Open Season

Three days before Open Season, Boog the big enclosure-born grizzly finds himself stranded in the forest after a bad turn of events. Used to a comfy life with Beth and their home, he is suddenly out of his element and terrified by the wild. When he meets Elliot, a quick-witted mule deer with a sharp tongue and a knack for trouble, the two form an uneasy partnership. Boog learns to rely on his new ally as they navigate a lineup of woodland friends who rally together to outmaneuver hunters and survive in the unfamiliar woods. The film follows their unlikely alliance as it blends comedy with adventure and heart for families as a bigger test of loyalty and courage unfolds.

Directed by Jill Culton and Roger Allers, Open Season marks a major Sony Pictures Animation release. It draws its story from the collaboration of Ron J Friedman, Steve Moore and Nat Mauldin, an original idea rather than a literary adaptation.

Open Season grossed about 197.3 million worldwide, against a budget of 85 million, giving the film a solid box office performance for a mid 2000s animated feature and helping Sony broaden its family friendly slate that school-age audiences embraced globally.

Open Season helped establish Sony Pictures Animation as a player in family friendly 3D features and spawned merchandising tie ins and helped define its era's animation style. The buddy dynamic between Boog and Elliot became a recognizable template for forest creature adventures in later films in general across audiences worldwide.

Critics gave the film mixed reviews, while audiences praised its cheerful energy and heart. The story centers on friendship across differences, adapting to new surroundings, and finding courage in unlikely places. Some reviewers noted broad appeal for families, though others called the action light compared with later sequels in general.