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The new Cameron Crowe movie starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson is based on a true story about a real family that bought a real zoo. Damon’s character is based on author Benjamin Mee (shown here with Damon), who wrote We Bought a Zoo: The Amazing True Story of a Young Family, a Broken Down Zoo, and the 200 Wild Animals that Changed Their Lives Forever
The real-life story is a little different from the one in the movie. Both Damon’s character and the real-life Mee are widowers with young children. But the real Mee bought the zoo with his mother, brother, and sister before his wife died. The movie zoo is in the US. The Dartmoor Zoological Park is located in southwest England. Its 33 acres of woodland include tigers, lions, jaguar, lynx and cheetah, bears, wolves, tapir, capybara, racoons, meerkats, monkeys, deer, owls, ostrich, lechwe, bugs, reptiles and much, much more. Mee’s charming description of his family’s decision to buy the zoo and their early days is on their website. But it doesn’t say anything about a zookeeper on staff who looks like Scarlett Johansson.
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posted March 10, 2012 at 8:23 pm
It doesn’t matter that stuff was added to make the movie to fit Hollywood, the story is all the same, a man, did something amazing and lives were transformed and that is all that mattered. It touched my heart. I loved the characters of your children, I hope they weren’t fictionionalized .you did a great thing, and if I ever get to England I am coming to visit.
posted March 10, 2012 at 8:51 pm
Great comment, Shari, thanks! I’m so glad you loved this movie.
posted April 6, 2012 at 2:54 am
I know hollywood changes stories to make a good movie but was there really a love story for you and for your son?
posted April 6, 2012 at 7:17 am
You’re right, Luana. The love stories were added for the movie.
posted April 7, 2012 at 2:09 am
I just watched the wonderful movie based on this zoo. I really was inspired by the courage this family went through to take a place where people had given up and turn into back into the successful place that it has become today. It took alot of time and patience to give back to the animals hope that there are others willing to care for them and it also helped to bring the family closer together. Thank you for sharing this wonderful story to the world.
posted April 7, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Thanks, Ms. Mahan! I’m so glad you enjoyed the film.
posted April 9, 2012 at 6:46 pm
I can’t believe that they bought this story in a movie I loved it . I thought that that story was magical it even made me cry.i hope there is a second movie about we bought a zoo.thank you so muck now I know that I am lucky because i have have got. A mom here with me.
So thankyou for making this movie.
posted April 28, 2012 at 10:52 pm
i thinkbe another part someday this is the 2nd time i have watch this movie. this is a good movie ,i hope there will love this
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posted September 22, 2012 at 9:28 pm
I just watched this movie for the first time. Been aiming to see it before now. This is now one of my favorite movies and I know would like to go to the zoo itself. It will be a long time from now since it’s located in England but there is a possibility for everything!The kids in the movie are adorable and I would love to meet the real family.
posted September 22, 2012 at 10:54 pm
Thanks, Hall! So glad you share my appreciation for this under-appreciated film.
posted September 23, 2012 at 2:28 am
I loved this movie! brught tears to my eyes but it was such a wonderful story.
posted September 23, 2012 at 9:21 am
Thanks, Linda! I loved it, too.