- Primary Subject: The critical reception and theatrical release of Pixar’s original 2026 film, Hoppers
- Key Update: Critics' reviews for Hoppers have been released.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: March 3, 2026
- Quick Answer: Pixar’s Hoppers is a critical hit, earning praise for its "wildly inventive" humor and environmental heart, signaling a potential comeback for the studio’s original storytelling.
The new Pixar film Hoppers is set to release widely in theaters this week. Fans have been looking forward to seeing whether this will be the next big hit from the beloved animation studio.
In the years after the COVID-19 pandemic, Pixar has notably struggled with its original film releases. While some of them have been praised enough by critics, they were not enough to become major box office hits on the level of the sequel Inside Out 2. There is now hope that Hoppers will be able to turn things around and reclaim their glory when it comes to original stories.
What Do Critics Think of Hoppers? Reviews Are Finally Out
Days before its official theatrical release, the critics' reviews for Hoppers are finally out and weigh in on whether it is the best original Pixar movie in recent years.
Fortunately, the critics' reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. As of this writing, it has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 97% based on the 73 reviews that were gathered so far.
Some are already hailing it as the best Pixar movie in recent years and a return to form when it comes to original storytelling. Praises were made towards its environmental message, the voice performances of the cast, and its comedic tone.
Linda Marric of HeyUGuys praised the film as "wildly inventive, visually stunning, and laugh-out-loud hilarious" and called it "Pixar at full creative power."
Meanwhile, William Bibbiani of TheWrap compared the new Pixar film to Avatar in his review, where he wrote, "Hoppers isn’t just James Cameron’s Avatar if it had feelings, it’s also James Cameron’s Avatar if it was good."
Tim Grierson of Screen International wrote in his review that the film is "a largely successful animation that introduces a refreshingly darker strain of humour alongside its paeans to the natural world."
Based on the reviews, we can safely say that Pixar has a new winner in their hands. While it remains to be seen whether it will be a major box office hit, the early signs indicate that it will likely be their next original movie success after many years.
What is Hoppers About?
In Hoppers, scientists have discovered how to “hop” human consciousness into lifelike robotic animals, allowing people to communicate with animals as animals. Using the new technology, Mabel will uncover mysteries within the animal world that are beyond anything she could have imagined.
The voice cast includes Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Meryl Streep, Dave Franco, Kathy Najimy, Eduardo Franco, Melissa Villaseñor, Ego Nwodim, Vanessa Bayer, Sam Richardson, Aparna Nancherla, Nichole Sakura, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Steve Purcell, Karen Huie, and Tom Law.
The film is directed by Daniel Chong, who created the hit Cartoon Network series We Bare Bears. He is part of the senior creative team at Pixar.
Keep it locked on Epicstream, your go-to site for film, TV, and celebrity coverage!