Due Date
Performance & Direction: Due Date Review
Last updated: February 17, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Due Date (2010) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 6.4/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Comedy.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Comedy is often anchored by its ensemble, and Due Date features a noteworthy lineup led by Robert Downey Jr. . Supported by the likes of Zach Galifianakis and Michelle Monaghan , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: Due Date
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 2010, Due Date is a Comedy, Drama film directed by Todd Phillips. The narrative brings laughter through sharp writing and comedic timing, providing amusement while touching on deeper societal themes. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Robert Downey Jr..
Story Breakdown
The comedic structure relies on both situational humor and character-based comedy. Peter Highman must scramble across the US in five days to be present for the birth of his first child. He gets off to a bad start when his wallet and luggage are stolen, and put on the 'no-fly' list. Peter embarks on a terrifying journey when he accepts a ride from an actor. The production finds humor in relatable situations while maintaining narrative momentum. The jokes serve the story, with callbacks that reward attentive viewers.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The opening establishes the comedic tone and introduces the central conflict through humor and character quirks.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. Robert Downey Jr.'s arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The comedic climax ties together recurring jokes and character arcs, delivering both laughs and emotional satisfaction.
Thematic Depth
The film operates on multiple levels, using its genre framework to explore deeper themes about human nature, society, and the choices that define us.
What Works & What Doesn't
✅ Strengths
- Solid execution of genre conventions
- Engaging moments that showcase the creators' vision
- Competent performances from the cast
⚠️ Weaknesses
- Some narrative choices that feel predictable
- Occasional pacing lulls in the middle act
Ending Explained: Due Date
Ending Breakdown: Directed by Todd Phillips, Due Date concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to comedy resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation involving Robert Downey Jr., offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the comedy themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Due Date reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Due Date?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Comedy films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Robert Downey Jr. or the director
- Want some laughs and light entertainment
Box Office Collection: Due Date
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $65.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $211.8M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Due Date Budget
The estimated production budget for Due Date is $65.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Due Date
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch Due Date Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
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Amazon Video🏷️ Buy on
Apple TV StoreGoogle Play MoviesYouTubeDue Date Parents Guide & Age Rating
2010 AdvisoryWondering about Due Date age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Due Date is 95 minutes (1h 35m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.4/10, and global performance metrics, Due Date is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 2010 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Due Date worth watching?
Due Date is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies. It has a verified rating of 6.4/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Due Date parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Due Date identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Due Date?
The total duration of Due Date is 95 minutes, which is approximately 1h 35m long.
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Critic Reviews for Due Date
I really wanted to watch this movie mainly because of Robert Downy Jr. Just looking at the poster...he's hot! So the movie is funny but not LMAO-funny. It has a touching side to it. Of course, I felt so happy seeing Robert Downey Jr. just being his plain hot self. He looks good when he's clean and he looks good when he's dirty. And then there's Zach Galifianakis. I loved him in Hangover. He's super funny there. But I was surprised to watch him in this movie because not only is he in his funny self, he did a couple of crying scenes which were touching. This movie is tiring. YES. Tiring. All the adventures and misadventures that they had made me really tired. My rate for this movie is B+. I can never give Robert a low rating hehehe.
A generic road trip movie with two terrible people who continuously make bad choices in a predictable plot rife with even more predictable "gags". Galifianakis portrays an even dumber and less funny version of the Hangover while Downey plays a less intelligent and less humorous version of Tony Stark. Seriously, it isn't worth your time. If you want a funny road trip film then go watch 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' instead. Doesn't matter if you've seen it before. You will still feel a lot happier than if you had wasted your life on this film.
Decent watch, probably won't watch again, and can't whole-heartedly recommend. This is an interesting movie to look at critically. The writing, mostly in the character work, feels weak. It actually has an interesting plot, for the most part: an idiot, through deceit, drags a jerk with him on a cross country road trip. It's a decent story, and I'd like to think of it as an spiritual predecessor to "The Hangover". The problem I have with it is that it feels like if there were better actors, then the characters would sell better. Then I remember it was Robert Downey Jr and Zach Galifinakas, and I'm not sure how much "better" you can get for these characters, meaning that they've probably already elevated the characters somewhat. It feels like a lot of the movie is unnecessary, like antithetical Chekov's guns. Either it's for a tiny one time joke with little payoff, or it's part of a lot of work for situational comedy. An example would be the dog, it really only has one significant joke in the entire movie (maybe 2), otherwise it's just a lot of maintenance. The coffee can on the other hand is repetitively used to throughout the movie as it's part of the character themes. I'm not saying it's not funny, if you like "Anger Management", then you might like this one, but I just think there are a lot better movies out there to watch.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
