The Smurfs (film)

The Smurfs (film)
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Name	The Smurfs
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Raja Gosnell
Producer	Jordan Kerner
Based on	Characters created by Peyo
Music	Heitor Pereira
Cinematography	Danny Nowak
Editing	Michael Jablow
Studio	Columbia Pictures
Distributor	Sony Pictures Releasing
Released	July 29, 2011
Runtime	103 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$110 million
Gross	$563.7 million

The Smurfs (film) is a 2011 live-action/computer-animated family comedy directed by Raja Gosnell and produced by Jordan Kerner. The film adapts characters created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo into a contemporary New York City setting, combining performance by actors such as Neil Patrick Harris and Hank Azaria with voice work from Jonathan Winters and Katy Perry. It was released by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Releasing, achieving substantial global box office success despite mixed critical reception.

Plot

A blue-skinned community of small humanoids led by Papa Smurf flee their enchanted village after the villainous Gargamel pursues them, accidentally transported through a portal to present-day New York City. Lost in the metropolis, the Smurfs encounter human siblings working for a toy company run by Patrick Wiseman and his partner Garry, and they seek to return home before Gargamel, aided by his cat Azrael, locates them. Amid chases around landmarks such as Grand Central Terminal, Central Park, and the Empire State Building, the narrative interweaves themes of family, cooperation, and identity as the heroes confront corporate intrigue involving a toy industry plot and the sorcerer’s quest for the magical essence that sustains Smurfkind. The climax resolves with a confrontation at a rooftop observatory and the portal’s reactivation, enabling the Smurfs to return to their village and restoring equilibrium between characters modeled after European comic traditions and contemporary American urban settings.

Cast and characters

The film features an ensemble of live-action and voice performers: live-action leads include Neil Patrick Harris as Patrick, Jayma Mays as Patrick’s wife Grace, Hank Azaria as the antagonist Gargamel, and Sofia Vergara in a supporting role. Voice cast members include Jonathan Winters as Papa Smurf, Lucille Bliss in archival recordings repurposed for Smurfette, Katy Perry as the voice of Smurfette, Alan Cumming as Gutsy Smurf, George Lopez as Grouchy Smurf, Anton Yelchin as Clumsy Smurf, and Mandy Patinkin as Brainy Smurf. The ensemble draws connections to performers associated with television series such as How I Met Your Mother and Heroes as well as film veterans from The Simpsons and The Lord of the Rings franchises through shared casting histories.

Production

Development began when Jordan Kerner secured rights to Peyo’s creations from the Peyo family estate and partnered with Sony Pictures Animation and Columbia Pictures for a live-action hybrid adaptation. Director Raja Gosnell, known for family-oriented adaptations like Scooby-Doo and Beverly Hills Chihuahua, employed visual effects houses including Industrial Light & Magic, Sony Pictures Imageworks, and Framestore to integrate CGI Smurfs with live-action plates shot on sets replicating locations across New York City. Screenwriters adapted story elements from comic albums such as those published by Dupuis and translated European bande dessinée tropes into a Hollywood screenplay structure familiar from franchises like Shrek and Harry Potter. The production involved principal photography at studios influenced by practices seen in Warner Bros. Studios and location shoots coordinated with New York City film offices; post-production emphasized motion capture, character rigging, and vocal sessions overseen by music composer Heitor Pereira.

Release and box office

Columbia Pictures released the film in the United States on July 29, 2011, positioning it against summer releases from studios such as Disney and Universal Pictures. Marketing campaigns included tie-ins with broadcasters like Nickelodeon, promotional events at Comic-Con International, and partnerships with fast-food chains and toy manufacturers such as Hasbro and Mattel. The film opened strongly domestically and performed particularly well in international markets including France, Brazil, and China, ultimately grossing approximately $563.7 million worldwide against a production budget near $110 million. Its box office performance generated a sequel and ancillary projects, aligning with franchise strategies used by Marvel Studios and Illumination Entertainment for family-oriented intellectual property exploitation.

Reception

Critical response was mixed to negative, with reviewers citing a perceived dilution of Peyo’s original comic sensibility by mainstream Hollywood comedy beats and contemporary celebrity casting choices. Outlets such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and The Guardian highlighted strengths in visual effects and voice work while critiquing screenplay and pacing, whereas audience polling organizations including CinemaScore reflected more favorable family audience grades. Despite criticism from film critics associated with festivals like Cannes and organizations such as the National Board of Review, the film’s financial success and broad demographic appeal were compared to other adaptations of classic properties including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Transformers.

Home media and merchandising

Following its theatrical run, the film was released on DVD and Blu-ray by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, featuring bonus content such as deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and interactive games reminiscent of releases for titles from DreamWorks Animation and Pixar. Merchandising campaigns produced licensed products from companies including Hasbro, JAKKS Pacific, and Funko, and included apparel, toys, video game tie-ins for platforms like Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360, and publishing spin-offs through Random House and HarperCollins imprints. The franchise extended into theme park appearances and promotional events at locations operated by Six Flags and LEGOLAND.

Category:2011 films Category:American films Category:Films based on comic strips