The Magician's Elephant
Netflix | Release Date: March 10, 2023 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
53
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews
Positive:
3
Mixed:
4
Negative:
0

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
83
ColliderArezou AminMar 17, 2023
The film's animation is charming, with a quirky, storybook quality to the whole thing that helps the tale feel timeless, even when mentions of the not-so-distant war conjure up images familiar to older audiences. Read full review
75
RogerEbert.comNell MinowMar 17, 2023
Stories for children often emphasize courage or teamwork, being yourself, following dreams, or the importance of friends and family. What The Magician’s Elephant adds to that is something rare in films for any age: how to think through problems. Read full review
70
IGNKenneth Seward Jr.Mar 10, 2023
Despite its limited scope and predictable plot, The Magician’s Elephant succeeds at being a quaint animated film with a positive message. Read full review
60
VarietyMichael NordineMar 17, 2023
While the movie itself is more whimsical than magical, it does have a few tricks up its sleeve. Read full review
59
Paste MagazineTara Bennett Mar 20, 2023
Netflix’s adaptation of author Kate DiCamillo’s The Magician’s Elephant makes some fatal tone mistakes in trying to smoosh together comedy, tragedy, childhood wonder and animal exploitation—which clash pretty hard. Read full review
40
The New York TimesDevika GirishMar 17, 2023
In jazzing up the tale for the screen, Rogers sands down the somberness — Baltese is all fuzzy blues and pinks, with nary a trace of postwar grit — while turning up the silliness for gimmicky thrills. Read full review
40
The GuardianCath ClarkeMar 17, 2023
It’s heartfelt and sweetly earnest, but humdrum and disappointingly unmagical. The animation doesn’t help: characters speak with blank paralysed faces as if they’ve had botched Botox. Read full review
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