The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013 film)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a 2013 adventure comedy-drama film directed, co-produced by and starring Ben Stiller and written by Steve Conrad. The film also stars Kristen Wiig, Shirley MacLaine, Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn, and Sean Penn. The second film adaptation of James Thurber's 1939 short story of the same name, following the 1947 film of the same name, it follows a maladaptive daydreamer named Walter Mitty on his quest to find a missing negative print and its elusive photojournalist for Life magazine's final print issue.

Following a tumultuous production hell that spanned multiple studios, directors and leading actors dating back to 1994, it finally found traction in 2011 with Stiller as director and star of the film under 20th Century Fox and Samuel Goldwyn Films. The film premiered at the New York Film Festival on October 5, 2013, and was theatrically released on December 25, 2013, in North America to generally mixed reception, with high praise for Stiller's direction, cinematography, and its soundtrack featuring José González. It was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 2013.