The Croods (2013)
Movie · 2013 · Animation, Adventure, Family, Comedy · 1h 39m · PG · English
Curator score: 2.9/10 (776.7K ratings)
Tagline: The journey begins.
The prehistoric Croods family live in a particularly dangerous moment in time. Patriarch Grug, his mate Ugga, teenage daughter Eep, son Thunk, and feisty Gran gather food by day and huddle together in a cave at night. When a more evolved caveman named Guy arrives on the scene, Grug is distrustful, but it soon becomes apparent that Guy is correct about the impending destruction of their world.
Ratings:
- Curator score: 2.9/10
- IMDb: 7.1/10
- Letterboxd: 3.17/5
- Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
- Metacritic: 55
- TMDB: 6.9/10
Director: Kirk DeMicco, Chris Sanders
Production: DreamWorks Animation
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman, Clark Duke, Chris Sanders, Randy Thom
Curator Review
Verdict: A lively, visually inventive prehistoric adventure with strong creature design and a warm family core, but its humor and emotional beats can feel broad and familiar. It works best as a colorful, easygoing crowd-pleaser rather than a standout animated classic.
Best for: families looking for a safe adventure-comedy; viewers who enjoy bright, kinetic DreamWorks-style animation; kids who like animals, slapstick, and simple emotional stakes; audiences in the mood for a light, fast-paced movie night
Skip if: you want sharp, original comedy throughout; you prefer subtler character writing; you are tired of the 'overprotective parent meets free-spirited outsider' formula; you want a top-tier animated film with lasting depth
Overview: The Croods is built on a familiar family-adventure template, but it sells the formula with energetic world-building and a lot of visual imagination. The prehistoric setting is packed with strange, colorful creatures and playful environmental gags, giving the movie a more inventive surface than many of its peers.
Worth noting: Its biggest strength is the family dynamic: Grug’s fear-driven parenting, Eep’s curiosity, and Guy’s outsider perspective create a clean, accessible conflict about change versus safety. The movie keeps moving, and even when the jokes are broad, the pacing and creature comedy make it easy to stay engaged.
Bottom line: It is not especially subtle, and some of the emotional turns land in very predictable ways. Still, for viewers who want a bright, funny, kid-friendly adventure with strong animation craft, it delivers enough charm to recommend with reservations.
Top Letterboxd reviews:
- lisa 👽: nicolas cave
- James (Schaffrillas): GRUG MOMENT
Can't believe this is getting a sequel and not Rise of the Guardians smh
- Ryan Daniel: That’s a crazy cast for how stupid this movie is.
- lauren: the animal design in this film is incredible. i want my own elephant mouse and giant green sabre toothed tiger 😭😭
- BlakeMower: I hate Belt with every fiber in my being.
Recommended similar titles:
- How to Train Your Dragon (2010 · Fantasy, Adventure, Animation · 1h 38m · PG · Curator 8.7/10 (2.6M ratings) · Where to watch: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus)
Shares the same mix of family tension, outsider bonding, and expressive creature-driven adventure with stronger emotional payoff.
- The Croods: A New Age (2020 · Animation, Family, Adventure · 1h 35m · PG · Curator 2.0/10 (240.2K ratings) · Where to watch: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus)
If the premise works for you, the sequel doubles down on the family dynamics and colorful world-building.
- The Princess and the Frog (2009 · Animation, Romance, Fantasy · 1h 38m · G · Curator 7.9/10 (1.1M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus)
A lively, family-friendly adventure with strong visual personality and a similar sense of playful momentum.
- Kung Fu Panda (2008 · Action, Animation, Comedy · 1h 30m · PG · Curator 7.6/10 (2M ratings) · Where to watch: Hulu)
Another energetic DreamWorks crowd-pleaser that balances comedy, action, and an underdog coming-of-age arc.
- Megamind (2010 · Animation, Action, Comedy · 1h 36m · PG · Curator 5.8/10 (1.4M ratings) · Where to watch: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus)
Fast, funny, and broadly appealing, with the same studio-era wit and accessible emotional beats.
- The Emperor's New Groove (2000 · Adventure, Animation, Comedy · 1h 18m · G · Curator 7.6/10 (1.1M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus)
For viewers who enjoy irreverent comedy and constant momentum, this is a sharper, more quotable match.
- Mulan (1998 · Animation, Family, Adventure · 1h 28m · G · Curator 8.7/10 (1.5M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus)
A family story about stepping beyond inherited fear and expectations, with adventure and humor in equal measure.
- The Incredibles (2004 · Action, Adventure, Animation · 1h 55m · PG · Curator 8.9/10 (3.1M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus)
A smart family adventure that turns domestic tension into action, with more bite and polish.
- Over the Hedge (2006 · Adventure, Animation, Comedy · 1h 23m · PG · Curator 6.8/10 (4.8K ratings) · Where to watch: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus)
Another animated comedy about a family or community confronting a changing world, with similar crowd-friendly energy.
- Monsters, Inc. (2001 · Animation, Comedy, Family · 1h 32m · G · Curator 8.7/10 (3.2M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus)
Shares the warm outsider-bonding structure and a playful creature-filled world, but with more emotional finesse.
- Lilo & Stitch (2002 · Animation, Family, Comedy · 1h 25m · PG · Curator 8.4/10 (1.2M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus)
A strong fit for its focus on family, misfit energy, and the idea that belonging can be built rather than inherited.
- The Secret Life of Pets (2016 · Adventure, Animation, Comedy · 1h 26m · PG · Curator 1.8/10 (692.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads)
A lighter recommendation for viewers who mainly want colorful animation, broad comedy, and easygoing pacing.
