Movie · 2016 · Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family · 1h 35m · PG · English
Curator score: 4.1/10 (776.3K ratings)
Grab destiny by the dumplings.
Overview
While Po and his father are visiting a secret panda village, an evil spirit threatens all of China, forcing Po to form a ragtag army to fight back.
Ratings
Curator score: 4.1/10
IMDb: 7.1/10
Letterboxd: 3.29/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Metacritic: 66
TMDB: 6.9/10
Director
Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Alessandro Carloni
Production
DreamWorks Animation, Oriental DreamWorks, Zhong Ming You Ying Film, China Film Group Corporation
Cast
Jack Black, Bryan Cranston, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, J.K. Simmons, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Kate Hudson, James Hong, Randall Duk Kim, Steele Gagnon, Liam Knight, Wayne Knight, Barbara Dirickson, Al Roker, Willie Geist, Fred Tatasciore, Pax Jolie-Pitt
Where to watch
Hulu
Curator Review
Verdict
A visually rich, emotionally warm sequel that leans harder into family comedy and mythic spectacle than the previous films, but it’s also the franchise entry most often felt as a step down in story and momentum. The action is lively, the panda-village material is charming, and the father-son themes land well enough to make it an easy watch for families and fans of the series.
Best for
families looking for an energetic animated adventure
viewers who enjoy martial-arts comedy with heart
fans of found-family and parent-child stories
audiences who want colorful, fast-paced studio animation
Skip if
you want the sharpest writing in the trilogy
you’re hoping for a darker or more complex villain arc
you dislike broad slapstick and cute-animal comedy
you expect the sequel to significantly deepen the mythology
Overview
Kung Fu Panda 3 is the kind of sequel that knows exactly how to keep kids entertained: bright colors, elastic slapstick, and action scenes that move like a cartoon version of a wuxia epic. The panda village is the big new toy here, and it gives the movie a cozy, goofy energy that makes the world feel bigger even when the plotting feels familiar.
Worth noting
What keeps it from being just a rerun is the family angle. Po’s search for identity gets reframed through fatherhood, lineage, and belonging, and that gives the movie a sincere emotional center. It may not hit as hard as the best entries in the franchise, but it still has enough warmth and momentum to work.
Bottom line
The main drawback is that the story often feels like it’s recycling beats from earlier films while adding extra side-business around the village. Even so, the animation is polished, the fight choreography is playful, and the whole thing remains pleasantly generous in spirit. It’s a lighter, less focused sequel, but not a disposable one.
Top Letterboxd reviews
James (Schaffrillas) (3.5★) · 2597 likes
Po had two dads and he turned out fine!
The weakest one, but still pretty good :)
Alex IHE (3★) · 2514 likes
A serious step down after the masterpiece that is the second movie. Full of pointless filler nonsense that doesn't really work or add to anything, let alone move the plot forward.
Yeah we get it pandas are fat and it's hilarious when they fall over. It's more than enough to have Po fulfil the funny fat guy quota. The panda town is like a collection of Kevin James', which is about as charming as that sounds.
The villain theme song… more
Framesofnick (3★) · 2209 likes
Gay dads!
adambolt (3★) · 1957 likes
glad i finally have an answer as to whether one can commit suicide by skadoosh
Rob Winward (3★) · 812 likes
JESSE!!! I’VE TURNED MYSELF INTO A FAT PANDA AND I CANNOT STOP EATING DUMPLINGS! BUT, WE URGENTLY NEED TO COOK CRYSTAL METH, JESSE!!!