Due Date
Due Date is a 2010 American black comedy road film directed by Todd Phillips, who co-wrote the screenplay with Alan R. Cohen, Alan Freedland, and Adam Sztykiel.[1] The film follows Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.), a high-strung architect and expectant father whose flight home from Atlanta to Los Angeles is disrupted, forcing him to hitch a ride across the country with the eccentric aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) to arrive before his wife's due date.[2] Supporting roles include Michelle Monaghan as Peter's wife Sarah, Jamie Foxx as a sympathetic cab driver, and Juliette Lewis as Ethan's mother.[1] Released theatrically by Warner Bros. Pictures on November 5, 2010, Due Date was produced on a budget of $65 million and grossed $100.5 million in North America and $111.3 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $211.8 million.[3] It opened at number one at the domestic box office with $32.7 million from 3,355 theaters.[4] The film's soundtrack, featuring original music by Christophe Beck, was released alongside the movie and contributed to its comedic tone.[1] Critically, Due Date received mixed reviews, earning a 39% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 195 reviews, with the consensus reading, "Shamelessly derivative and only sporadically funny, Due Date doesn't live up to the possibilities suggested by its talented director and marvelously mismatched stars."[2] On Metacritic, it scored 51 out of 100 from 39 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reception, though Downey Jr.'s portrayal of the frustrated Peter was frequently praised for its intensity.[5] Audience scores were more favorable, with a 6.5/10 average on IMDb from over 368,000 user ratings.[1] In the years following its release, the film has developed a cult following for its buddy-comedy dynamics and has seen renewed streaming success, entering Netflix's U.S. top 10 movies chart in January 2025.[6]Story and Characters
Plot
Peter Highman, a high-strung architect, is en route from Atlanta to Los Angeles to be present for the birth of his first child with his wife Sarah, whose due date is imminent. At the airport, Peter becomes involved in a confrontation with Ethan Tremblay, an aspiring actor heading to the same destination with his dog Sonny in tow. The incident leads to Peter being placed on a no-fly list, his wallet and luggage confiscated, forcing him to reluctantly accept a ride in Ethan's rental car for the cross-country drive.[1] Structured as a buddy road comedy, the film chronicles the mismatched duo's tumultuous journey through the American Southwest, marked by escalating conflicts between Peter's uptight demeanor and Ethan's eccentric, unpredictable behavior. Early mishaps include reckless driving that culminates in a severe car accident after Ethan falls asleep at the wheel, stranding them until they are picked up by Peter's friend Darryl. Further complications arise from detours, such as stopping at the Grand Canyon to scatter Ethan's father's ashes, adding emotional strain to their travels.[7][1] Comedic chaos ensues through a series of absurd incidents, including accidentally driving across the U.S.-Mexico border into Mexico while under the influence, leading to arrest by police and difficulties returning to the U.S., and a chaotic visit to the home of Ethan's acquaintance Heidi in Albuquerque involving theft, intoxication, and a violent altercation with her partner Lonnie. These events heighten the tension between the pair, with Peter's desperation to reach his wife clashing against Ethan's oblivious antics, such as smoking marijuana and impulsive decisions, as they navigate detours, breakdowns, and interpersonal friction toward their goal.[1]Cast
