Kung Fu Panda 4
Universal Pictures | Release Date: March 8, 2024 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
54
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 33 Critic Reviews
Positive:
16
Mixed:
14
Negative:
3
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
The Seattle TimesSoren AndersenMar 8, 2024
The fourth time is truly the charm in this long-running franchise. Read full review
81
The Film VerdictWilliam BibbianiMar 6, 2024
There’s an argument to be made, and I’m willing to make it, that Kung Fu Panda 4 is the best film in this series. Read full review
75
The Associated PressMark KennedyMar 6, 2024
The series’ first new installment in eight years is a reliably funny, sweet and wonderfully realized passing of the torch, with a paw in the past and another into the future — an elegant goodbye and a hello. Many other filmmakers — ahem, Marvel and DC — might learn a thing. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesKatie WalshMar 8, 2024
Much like Po himself, Kung Fu Panda 4 just wants to vibe out, riding the wave of previous successes. For little kids, it will be a fun diversion, but for anyone expecting the excellence of the previous films, this dumpling is a little too light on the filling. Read full review
70
The New York TimesClaire ShafferMar 7, 2024
Once again starring Jack Black as the gullible martial arts master Po, the animated film melds together wisecracking comedy and sprightly action sequences with a message of kindness, inner peace and self-discovery. Read full review
70
CNNBrian LowryMar 7, 2024
Slick and briskly paced, the film incorporates its origins while conjuring enough laughs and fun to effectively deliver for parents and their cubs. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckMar 6, 2024
Many of the gags are either derivative or homages, depending on your perspective, including the vicious killer bunnies that bring to mind Monty Python and the Holy Grail. But that doesn’t make them any less funny. Read full review
70
ColliderRoss BonaimeMar 6, 2024
Kung Fu Panda 4 is a film all about deciding to not do the easy thing of remaining stagnant and comfortable, but rather, trying something new and hopefully finding the greatness in the new opportunity. Kung Fu Panda 4 similarly does this, attempting a new approach to this world and mostly finding success, while also potentially setting up the future of where this series could go. Read full review
70
Screen RantRachel LaBonteMar 6, 2024
Though following a familiar formula that's running the risk of wearing thin, Kung Fu Panda 4 still finds heart in the reliable Dreamworks franchise. Read full review
67
IndieWireWilson ChapmanMar 6, 2024
A fun but largely unnecessary fourth outing. Read full review
65
Paste MagazineJesse HassengerMar 6, 2024
It will entertain children, and it will inspire another sequel. Call it DreamWorks zen. Read full review
63
Chicago TribuneMichael PhillipsMar 8, 2024
Black and Awkwafina and Hoffman do their jobs, but the jokes have a way of arriving like jokes, and sounding like jokes, but not quite being jokes. This is an action movie foremost, which is fine. Read full review
63
ObserverOliver JonesMar 7, 2024
This dumpling and rocket-fueled contraption continues to employ the same seemingly unstoppable one-two punch: a steady drubbing of painterly and balletic cartoon violence and the unbounded—and increasingly turned out—enthusiasm of the series’ resident Zeus of Skadoosh, star Jack Black. Read full review
63
Washington PostAmy NicholsonMar 6, 2024
The humor is often over-caffeinated and anarchic — a style that suits the production — but when the film dares to slow down, it has a gift for reworking classic gags, like a wordless shot of animals stampeding through a china shop. Read full review
63
New York PostJohnny OleksinskiMar 6, 2024
The so-so story aside, like the previous three movies and most of DreamWorks’ catalog, this iteration of “Panda” appealingly wears its heart on its paw. And that’s sufficient reason for families to choose it over a lot of other animated schlock out there. Read full review
63
Slant MagazineJustin ClarkMar 6, 2024
The film is a good time, and it doesn’t exactly betray any of Kung Fu Panda’s strengths, but it also exhibits the telltale signs of a series struggling to justify its existence. Read full review
60
