Free Birds

Two turkeys from opposite sides of the farm find common ground and decide to change the fate of their species. Reggie, a clever bird who prefers safety, shifts gears when he meets Jake, a fearless prankster with a taste for big ideas. A quirky artifact sends them whisking back in time, where the first Thanksgiving awaits. Their mission is simple in theory: alter history so turkeys aren't on the menu. Along the way they dodge trouble, recruit unlikely allies, and discover that friendship and courage can trump tradition. Along the way they cross snowy colonies, bustling ports, and dusty farms, meeting a cast of quirky helpers and wary guardians who challenge their plan yet push them to grow for audiences.

Released in 2013 by Reel FX Animation Studios, the film was directed by Jimmy Hayward from an original concept by Scott Mosier and David I Stern. It features Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson, Amy Poehler, George Takei, and Colm Meaney as voices.

Worldwide gross totaled around 110 million, against a 55 million budget, signaling solid profitability for a family animated feature, with the majority of revenue coming from international markets and domestic box office, aided by ancillary releases and merchandising across platforms.

Free Birds sits in the middle of mid range animated comedies with a buddy dynamic that fans remember for its witty exchanges and chase sequences through time. It helped usher in a wave of light hearted family time travel tales and features a vocal cast that brings humor to life.

Audiences gave the film a middle of the road reception, with a 5.9/10 average from hundreds of votes. The story centers on friendship across social divides, the ethics of altering history, and the humor that springs from unlikely partners learning to trust one another and questioning long standing traditions everywhere.