Production note The movie had a reported budget of $8 million and grossed $56.4 million.
Production note It received three Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Glenn Close for Supporting Actress.
Production note The deleted Kevin Costner material was supposed to contextualize Alex through flashbacks but was cut because it didn’t work.
Production note The film’s soundtrack songs were chosen to match what the characters would plausibly have listened to in 1968-69.
Production note John Bailey’s cinematography and Carol Littleton’s editing were highlighted as unusually thoughtful and precise.
Production note The Santini house from The Great Santini was reused as the Big Chill house location.
Production note The Michigan football footage comes from a 1980 Michigan-Michigan State game Michigan won 27-23.
Mentioned with uncertainty A sound technician supposedly recorded a ghost during filming of a reunion documentary about the house.
Production note The film was adapted into the short-lived TV series Hometown.
Production note Kasdan’s early run is described as Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Body Heat, Return of the Jedi, and The Big Chill.
Secaucus 7 Cited as an early precursor to this kind of reunion movie.
Beautiful Girls Named as a later attempt at the same friendship-reunion vibe.
Indian Summer Another reunion ensemble film brought up as a near-miss.
30something Used as an example of media that shared the film’s generation-and-adulthood concerns.
Friends from College Cited as a modern attempt at the same ensemble-friends concept.
Dead Poets Society Used to illustrate how rehearsal and ensemble bonding can make characters feel real.
Forrest Gump Referenced as an example of a more upbeat 1990s worldview shift.
Boogie Nights Used as a comparison for soundtracks that can be followed like scene-by-scene playlists.
Goodfellas Referenced for another soundtrack/scene association style.
Pulp Fiction Named alongside other soundtrack-driven films.
The Dresser Mentioned during Oscar discussion as a Best Picture nominee from that year.
Terms of Endearment Cited as the Best Picture winner that beat The Big Chill.
The Right Stuff Mentioned in the Oscar nominee rundown.
Black Hat Used in a joke about director recuts and audience niche appeal.
Grand Canyon Described as a later, more optimistic Kasdan companion piece.
