Abominable
Universal Pictures | Release Date: September 27, 2019 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
61
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 28 Critic Reviews
Positive:
15
Mixed:
13
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
88
Chicago TribuneKatie WalshSep 25, 2019
It can be a rare occurrence to find a kid-friendly animated film these days that actually surprises and delights. Dreamworks' Abominable, written and co-directed by Jill Culton, does indeed surprise and delight, all while following a familiar hero's journey tale that borrows from favorite friendly creature films. Read full review
75
Paste MagazineOktay Ege Kozak Oct 8, 2019
Abominable may not offer much when it comes to a unique premise, especially after two other features have beaten it to the punch, but it’s nonetheless a wholesome bit of family fun with an impressive focus on themes of overcoming grief, propped up by a visual feast. Read full review
75
Washington PostKristen Page-KirbySep 26, 2019
The animated film takes a standard story and adds so much visual beauty that it exceeds expectations. Read full review
75
The Seattle TimesSoren AndersenSep 26, 2019
The story is strong, the music is appealing. Abominable is delightful. Read full review
75
Entertainment WeeklyChristian HolubSep 25, 2019
Abominable’s themes and arc are familiar kids’ movie fare, with only one real plot twist. But its reverent attitude toward nature and wonder is a welcome addition to the cartoon canon. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeTom RussoSep 25, 2019
Yes, as it turns out — not only is Abominable as amusing as the competition, it boasts a lyricism and sweetness uniquely, sublimely its own. Read full review
75
New York PostSara StewartSep 24, 2019
It’s never too early to introduce your kids to the magic and emotion of the monster movie. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChroniclePeter HartlaubSep 24, 2019
Abominable delivers all the notes you expect from family-friendly animation these days. And, thankfully, a little bit more. Read full review
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Brad WheelerSep 10, 2019
Abominable has charms to soothe the savage child. Read full review
70
Wall Street JournalJoe MorgensternSep 26, 2019
An animated fable set in contemporary China and voiced in colloquial English, this Chinese-American co-production is so distinctive pictorially, and so manifestly good-hearted, that it’s easy to forgive if not quite forget the ragged quality of its storyline. Read full review
70
TheWrapYolanda MachadoSep 26, 2019
Nothing here truly changes animation, and yet, you can’t help but walk out of the theater with a smile on your face. Read full review
70
The New York TimesGlenn KennySep 26, 2019
Abominable is an exceptionally watchable and amiable animated tale. Read full review
67
The A.V. ClubJesse HassengerSep 19, 2019
The movie is gentle enough for younger kids, but doesn’t feel obligated to play straight to a 5-year-old’s sensibility. For the first time in a while, DreamWorks seems to be trusting its filmmakers with a semi-original idea, rather than racing breathlessly to the finish line. Read full review
67
IndieWireKate ErblandSep 9, 2019
The winning, warm nature of this China-set family film can’t be denied, and for all its predictable elements, Abominable is still well worth the trip. Read full review
63
Slant MagazinePat BrownSep 23, 2019
The second half’s series of hollow visual spectacles foreground the film as a corporate product. Read full review
60
EmpireNick de SemlyenOct 7, 2019
If you like E.T. and Bumblebee, chance are you’ll have a good time with this slightly homogenous but sweet-natured kids’ adventure. Read full review
60
CNNBrian LowrySep 27, 2019
The simplicity of the premise puts more pressure on the animation, which is crisp and occasionally beautiful, but not especially imaginative in its design. Read full review
60
Time OutJoshua RothkopfSep 25, 2019
There’s comfort to be had in executing on such a durable formula, and—life lessons accompanied by Coldplay’s treacly “Fix You” aside—Abominable usually resembles the swift adventure it wants to be. Read full review
60
IGNChris TillySep 25, 2019
Abominable is a simple, sweet, slight story that’s been told before, and told better. Read full review
60
The Hollywood ReporterJordan MintzerSep 9, 2019
It’s a little too treacly and childish in places, with a storyline that goes exactly where you expect. But those drawbacks are somewhat compensated for by a series of arresting set-pieces, each one taking us to a spectacular Far East location not yet visited by this kind of high-powered Hollywood cartoon. Read full review
50
The Associated PressJake CoyleSep 26, 2019
Abominable is sweet and simple enough, but its emotionality always feels thin and, like much of the film, paint by numbers. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleSteve DavisSep 25, 2019
There’s some gorgeous animation and impeccable camerawork on display here. But as George Lucas’ 2015 fiasco "Strange Magic" demonstrated, beautifully executed visuals will get you only so far. There’s no emotional core to Abominable, which mostly proceeds at a glacial pace as the travelers’ journey across China. Read full review
50
Rolling StonePeter TraversSep 25, 2019
Sadly, Abominable fails to carve out its own place in a crowded field. The movie huffs and puffs, but there’s no fear of any houses being blown down. Read full review
50
Movie NationRoger MooreSep 23, 2019
Abominable isn’t a bad film, and the Chinese violin renders some moments quite touching. But it is dull and some of that comes from the similar animated films that beat it to market over the past year. Read full review
50
RogerEbert.comBrian TallericoSep 9, 2019
It sometimes feels Scrooge-like to come down on a sweet and simple film like this one, but kids can get bored too. And they will here. Read full review
50
Screen DailyTim GriersonSep 9, 2019
Despite its Chinese setting and characters, the movie doesn’t feel appreciably different from so many other previous tales of lost young people who learn friendship through a pet or extra-terrestrial, and the story’s broad humour and pedestrian plotting don’t add much to this perfunctory fable. Read full review
50
VarietyAmy NicholsonSep 9, 2019
The journey is wondrous for the characters, less compelling for the audience. Read full review
40
The GuardianPeter BradshawOct 11, 2019
Here’s a defanged, declawed yeti in an animation whose every beat, character and narrative component feels as if it has been algorithmically tested for commercial safety by a computer programme. Read full review
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