The Angry Birds Movie

The Angry Birds Movie
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Name	The Angry Birds Movie
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Clay Kaytis, Fergal Reilly
Producer	John Cohen
Based on	Angry Birds by Rovio Entertainment
Music	Heitor Pereira
Studio	Columbia Pictures, Rovio Animation, Sony Pictures Imageworks
Distributor	Sony Pictures Releasing
Released	May 20, 2016
Runtime	97 minutes
Country	Finland, United States
Language	English
Budget	$73 million
Gross	$352.3 million

The Angry Birds Movie is a 2016 computer-animated comedy film directed by Clay Kaytis and Fergal Reilly, produced by John Cohen, and based on the Angry Birds (video game) franchise by Rovio Entertainment. The film follows Red, Chuck, and Bomb as they confront a mysterious arrival of green pigs on Bird Island and uncover a plot by King Leonard Mudbeard. Featuring voices from Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Danny McBride, and Maya Rudolph, the film blends slapstick humor with themes of belonging and teamwork while spawning a media franchise across film, television, and gaming.

Plot

On Bird Island, the socially isolated Red is mandated to attend anger-management classes led by Maya Rudolph's character, leaving him to form an uneasy friendship with the hyperactive Chuck and the explosive Bomb. When a fleet of mysterious green pigs arrives, led by King Leonard Mudbeard, Red, Chuck, and Bomb are invited to Piggy Island under the pretense of celebration; there they discover a plot to steal the birds' eggs. The trio, aided by a rebel force including Matilda and a delivery bird, mount an assault on the pigs' fortress, culminating in Red confronting Leonard and uncovering themes of redemption and community. The narrative echoes heist and adventure beats seen in films like Ocean's Eleven (2001 film), The LEGO Movie, and Despicable Me, while drawing visual and comedic influences from video game adaptations such as Detective Pikachu (film) and Wreck-It Ralph.

Voice cast

The principal cast includes Jason Sudeikis as Red, Josh Gad as Chuck, Danny McBride as Bomb, Maya Rudolph as Matilda, Bill Hader as Leonard, Peter Dinklage as Mighty Eagle, and Keegan-Michael Key in a supporting role. Additional performers include Tony Hale, Rashida Jones, Tituss Burgess, Pokémon voice actors, and Sean Penn-era collaborators among others. Voice direction and casting processes drew on talent with experience in Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live (season 41), and animated features from Illumination (company) and Pixar Animation Studios alumni.

Production

Development began after Rovio's success with the Angry Birds (video game) franchise, with Sony Pictures Entertainment partnering with Rovio to develop an animated adaptation. Directors Clay Kaytis, an animator with credits including The Simpsons Movie, and Fergal Reilly, storyboard artist on The Croods, were attached, with John Cohen producing after producing roles on projects such as Despicable Me 2. Production involved Rovio Animation and Sony Pictures Imageworks, utilizing global talent and pipelines influenced by studios like Walt Disney Animation Studios and DreamWorks Animation. The screenplay went through multiple drafts involving writers linked to The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Saturday Night Live alumni, while Heitor Pereira composed the score, recorded with orchestral sessions akin to those used by John Powell and Michael Giacchino. The film's animation techniques combined stylized character rigs and physics-driven effects comparable to those used in Big Hero 6 and How to Train Your Dragon.

Release and box office

Released by Sony Pictures Releasing in May 2016, the film premiered in global markets including Finland, United States, and United Kingdom. It opened alongside releases in the summer schedule competing with films from Warner Bros. Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures, and 20th Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios), ultimately grossing approximately $352.3 million worldwide on a reported $73 million budget. The film performed strongly in family and international markets, with notable box office returns in territories such as China, Brazil, and Russia, contributing to Rovio's expansion of the franchise into film and television.

Reception

Critics offered mixed reviews, with praise for voice performances and animation but criticism aimed at plot depth and commercialism linked to brand adaptations like The Smurfs (2011 film), Transformers (film series), and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water. Aggregators reflected a moderate approval score while audiences, including families and gamers, responded with solid CinemaScore-type grades. The film's reception sparked discussions in trade publications such as Variety (magazine), The Hollywood Reporter, and The Guardian about the viability of video game-to-film adaptations after earlier attempts like Super Mario Bros. (1993 film) and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (film).

Soundtrack

The soundtrack, composed by Heitor Pereira, includes original score cues and licensed tracks curated for the film's tone, with influences from animated comedies and family films scored by Randy Newman, John Williams, and Hans Zimmer. A single or promotional song featured contemporary pop artists and was marketed alongside the film's release through partners such as Sony Music Entertainment and international labels, mirroring cross-media strategies used in releases like Frozen and Trolls (film).

Legacy and franchise impact

Commercial success led Rovio to expand the Angry Birds franchise into sequels, television series, and cross-promotional content with companies including Netflix, Nickelodeon, and mobile platforms like iOS and Android (operating system). The film catalyzed merchandising deals with retailers and toy manufacturers such as Hasbro and spurred theme park attractions and live events akin to tie-ins seen with Star Wars and Marvel Cinematic Universe properties. Its performance influenced discussions about adaptation pipelines between gaming companies and Hollywood studios, contributing to subsequent projects like the sequel produced by Rovio and Sony and collaborations with streaming services.

Category:2016 films Category:Animated films Category:Films based on video games