The Irish TimesTara BradyMar 29, 2024
The balance between humour and heart that defined the carefully calibrated earlier films is slightly off. Read full review
60
EmpireOlly RichardsMar 6, 2024
A step back from the last film in terms of ambition, this nevertheless continues the series’ chirpy, amiable mood. Nothing to be po-faced about here. Read full review
60
SlashfilmEthan AndertonMar 6, 2024
Granted, the story leaves something to be desired, and it's missing one of the franchise's signature traits, but as someone who was underwhelmed by the trailers teasing Po's return, I walked away feeling adequately entertained. Read full review
60
Total FilmMatt MaytumMar 6, 2024
It never feels particularly different to what you’ve seen before, and doesn’t push any boundaries visually or narratively in the way its DWA stablemate Puss in Boots: The Last Wish did. Read full review
57
PolygonPetrana RadulovicMar 6, 2024
After four movies, it isn’t really a surprise that the Kung Fu Panda machine is running out of steam — thankfully, though, it has just enough power left to churn out some genuine laughs at the end. Read full review
50
TheWrapMatt GoldbergMar 8, 2024
Like its villain, Kung Fu Panda 4 can do an imitation, but we can tell it’s not the genuine article. Read full review
50
Original-CinChris KnightMar 7, 2024
This fourth film, featuring the same writers as two and three, but new co-directors Stephanie Stine and Mike Mitchell, isn’t a bad movie, but it does feel like it’s going through the motions. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleRichard WhittakerMar 7, 2024
Sure, the kids will giggle, and the animation is well-executed (even if there does seem to be something a little off around the eyes in this version of Po) but it just doesn't land with that same ebullient skadoosh. Read full review
50
Boston GlobeOdie HendersonMar 6, 2024
I enjoyed the first three adventures of the Dragon Warrior, but the best thing he can do now is to give this series a much needed skadoosh, sending it to rest in the cinematic spirit realm. Read full review
50
The PlaylistGregory EllwoodMar 6, 2024
For kids, the film is watchable because Black still finds ways to boost the movie with genuine charisma through his vocal talents alone (so much so you wonder why he isn’t working more in live action) and, for adults, something is reassuring in the glorious exasperation that accompanies everyone of Hoffman’s line readings. Still, it all feels a little too by the book. Read full review
40
The TelegraphRobbie CollinMar 29, 2024
Kung Fu Panda’s knee joints these days are creaking like a haunted flight of stairs. Read full review
40
The GuardianCath ClarkeMar 28, 2024
It’s a hurricane of slapstick (some of it in fact very funny) and age-appropriate energetic fight scenes, but lacks the sweetness and charm of the franchise at its best. Read full review
40
VarietyOwen GleibermanMar 6, 2024
Po goes through the motions, but I’m sorry, the kick is gone. Read full review
40
Screen DailyTim GriersonMar 6, 2024
Between the strained punchlines and the unsurprising plot twists, the picture feels obligatory rather than inspired. Read full review
38
RogerEbert.comChristy LemireMar 6, 2024
It lacks both the delicate artistry and warm wit of its predecessors. The subtle sense of spirituality is long gone; in its place are frantic action sequences. Whereas the previous movies operated on various levels to resonate with adults and entertain kids, this one is geared mainly toward younger audiences in ways that are frequently silly and insubstantial. Read full review
38
Movie NationRoger MooreMar 6, 2024
Dreamworks built its animation empire out of smart-mouthed, sight-gagged character comedies like “Shrek” and “Puss in Boots” and “Madagascar.” It’s not shocking that they came back to the “Kung Fu Panda,” as, like Pixar, they’ve hit the wall when it comes to new ideas. But even they’d have to admit that cashing-in on a time-tested intellectual property may make business sense, and that Po and Co. deserved better than this. Read full review
33
The A.V. ClubCourtney HowardMar 9, 2024
Instead of finding the perfect balance of humor as the other films did, jokes outweigh and occasionally undercut the few resounding sentiments on personal evolution. Read full review
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