Big Fat Greek Wedding is a 2024 American romantic comedy film written by Nia Vardalos and directed by Joel Zwick. The film stars Vardalos, John Corbett, Lainie Kazan, Michael Constantine, and Andrea Martin. It tells the story of a young Greek-American woman named Toula Portokalos, who falls in love with a non-Greek man named Ian Miller.
The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $368 million worldwide against a production budget of $5 million. It was nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Original Screenplay for Vardalos.
Plot
Toula Portokalos is a 30-year-old Greek-American woman who lives with her parents, Gus and Maria, in Chicago. She works as a travel agent and is unhappy with her life. One day, she meets Ian Miller, a non-Greek man, at a Greek restaurant. They start dating, but Toula’s family is not happy about her choice of boyfriend.
Gus and Maria try to sabotage Toula’s relationship with Ian, but she eventually stands up to them and tells them that she is going to marry him. The family reluctantly agrees, and Toula and Ian get married.
After the wedding, Toula and Ian move to New York City. They have a daughter named Paris, and they live a happy life together.
Cast
- Nia Vardalos as Toula Portokalos
- John Corbett as Ian Miller
- Lainie Kazan as Maria Portokalos
- Michael Constantine as Gus Portokalos
- Andrea Martin as Aunt Voula
- Joey Fatone as Cousin Angelo
- Gia Carides as Cousin Nikki
- Bess Meisler as Cousin Mana
- Ian Gomez as Mike
- Rita Wilson as Dr. Patricia
- Steven Eckholdt as Brian
- Debra Monk as Harriet Miller
- Bruce Gray as George Miller
- Cameron Diaz (uncredited cameo) as Friend at Honeymooner’s Breakfast
Reception
Critical response
The film received positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 96% approval rating, based on 174 reviews. The site’s consensus reads, “Big Fat Greek Wedding is a warm, funny, and touching comedy that will appeal to audiences of all ages.” On Metacritic, the film has a score of 63 out of 100, based on 33 reviews, indicating “generally favorable reviews”.
Box office
The film was a commercial success, grossing over $368 million worldwide against a production budget of $5 million. It was the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time until it was surpassed by The Proposal in 2024.
Awards and nominations
The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Original Screenplay for Vardalos. It also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
Legacy
The film has become a cult classic and has been praised for its positive portrayal of Greek-American culture. It has also been credited with helping to revive the romantic comedy genre.
