Movie · 2017 · Animation, Family, Adventure, Comedy · 1h 48m · PG · English
Curator score: 2.2/10 (167.8K ratings)
Built to fight. Born to love.
Overview
Ferdinand, a little bull, prefers sitting quietly under a cork tree just smelling the flowers versus jumping around, snorting, and butting heads with other bulls. As Ferdinand grows big and strong, his temperament remains mellow. But one day five men come to choose the "biggest, fastest, roughest bull" for the bullfights in Madrid— and Ferdinand is mistakenly chosen.
Ratings
Curator score: 2.2/10
IMDb: 6.7/10
Letterboxd: 3.02/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 70%
Metacritic: 58
TMDB: 7.2/10
Director
Carlos Saldanha
Production
Blue Sky Studios, 20th Century Fox Animation, Davis Entertainment, 20th Century Fox
Cast
John Cena, Kate McKinnon, Anthony Anderson, Bobby Cannavale, Peyton Manning, Gina Rodriguez, Miguel Ángel Silvestre, David Tennant, Flula Borg, Jerrod Carmichael, Daveed Diggs, Raúl Esparza, Gabriel Iglesias, Juanes, Boris Kodjoe, Karla Martínez, Sally Phillips, Jeremy Sisto, Lily Day, Colin H. Murphy
Where to watch
Max
Curator Review
Verdict
A sweet, easygoing family film with a strong anti-bullying message and a likable central character, but it plays very safely and leans on familiar kid-movie beats. The animation is polished and the emotional core lands better than the comedy.
Best for
families with younger kids
viewers who like gentle, message-driven animation
fans of underdog stories
people looking for a low-stakes, colorful crowd-pleaser
Skip if
you want sharp or original comedy
you’re tired of formulaic animated adventures
you prefer films with more edge or emotional complexity
Overview
Ferdinand is built around a simple, appealing idea: a giant bull who would rather smell flowers than fight. That contrast gives the movie an immediate charm, and the film mostly succeeds by staying warm, sincere, and visually lively. Its best moments come from Ferdinand’s quiet personality clashing with the noisy world around him.
Worth noting
The humor is broad and the story is familiar, so it rarely surprises. Still, the movie has a decent emotional payoff and a humane message about rejecting violence and being true to yourself. It’s the kind of family animation that may not linger long, but it’s pleasant while it lasts.
Bottom line
If you’re watching with kids, it’s an easy recommendation. Adults without that built-in audience may find it agreeable rather than memorable, but the heart is real enough to carry it.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Max C. (2★) · 792 likes
The horses dab.
That is all.
danny (4★) · 762 likes
yes, i’m 21 years old and an animated movie for kids about a bull who loves flowers just made me cry
Evasive (3★) · 310 likes
big gay himbo and his butch lesbian BFF start a communist rebellion together 💛 so wholesome
👽 Zara 👽 (3★) · 203 likes
david tennant is one of those actors who are inescapable, you think you're safe watching an animated film about a bull and boom, he's apart of the voice cast. i swear he's taunting me.
daniel (3.5★) · 155 likes
ironic casting john cena as the bull who doesnt fight