Family Weekend

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Benjamin Epps directs. Christopher Norr behind the camera. Russ Howard III scores. Benjamin Epps cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 1Released 13 years ago.
• 2Directed by Benjamin Epps, shot by Christopher Norr. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 3Original score by Russ Howard III. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 4Editor Benjamin Epps shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 5Olesya Rulin and Kristin Chenoweth and Matthew Modine carry the top of the cast.
• 6Marketing tagline: "If a family doesn't stick together, sometimes you have to use a little tape.".
• 7IMDB entry: tt1821426 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography

Christopher Norr

Original score

Russ Howard III

Editing

Benjamin Epps

Production design

Manuel Perez Pena

Costume design

Leslie Ann Loughlin

Makeup / hair

Stephanie Arble

Runtime

105 min · 1h 45m

Status

Released

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

R

IMDB

Family Weekend (2013) ↗

Rotten Tomatoes

38% 🥫 Rotten

Metacritic

35/100

IMDB rating

6.2/10 · 7,330 votes

MPAA

R

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

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  ▶
  Trailer

  Trailer

Community reviews

What people are saying

• Reno2018-02-04
  ★ 6/10

  Time for parents to learn some lessons! First thing, it was not your a typical film. Though it lacked the proper story structure. The concept seems silly. Like only for cinematically happenable. Since it is not about so serious, they had to cover all scenes, events within its classification, which were not bad actually. But the thing is, it is an R film with the majority of the cast was children. In reality, most of them were in their 20s, but the story wise, they are teens. A teenager decides to take hostage of her parents to teach them some lesson for not attending her sporting competition. Her siblings join, and a couple of outsiders too. It was not a well planned event of the weekend, so some unexpected turn takes. But how it all ends, the consequence of such undertaking, all told is the final quarters. A unique and an entertaining film. Despite lots of fun, there are some serious side too. Like awareness about the family unity. Being there for one another in all circumstances. Some viewers might get emotional too. In one of the scenes with a knife in the mouth, I scared that something bad could happen. Olesya Rulin was good. I hope she does more films in the lead. The film was four years old, so Joey was younger than her recent films I've seen. She's one of the next big star. Watch it if you are bored of regular comedies, yet still it is just an above average. 6.5/10

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

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  Footprint Features

  US

• 

  Bedford Falls Productions

  US

Key crew

• ProducerAdam Saunders
• ProducerChris Aronoff
• Executive ProducerGary R. Benz
• Executive ProducerPete Brown
• ProducerRon Digman
• ProducerBenjamin Epps
• ProducerPeter Gail
• Executive ProducerYoumi N. Ma
• ProducerValorie Massalas
• Executive ProducerTodd Olsson
• EditorBenjamin Epps
• EditorColleen Halsey
• CastingRon Digman
• CastingValorie Massalas
• Production DesignManuel Perez Pena
• Costume DesignLeslie Ann Loughlin
• Makeup ArtistStephanie Arble
• CastingDayna Polehanki
• First Assistant "A" CameraGeoff George
• "B" Camera OperatorDaniel S. Noga
• Second Unit Director of PhotographyDaniel S. Noga

Release history · US

When it landed

• Theatrical2013-03-28R