The principal cast of Due Date features Robert Downey Jr. as Peter Highman, a successful but high-strung architect desperate to return home to Los Angeles for the birth of his first child, whose uptight and easily frustrated demeanor forms the straight man in the film's road-trip comedy.[1] His character's rigid personality, shaped by a fear of failure and a need for control, contrasts sharply with the chaotic energy of his reluctant travel companion, creating the core comedic tension as Peter's family motivations—primarily being present for his wife Sarah's delivery—push him through escalating mishaps.[2] Downey's portrayal emphasizes Peter's exasperation, amplifying the humor derived from his futile attempts to maintain composure amid absurdity.[8] Zach Galifianakis plays Ethan Tremblay, an eccentric aspiring actor with a laid-back, bumbling lifestyle marked by poor decisions, a fondness for marijuana, and an annoying dachshund named Sonny, whose unpredictable quirks disrupt Peter's plans at every turn.[1] This odd-couple dynamic thrives on the opposition between Peter's precision and Ethan's freewheeling chaos, with Galifianakis's improvisational approach during filming influencing the character's spontaneous, offbeat behaviors, such as improvised rants and physical comedy that heightened the film's unscripted feel. Ethan's own vague aspirations to succeed in Hollywood mirror Peter's familial drive, albeit in a comically misguided way, underscoring the film's themes of unlikely bonds formed under pressure.[2] Michelle Monaghan portrays Sarah Highman, Peter's supportive yet anxious pregnant wife, whose impending due date serves as the emotional anchor for Peter's journey, highlighting his devotion despite the comedic obstacles.[1] Jamie Foxx appears as Darryl, Peter's affable friend and a Dallas Cowboys player, who briefly aids the duo in a pivotal scene, providing a grounded counterpoint to the central pair's frenzy.[9] In supporting roles, Juliette Lewis plays Heidi, an eccentric, one-eyed woman encountered during the trip, whose quirky household adds to the film's escalating weirdness.[10] Danny McBride is Lonnie, Heidi's rough-around-the-edges partner and a Western Union employee, contributing a brief but memorable burst of crude humor through his volatile interaction with the protagonists.[11] Matt Walsh has a minor role as a TSA agent at the airport, setting off the initial conflict with his officious demeanor.[12]| Actor | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Downey Jr. | Peter Highman | Uptight architect racing home for his wife's labor. |
| Zach Galifianakis | Ethan Tremblay | Bumbling aspiring actor with chaotic habits. |
| Michelle Monaghan | Sarah Highman | Peter's pregnant wife, the motivation for his urgency. |
| Jamie Foxx | Darryl | Peter's helpful friend and football player. |
| Juliette Lewis | Heidi | Eccentric one-eyed woman aiding the travelers. |
| Danny McBride | Lonnie | Heidi's crude, explosive partner. |
| Matt Walsh | TSA Agent | Airport security official sparking the adventure. |
Production
Development
The screenplay for Due Date was developed from a story conceived by Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland, with the script credited to Cohen, Freedland, Adam Sztykiel, and director Todd Phillips.[13] The concept drew inspiration from John Hughes' 1987 road-trip comedy Planes, Trains and Automobiles, a film Phillips cited as a major influence from his youth, praising it as one of the greatest comedies ever made and shaping the odd-couple dynamic at the film's core.[14] This homage emphasized mismatched personalities on a chaotic journey, aligning with Phillips' prior work in ensemble comedies like Road Trip (2000).[13] Todd Phillips became attached to direct in mid-2009, following the release of his breakthrough hit The Hangover in June of that year, which propelled his reputation for raucous buddy comedies.[15] Leveraging the momentum from The Hangover's success, Phillips revised the script to heighten its buddy-comedy elements, focusing on escalating tensions between the leads while incorporating his signature blend of outrageous humor and character-driven conflict.[16] Warner Bros. Pictures acquired the project in early 2009 through Phillips' Green Hat Films banner in partnership with Legendary Pictures, securing distribution rights and greenlighting production with a budget of $65 million.[4] This deal positioned Due Date as Phillips' follow-up to The Hangover, with principal photography commencing in October 2009.[17] Among the key creative decisions was a heavy reliance on improvised dialogue to capture authentic comedic chemistry, a technique Phillips refined from The Hangover and applied to enhance the film's spontaneous feel.[16] Production timing capitalized on Zach Galifianakis's surging popularity following The Hangover, allowing Phillips to pair him with Robert Downey Jr. for an immediate post-success collaboration.[15]Filming
