The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 2013

In this whimsical comedy-adventure, Walter Mitty's mundane life as a photo editor is punctuated by vivid daydreams of derring-do. When he falls for Cheryl, his crush, and gets sent on a quest for the perfect shot, reality blurs with fantasy. Will Walter's imagination be enough to save him from monotony or will he find true escapades in the unlikeliest of places?

In this whimsical comedy-adventure, Walter Mitty's mundane life as a photo editor is punctuated by vivid daydreams of derring-do. When he falls for Cheryl, his crush, and gets sent on a quest for the perfect shot, reality blurs with fantasy. Will Walter's imagination be enough to save him from monotony or will he find true escapades in the unlikeliest of places?

Does The Secret Life of Walter Mitty have end credit scenes?

No!

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Explore the complete cast of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

See how The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where The Secret Life of Walter Mitty stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

54

Metascore

7.7

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

%

TOMATOMETER

review

0%

User Score

IMDb

7.3 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

72

%

User Score

Letterboxd

3.8

From 28K fan ratings

Movie Insider

4.53/5

From 264 fan ratings

Take the Ultimate The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Quiz: Test your knowledge about the adventurous journey of Walter Mitty in 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.'

What is Walter Mitty's job at Life magazine?

Awards & Nominations for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Explore awards

Discover all the awards and nominations received by The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, from Oscars to film festival honors. Learn how The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and its cast and crew have been recognized by critics and the industry alike.


30th Artios Award 2015

Nomination

Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Big Budget Feature - Comedy

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

See more

Read the complete plot summary of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


Walter Mitty works as a negative assets manager at Life magazine, where he often escapes from the monotony of his mundane job through vivid daydreams of adventure. He harbors a crush on a co-worker named Cheryl, but struggles to muster the courage to express his feelings. Amidst this, he collaborates with renowned photojournalist Sean O’Connell, who values Mitty’s contributions and gives him a wallet as a token of appreciation when he sends his latest negatives. O’Connell believes that negative #25 embodies the very essence of Life and deserves to grace the cover of the magazine’s final print edition, which is transitioning to an online format.

However, disaster strikes when Mitty discovers that negative #25 is missing, forcing him to stall the corporate transition manager, Ted Hendricks, who is overseeing the downsizing process. While examining the remaining negatives, Cheryl encourages Mitty to view them as puzzles that can lead to O’Connell’s whereabouts. They analyze several images, including one featuring a thumb adorned with a unique ring and another showcasing a curved piece of wood. A third photo, depicting a boat, leads Mitty to deduce that O’Connell is currently in Greenland. Fueled by determination, he hops on a flight to track him down.

Upon reaching Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, Mitty learns from a local bartender that O’Connell has departed on a ship. To reach him, Mitty must take a postal helicopter that services various coastal towns, despite the pilot being intoxicated. Recognizing the pilot’s thumb with the distinctive ring he noted earlier, Mitty initially hesitates but is inspired by an imagined performance of “Space Oddity” to board the helicopter. As they approach the ship, the helicopter pilot mistakenly interprets instructions, and instead of leaping onto a small boat, Mitty misses his mark and plunges into the frigid ocean. He’s subsequently rescued but learns that O’Connell has already left.

The crew offers him a clementine cake that O’Connell had left behind, and as Mitty examines the wrapping, he discovers hints about O’Connell’s next destination: Iceland. Armed with this knowledge, he reaches the village of Skógar near the famous volcano Eyjafjallajökull, only to spot O’Connell in a plane flying over the site. A volcanic eruption ensues, prompting Mitty to hurry back, and unfortunately, he finds himself recalled to New York due to his failure to retrieve the negative—a significant disappointment that leads to his firing by Hendricks.

Returning home defeated, he learns that Cheryl has reconciled with her husband. Feeling despondent, he visits his mother and, while reflecting on a photo he received, he has a profound realization when he recalls a conversation with her where she mentioned already meeting O’Connell. This revelation leads him to understand that O’Connell is now located in the Himalayas, photographing a rare snow leopard.

Upon finding O’Connell, Mitty discovers that the true clue about the missing negative was within the wallet all along. Unfortunately, he had misinterpreted it as a directive to inspect the tissue paper, forgetting to check the inscription inside the wallet. When he inquires about the negative, O’Connell sidesteps the question, engaging in a playful match of football with some locals instead.

Faced with additional challenges in Los Angeles, including a misunderstanding with airport security, Mitty manages to reach out to Todd Maher, an old contact from eHarmony. As he assists his mother in selling her piano, he recounts his wild experiences but admits he’s lost the wallet. Fortunately, his mother retrieves it from the trash, and inside, he discovers an envelope that surprisingly contains the sought-after photograph—negative #25.

Empowered, Walter brings the image to Life’s office, asserting its importance for the final edition, while standing up to Hendricks for his disrespect towards the staff who tirelessly supported the magazine. This moment of bravery leads to a heartfelt reunion with Cheryl, where he openly discusses his journey and confesses his feelings for her. He learns of the truth behind her ex-husband’s visit, ultimately realizing his adventures had changed him profoundly.

As they stroll together, Mitty and Cheryl come across the final issue of Life at a newsstand. It beautifully celebrates the staff and features a captivating photograph from negative #25—exemplifying Mitty’s transformative journey as he sits outside the Life building, reflecting on his extraordinary experiences. Hand in hand, the two continue on their way, a symbol of newfound courage and connection.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

See more

Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


The Secret Life of Walter Mitty: Extended Trailer - 6 Minutes [HD]

Cars Featured in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

See 22 more

Explore all cars featured in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


Acura

1999

TL

Bedford

QL

Buick

1994

Century

Buick

2003

LeSabre

Chevrolet

1976

Monte Carlo

Daewoo

1998

Matiz

Dodge

1986

Aries K

Fiat

2001

Multipla

Ford

2006

Crown Victoria

Ford

2000

Taurus

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


life magazinedaydreammagazinephotographerremakebased on short storyx rayed skeletonfantasy sequencesnow leopardicelandnew york citygreenlandflock of birdsbell 47 helicopter with pontoonsreference to benjamin buttonsculpturestretch armstrongreference to eharmonywaiting for a traincrashing through a windowbuilding explosionairporthimalayahimalayasvolcanic eruptionvolcanobicycleseaboatsharkjumping from a helicopterhelicopterdrunksongbarskateboardpianocakebirthdaydating websitephotojournalismphotojournalistphotograph negativephotographdreamerdirected by starcharacter name in titlefirmcompanyorganization

Similar Movies You Should Know About

Browse a curated list of movies similar in genre, tone, characters, or story structure. Discover new titles like the one you're watching, perfect for fans of related plots, vibes, or cinematic styles.


© 2025 What's After the Movie. All rights reserved.