Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Academy Award × 1
During the rise of fascism in Mussolini's Italy, a wooden boy brought magically to life struggles to live up to his father's expectations.
What critics thought
Del Toro's stop-motion Pinocchio earned near-universal critical praise for its visual craftsmanship and willingness to lean into the source material's darkness, drawing more comparisons to Pan's Labyrinth than to any previous Pinocchio adaptation. The main fault line runs through its fascism allegory: admirers see it as a bold, politically charged reimagining, while detractors found the conceit muddled and the film unable to sustain the sense of wonder it reaches for.
“Having more in common with del Toro's own Pan's Labyrinth than any Pinocchio adaptation before this, the modern-day Mexican auteur reimagines the children's tale into something much more sinister, serious and politically inclined.”
Gautam Sunder·The Hindu
“certainly has its moments of poignancy and sadness and McGregor's droll tones as the longsuffering cricket provide some grace notes of fun.”
Peter Bradshaw·The Guardian
“beyond answering the streaming giant's wish for another marquee attraction carved from a beloved property, any praise comes with a few strings attached, depriving it of the consistent sense of wonder that would qualify as a dream come true.”
Brian Lowry·CNN
Genres
Adventure, Animation, Drama
Cast & Crew
DirectorMark Gustafson, Guillermo del Toro
StarringEwan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann, Burn Gorman, Ron Perlman
ComposerAlexandre Desplat
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Academy Award × 1
During the rise of fascism in Mussolini's Italy, a wooden boy brought magically to life struggles to live up to his father's expectations.
What critics thought
Del Toro's stop-motion Pinocchio earned near-universal critical praise for its visual craftsmanship and willingness to lean into the source material's darkness, drawing more comparisons to Pan's Labyrinth than to any previous Pinocchio adaptation. The main fault line runs through its fascism allegory: admirers see it as a bold, politically charged reimagining, while detractors found the conceit muddled and the film unable to sustain the sense of wonder it reaches for.
“Having more in common with del Toro's own Pan's Labyrinth than any Pinocchio adaptation before this, the modern-day Mexican auteur reimagines the children's tale into something much more sinister, serious and politically inclined.”
Gautam Sunder·The Hindu
“certainly has its moments of poignancy and sadness and McGregor's droll tones as the longsuffering cricket provide some grace notes of fun.”
Peter Bradshaw·The Guardian
“beyond answering the streaming giant's wish for another marquee attraction carved from a beloved property, any praise comes with a few strings attached, depriving it of the consistent sense of wonder that would qualify as a dream come true.”
Brian Lowry·CNN
Genres
Adventure, Animation, Drama
Cast & Crew
DirectorMark Gustafson, Guillermo del Toro
StarringEwan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann, Burn Gorman, Ron Perlman
ComposerAlexandre Desplat