Principal photography for Due Date commenced in October 2009 under the direction of Todd Phillips and wrapped in early 2010, allowing the production to align with the film's November 2010 release schedule.[17][18] The shoot took place across multiple U.S. states to authentically depict the cross-country road trip narrative, with key locations including Atlanta, Georgia, for airport sequences; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for hospital interiors; Las Cruces and Albuquerque, New Mexico, for desert and highway exteriors; El Paso, Texas, for transitional scenes; and various sites in Arizona and California such as Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto, and Ludlow along historic Route 66 to evoke the journey's rugged, iconic Americana feel.[19][20] Lawrence Sher served as cinematographer, capturing the film's dynamic visuals through a combination of on-location handheld shots and vehicle-mounted cameras to convey the chaos of the protagonists' travels, including expansive desert landscapes and high-speed driving sequences.[21][22] The production faced logistical hurdles inherent to road movie filming, such as coordinating multi-state shoots and managing improvised dialogue during car-bound scenes, which often necessitated repeated setups to integrate the actors' spontaneous performances with the action.[23]Music
Soundtrack
The original score for Due Date was composed by Christophe Beck, a frequent collaborator with director Todd Phillips on comedy films. Beck's contributions emphasize dynamic cues that align with the film's chaotic road trip dynamics, blending tension and humor through instrumental tracks.[24][25] The official soundtrack album, released by WaterTower Music on November 3, 2010, compiles 12 tracks featuring licensed songs interspersed with select score elements. It includes three original pieces by Beck: "Glaucoma," "A Good Sign," which underscores moments of tentative bonding between the leads, and "Ethan's Theme," a quirky motif reflecting Zach Galifianakis's eccentric character. These tracks were composed post-filming in 2010, incorporating orchestral arrangements to amplify emotional and comedic beats.[26][27][28][29] Licensed songs play a pivotal role in punctuating the narrative, often syncing with action and character antics to heighten the comedy. For instance, "Hold On! I'm Comin'" by Sam & Dave opens the film, establishing an upbeat tempo for Peter Highman's (Robert Downey Jr.) frantic airport mishap.[30][31] "New Moon Rising" by Wolfmother energizes a high-speed chase sequence, mirroring the escalating absurdity of the journey.[32][30] Additional key tracks include "People Are Crazy" by Billy Currington, heard during a roadside diner stop that highlights the protagonists' clashing personalities; "Is There a Ghost" by Band of Horses, accompanying a surreal nighttime drive; and "Hey You" by Pink Floyd, which scores a heated roadside confrontation, blending rock intensity with comedic escalation (note: these songs appear in the film but are not all included on the official soundtrack album). Folk-influenced selections like Neil Young's "Old Man" underscore reflective interludes amid Ethan's unpredictable behavior, such as impulsive decisions that derail the trip (also not on the album). Overall, the music enhances the film's timing, using eclectic rock and folk elements to amplify the road trip's humorous mishaps and character-driven chaos.[30][31][33][34][25] The soundtrack's digital edition is available on platforms like iTunes, focusing on commercial accessibility beyond the film's in-use selections.[32]iTunes version
The iTunes version of the Due Date Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released digitally on November 3, 2010, by WaterTower Music, two days before the film's theatrical debut.[32] This digital edition made the album immediately accessible via iTunes, featuring a curated selection of songs from the film alongside original score elements composed by Christophe Beck. The track listing consists of 12 tracks, as follows:- "Hold On I'm Comin'" – Sam & Dave (2:31)
- "New Moon Rising" – Wolfmother (3:47)
- "Is There A Ghost" – Band of Horses (3:59)
- "People Are Crazy" – Billy Currington (3:51)
- "White Room" – Cream (4:57)
- "This Is Why I'm Hot" – MIMS (3:37)
- "Sweet Jane" – Cowboy Junkies (3:37)
- "Amazing Grace" – Rod Stewart (4:03)
- "Check Ya Self 2010" – Ice Cube feat. Chuck D (5:00)
- "Glaucoma" – Christophe Beck (2:13)
- "A Good Sign" – Christophe Beck (1:36)
- "Ethan's Theme" – Christophe Beck (1:19)