2024, it is the last film Hayward has ever directed, making it his longest hiatus between projects) who co-wrote the screenplay with the film's producer Scott Mosier. The film stars the voices of Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson, and Amy Poehler, with supporting roles by George Takei, Colm Meaney, Keith David, and Dan Fogler. It follows Reggie and Jake, two turkeys who time travel back to the first Thanksgiving in 1621 to get turkeys off the menu.
| Free Birds | |
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Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Jimmy Hayward |
| Screenplay by | Jimmy Hayward Scott Mosier |
| Story by | David I. Stern John J. Strauss |
| Produced by | Scott Mosier |
| Starring |
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| Edited by | Chris Cartagena |
| Music by | Dominic Lewis |
Production companies | Relativity Media Reel FX Animation Studios |
| Distributed by | Relativity Media |
Release date |
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Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $55 million |
| Box office | $110.4 million |
Free Birds was produced by Reel FX Creative Studios as its first theatrical fully animated feature film, and Relativity Media's fourth animated film after Monster House (2006), The Tale of Despereaux (2008), and 9 (2009). Originally titled Turkeys, and scheduled for 2014, the film was released on November 1, 2013.
Free Birds received generally negative reviews from critics and grossed $110.4 million worldwide against a $55 million budget. The film was nominated for the Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Music in a Feature Production, though it lost to Frozen.