Jeff Goldblum’s Best Picture-Nominated Comedy: The Big Chill, Like The Four Seasons!

I can’t help but warn you, dear reader! This article is chock-full of spoilers for the finale of Netflix’s modern take on “The Four Seasons“! The reimagined TV series has been a smashing hit for Netflix, sharing similarities with another beloved 80s comedy classic. The stellar cast of Netflix’s “The Four Seasons” includes big names like Tina Fey, Steve Carell, and Colman Domingo, mirroring the allure of the original 1981 film’s ensemble, which starred acting greats such as Alan Alda, Carol Burnett, and Rita Moreno. Both versions have garnered significant critical praise, largely due to their exceptional casts and enduring theme of friends on vacation.

In updating “The Four Seasons” for television in 2025 and aligning it with current context, Netflix has made significant departures from the Alan Alda-directed film. For one, the central group in Netflix’s “The Four Seasons” series are college friends, as opposed to the New York City-based best friends depicted in the 1981 movie. This change, along with introducing a surprising death and centering the characters around their college friendship, makes Netflix’s May 2025 premiere more reminiscent of the 1983 cult classic comedy about reunited old friends.

The Big Chill Is A Similar College Friends Reunion Story To The Four Seasons

The 1983 Movie Received A Best Picture Nomination

A movie much like The Four Seasons is the 1983 comedy-drama “The Big Chill,” directed by Lawrence Kasdan. This film brings together an impressive cast of ’80s actors, such as Glenn Close, Kevin Kline, Jeff Goldblum, Tom Berenger, William Hurt, Mary Kay Place, Meg Tilly, JoBeth Williams, and Don Galloway. The story revolves around a group of college friends who come together in South Carolina following the death of their close friend. Although the critical reception for “The Big Chill” was somewhat divided (with a 69% score on Rotten Tomatoes), it garnered three Oscar nominations, including a nod for Best Picture.

Although “The Big Chill” centers around a bunch of baby boomers and “The Four Seasons” revolves around some former Gen X classmates, both pieces share comparable, enduring themes. The titles delve into college friends reuniting under one roof, as the group grapple with how friendships change over time, the intricacies of marriage and family life, and their relationships being put to the test due to new life events and challenges. However, unlike “The Four Seasons,” which follows the group throughout an entire year, the 1983 comedy film “The Big Chill” unfolds over a single weekend.

In a manner reminiscent of The Big Chill, Netflix’s series takes a turn similarity by altering the ending of The Four Seasons from the 1981 film. Unlike his movie counterpart, Steve Carell’s character Nick meets an untimely death in a car accident in the 2025 series, which wasn’t part of the original storyline. The series concludes with the group gathering once more for Nick’s funeral, reflecting on his passing and dealing with its consequences. This narrative development brings the story closer to the central theme of The Big Chill, where friends reunite after one of their own experiences an unexpected demise.

The Four Seasons’ Netflix Success Proves How A TV Adaptation Of The Big Chill Could Work

The Four Seasons’ ’80s Reunion Comedy Remake Format Could Also Apply To The Big Chill

The Tina Fey-co-created series “The Four Seasons” quickly climbed to the top of Netflix’s trending TV shows list after its May 1 debut, and has earned critical praise with a 79% Rotten Tomatoes score. The modern take on the 1981 movie’s story about old college friends in 2025 seems to have been extremely successful, suggesting that another ’80s cult classic like “The Big Chill” could potentially achieve similar success if adapted for television. Similar to “The Four Seasons”, a remake of “The Big Chill” would require an ensemble cast featuring well-known actors from the older Millennial or early Gen X demographic.

Transforming “The Big Chill”‘s compact reunion narrative into a miniseries structure would allow for a deeper exploration of the original characters and their interactions, going beyond what was presented in the 1983 film. However, to distinguish it from “The Four Seasons,” the story could unfold over a weekend or possibly a week, instead of an entire year as portrayed in the original. This shorter timeframe is significant to “The Big Chill”‘s narrative, so a television remake would work best as a 10-episode miniseries rather than a multi-season concept. This way, it avoids resembling Netflix’s canceled two-season sitcom “Friends from College.

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2025-05-06 01:07