Topics: animated adventure, family comedy, prehistoric setting, creature design, slapstick, coming-of-age, change and growth, bright visual style, road trip, DreamWorks
https://watchlist.tannermartz.com/apple/movie/the-croods/49519
The Croods (2013)
Movie · 2013 · Animation, Adventure, Family, Comedy · 1h 39m · PG · English
Curator score: 2.9/10 (776.7K ratings)
The journey begins.
Overview The prehistoric Croods family live in a particularly dangerous moment in time. Patriarch Grug, his mate Ugga, teenage daughter Eep, son Thunk, and feisty Gran gather food by day and huddle together in a cave at night. When a more evolved caveman named Guy arrives on the scene, Grug is distrustful, but it soon becomes apparent that Guy is correct about the impending destruction of their world.
Ratings
Curator score: 2.9/10
IMDb: 7.1/10
Letterboxd: 3.17/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
Metacritic: 55
TMDB: 6.9/10
Director Kirk DeMicco, Chris Sanders
Production DreamWorks Animation
Cast Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman, Clark Duke, Chris Sanders, Randy Thom
Curator Review
Verdict
A lively, visually inventive prehistoric adventure with strong creature design and a warm family core, but its humor and emotional beats can feel broad and familiar. It works best as a colorful, easygoing crowd-pleaser rather than a standout animated classic.
Best for
families looking for a safe adventure-comedy
viewers who enjoy bright, kinetic DreamWorks-style animation
kids who like animals, slapstick, and simple emotional stakes
audiences in the mood for a light, fast-paced movie night
Skip if
you want sharp, original comedy throughout
you prefer subtler character writing
you are tired of the 'overprotective parent meets free-spirited outsider' formula
you want a top-tier animated film with lasting depth
Overview
The Croods is built on a familiar family-adventure template, but it sells the formula with energetic world-building and a lot of visual imagination. The prehistoric setting is packed with strange, colorful creatures and playful environmental gags, giving the movie a more inventive surface than many of its peers.
Worth noting
Its biggest strength is the family dynamic: Grug’s fear-driven parenting, Eep’s curiosity, and Guy’s outsider perspective create a clean, accessible conflict about change versus safety. The movie keeps moving, and even when the jokes are broad, the pacing and creature comedy make it easy to stay engaged.
Bottom line
It is not especially subtle, and some of the emotional turns land in very predictable ways. Still, for viewers who want a bright, funny, kid-friendly adventure with strong animation craft, it delivers enough charm to recommend with reservations.
Top Letterboxd reviews
lisa 👽 (3★) · 2066 likes
nicolas cave
James (Schaffrillas) (2.5★) · 1824 likes
GRUG MOMENT
Can't believe this is getting a sequel and not Rise of the Guardians smh
Ryan Daniel (2★) · 1183 likes
That’s a crazy cast for how stupid this movie is.
lauren (3.5★) · 1046 likes
the animal design in this film is incredible. i want my own elephant mouse and giant green sabre toothed tiger 😭😭
BlakeMower (3.5★) · 826 likes
I hate Belt with every fiber in my being.
Recommended similar titles
2010 · Fantasy, Adventure, Animation · 1h 38m · PG · Curator 8.7/10 (2.6M ratings) · Where to watch: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus
Shares the same mix of family tension, outsider bonding, and expressive creature-driven adventure with stronger emotional payoff.
2020 · Animation, Family, Adventure · 1h 35m · PG · Curator 2.0/10 (240.2K ratings) · Where to watch: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus
If the premise works for you, the sequel doubles down on the family dynamics and colorful world-building.
2009 · Animation, Romance, Fantasy · 1h 38m · G · Curator 7.9/10 (1.1M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus
A lively, family-friendly adventure with strong visual personality and a similar sense of playful momentum.
2008 · Action, Animation, Comedy · 1h 30m · PG · Curator 7.6/10 (2M ratings) · Where to watch: Hulu
Another energetic DreamWorks crowd-pleaser that balances comedy, action, and an underdog coming-of-age arc.
2010 · Animation, Action, Comedy · 1h 36m · PG · Curator 5.8/10 (1.4M ratings) · Where to watch: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus
Fast, funny, and broadly appealing, with the same studio-era wit and accessible emotional beats.
2000 · Adventure, Animation, Comedy · 1h 18m · G · Curator 7.6/10 (1.1M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus
For viewers who enjoy irreverent comedy and constant momentum, this is a sharper, more quotable match.
1998 · Animation, Family, Adventure · 1h 28m · G · Curator 8.7/10 (1.5M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus
A family story about stepping beyond inherited fear and expectations, with adventure and humor in equal measure.
2004 · Action, Adventure, Animation · 1h 55m · PG · Curator 8.9/10 (3.1M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus
A smart family adventure that turns domestic tension into action, with more bite and polish.
2006 · Adventure, Animation, Comedy · 1h 23m · PG · Curator 6.8/10 (4.8K ratings) · Where to watch: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus
Another animated comedy about a family or community confronting a changing world, with similar crowd-friendly energy.
2001 · Animation, Comedy, Family · 1h 32m · G · Curator 8.7/10 (3.2M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus
Shares the warm outsider-bonding structure and a playful creature-filled world, but with more emotional finesse.
2002 · Animation, Family, Comedy · 1h 25m · PG · Curator 8.4/10 (1.2M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus
A strong fit for its focus on family, misfit energy, and the idea that belonging can be built rather than inherited.
2016 · Adventure, Animation, Comedy · 1h 26m · PG · Curator 1.8/10 (692.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
A lighter recommendation for viewers who mainly want colorful animation, broad comedy, and easygoing pacing.
Topics
animated adventure, family comedy, prehistoric setting, creature design, slapstick, coming-of-age, change and growth, bright visual style, road trip, DreamWorks
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