EXHIBIT 23.1


            CONSENT OF REYNOLDS & ROWELLA, LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We  consent  to use of our  report  dated  April 23,  1999 with  respect  to the
financial statements of CinemaSource, Inc. for the years ended December 31, 1997
and 1998,  and our  compilation  report  dated May 7, 1999 with  respect  to the
balance  sheet as of March 31, 1999 and the  statements  of income and  retained
earnings  and cash flows for the three  months  ended March 31, 1999 and 1998 of
CinemaSource,  Inc.,  included in the Big  Entertainment,  Inc. Form 8-K/A dated
June 18, 1999, and to the  incorporation  by reference of such report in the Big
Entertainment,  Inc.  Registration  Statements (Form S-3 No.  333-21173) for the
registration of 559,130 shares of common stock, (Form S-3 No. 333-38219) for the
registration  of 1,307,502  shares of common stock (Form S-3 No.  333-57855) for
the registration of 821,618 shares of common stock, (Form S-3 No. 333-68209) for
the  registration  of  1,264,872  shares  of  common  stock,  and  (Form S-8 No.
333-14659)  pertaining to the 1993 Stock Option Plan, as amended,  and Directors
Stock Option Plan.



                                                         Reynolds & Rowella, LLP
Ridgefield, Connecticut
June 21, 1999