Movie · 2011 · Action, Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family · 1h 30m · PG · English
Curator score: 3.6/10 (678.7K ratings)
Live for danger. Fight for justice. Pray for mercy.
Overview
Long before he even met Shrek, the notorious fighter, lover and outlaw Puss in Boots becomes a hero when he sets off on an adventure with the tough and street smart Kitty Softpaws and the mastermind Humpty Dumpty to save his town. This is the true story of The Cat, The Myth, The Legend... The Boots.
Ratings
Curator score: 3.6/10
IMDb: 6.6/10
Letterboxd: 3.27/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
Metacritic: 65
TMDB: 6.6/10
Director
Chris Miller
Production
DreamWorks Animation
Cast
Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek Pinault, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton, Amy Sedaris, Constance Marie, Mike Mitchell, Rich Dietl, Guillermo del Toro, Conrad Vernon, Chris Miller, Ryan Crego, Tom Wheeler, Tom McGrath, Bob Joles, Latifa Ouaou, Jessica Schulte, Bob Persichetti, Nina Barry
Where to watch
Peacock Premium, Max, Peacock Premium Plus
Curator Review
Verdict
A slick, energetic fairy-tale caper with strong voice work, playful action, and a surprisingly sharp swashbuckling vibe. It’s not as inventive or emotionally rich as the best animated adventures, but it has enough style, charm, and momentum to make it an easy watch for families and fans of character-driven animation.
Best for
families looking for a lively animated adventure
viewers who like fairy-tale remixes and outlaw stories
fans of fast-paced, pun-heavy comedy
people who enjoy charismatic antiheroes and buddy dynamics
Skip if
you want the most imaginative DreamWorks animation
you dislike broad kid-friendly humor
you prefer deeper emotional stakes over light caper plotting
you are hoping for the same level of wit and polish as the sequel
Overview
Puss in Boots works best as a swaggering fairy-tale heist movie. It gives its lead exactly the kind of larger-than-life showcase the character deserves, with nimble action, bright visual design, and a strong sense of comic timing. The movie knows that the appeal is less in plot complexity than in watching a ridiculously confident cat talk his way through danger with style.
Worth noting
The supporting characters add some bite, especially when the story leans into rivalry, betrayal, and the odd-couple chemistry at its center. It can feel a little formulaic in places, and the emotional beats are more functional than moving, but the pacing keeps things from dragging. There’s also a pleasantly mischievous edge that helps it stand apart from more generic family animation.
Bottom line
What lingers most is the film’s tone: part Western, part fairy tale, part buddy caper. It’s not a top-tier animated classic, but it is a very watchable one, especially if you enjoy animated movies that play like genre pastiche with a glossy studio finish.
Top Letterboxd reviews
alor (3★) · 4144 likes
I hate Humpty Dumpty. He reminds me of James Corden.
James (Schaffrillas) (3★) · 3363 likes
"Mom, can we get Rango?"
"We have Rango at home."
Rango at home:
Arman (3★) · 2234 likes
Did this really end with Americano by Lady Gaga or was I hallucinating
Adam (pretentious name man) (3★) · 2012 likes
Danny DeVito should have voiced the egg
✭ Olive ☽｡⋆ (3.5★) · 1923 likes
The “I was always there” scene has played in my nightmares ever since 2011