Open Season is a 2006 American animated adventure comedy film directed by Jill Culton and Roger Allers and written by Nat Mauldin, Steve Bencich, and Ron J. Friedman. The movie was created by Sony Pictures Animation as their debut feature and stars Martin Lawrence, Ashton Kutcher, Debra Messing, and Gary Sinise. The narrative follows Boog, a domesticated grizzly bear, who becomes stranded in the forest and befriends Elliot, a one-antlered mule deer. Together, they navigate woodland adventures and hunters before hunting season commences. The film premiered on September 25, 2006, and achieved mixed reviews from critics while grossing $201 million against an $85 million budget. It spawned multiple sequels and an animated television series, establishing a successful franchise.