The Bucket List (2008)
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Two terminally ill men embark on a globetrotting adventure to complete a list of bucket list items before they die.
The story
The main plot follows two terminally ill men on their road trip with a wish list of things to do before they "kick the bucket". Carter Chambers, a blue-collar mechanic, and Edward Cole, a wealthy healthcare tycoon, meet in a hospital after both are diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. After finding common ground, Edward finds Carter's list of activities and offers to fund a journey to complete it. The two men begin a globetrotting vacation together, traveling to various international locations to fulfill their shared desires before their time runs out.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Carter Chambers, a mechanic, and Edward Cole, a billionaire, meet in a hospital after both are diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Edward finds Carter's 'bucket list' and offers to fund a trip to complete it. They travel to various locations, including the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal. During the trip, they share personal secrets regarding their families and faith. In Hong Kong, a conflict arises when Edward hires a prostitute to approach Carter, who refuses. On the return trip, Carter tries to reconcile Edward with his estranged daughter, leading to a falling out. Carter eventually suffers a medical emergency and dies during surgery. Edward, who is in remission, reconciles with his daughter and discovers a granddaughter. The film ends with Edward and Carter's ashes being placed together in the Himalayas, where Edward completes the final item on the list: 'witness something truly majestic'.
- First release year
- 2007
- Runtime (minutes)
- 97
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Rob Reiner
- Writers
- Justin Zackham · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jack Nicholson; Morgan Freeman; Sean Hayes; Rob Morrow
- Genres
- comedy-drama; buddy; adventure; road
- Themes
- mortality; friendship; family
- Tone and mood
- heartfelt; humorous
- Setting
- Various international locations including California, the North Pole, China, Tanzania, and the Himalayas.
- Premise and plot tags
- road trip; bucket list; terminal illness
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics but was a box office success, being named one of the top ten films of 2007 by the National Board of Review.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 40% · review count: 177; Metacritic · score: 42 · scale: 100 · review count: 34
- Awards and nominations
- Top Ten Films of 2007 · National Board of Review · 2007 · Win
- Production trivia
- The term 'bucket list' was coined by writer Justin Zackham.; The film grossed over $175 million on a $45 million budget.; The soundtrack features a parody of the 'Goldfinger' theme.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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