A Bug's Life poster & wallpaper

Dave Foley, Kevin Spacey, Hayden Panettiere

There was such a magic on the screen in 1995 when the people at Pixar came up with the first fully computer-animated film, Toy Story. Their second feature film, A Bug's Life, may miss ...( read more  read more... )the bull's-eye but Pixar's target is so lofty, it's hard to find the film anything less than irresistible.

Brighter and more colorful than the other animated insect movie of 1998 (Antz), A Bug's Life is the sweetly told story of Flik (voiced by David Foley), an ant searching for better ways to be a bug. His colony unfortunately revolves around feeding and fearing the local grasshoppers (lead by Hopper, voiced with gleeful menace by Kevin Spacey). When Flik accidentally destroys the seasonal food supply for the grasshoppers he decides to look for help ("We need bigger bugs!"). The ants, led by Princess Atta (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), are eager to dispose of the troublesome Flik. Yet he finds help--a hearty bunch of bug warriors--and brings them back to the colony. Unfortunately they are just traveling performers afraid of conflict.

As with Toy Story, the ensemble of creatures and voices is remarkable and often inspired. Highlights include wiseacre comedian Denis Leary as an un-ladylike ladybug, Joe Ranft as the German-accented caterpillar, David Hyde Pierce as a stick bug, and Michael McShane as a pair of unintelligible pillbugs. The scene-stealer is Atta's squeaky-voiced sister, baby Dot (Hayden Panettiere), who has a big sweet spot for Flik.

More gentle and kid-friendly than Antz, A Bug Life's still has some good suspense and a wonderful demise of the villain. However, the film--a giant worldwide hit--will be remembered for its most creative touch: "outtakes" over the end credits à la many live-action comedy films. These dozen or so scenes (both "editions" of outtakes are contained here) are brilliant and deserve a special place in film history right along with 1998's other most talked-about sequence: the opening Normandy invasion in Saving Private Ryan.

The video and DVD also contain Pixar's delightful Oscar-winning short, Geri's Game. --Doug Thomas

Flixster Users

61% liked it

901,013 ratings

Critics

91% liked it

80 critics

G, 1 hr. 26 min.

Directed by: John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton

Release Date: November 20, 1998

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: April 20, 1999

Get It:

Stats: 30,997 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites
report incorrect info

Photos

A Bug's Life Kevin Spacey as Hopper (voice) in A Bug's Life (1998) A Bug's Life A Bug's Life A Bug's Life (1998) dot from a bug's life A Bug's Life A Bug's Life A Bug's Life A Bug's Life A Bug's Life A Bug's Life A Bug's Life A Bug's Life A Bug's Life A Bug's Life A Bug's Life A Bug's Life
Upload a Photo |

View All A Bug's Life Photos (20)

Your Rating


clear rating
Share on: Facebook Twitter

Flixster Reviews (30,997)

  • magnum32004
    October 31, 2007
    magnum32004
    Some might debate that this is not Pixar's best but this is definitely their funniest movie.
  • SirPant
    September 25, 2009
    SirPant
    A fun Pixar film but not as good as some of the others.
  • mrpopcorn
    September 9, 2009
    mrpopcorn
    "An epic of miniature proportions."

    A misfit ant, looking for warriors to save his colony from grasshoppers, recruits a group of bugs that turn out to be an inept circus troup.

    REVIEW

    Magnific...( read more)ently rendered by the computer-graphics company Pixar (of Toy Story fame), scored by the always-spirited Randy Newman and starring a cavalcade of impressive voices, A Bug's Life is a high point in animated family fare. It's the kind of film adults enjoy as much as, if not more than, their preschool offspring. Even the fake "outtakes" following the film are hilarious: like much of the film's humor, they aim for a surprising level of sophistication. The creators use animation not just to put a child-friendly face on some normally creepy critters, but to go where live-action can't, creating a world of shapes, colors and sounds that couldn't be accomplished otherwise. A Bug's Life was released only months after the more adult-oriented Antz; it's been suggested that the success of these films might have ominous implications for the future of traditional, hand-drawn animation. But it's not simply the computer handiwork that makes A Bug's Life so impressive -- it's the creativity.
  • dreamfaeries
    August 22, 2009
    dreamfaeries
    AWH!
  • jsd35
    August 2, 2009
    jsd35
    This another one of those films I should have watched way-back-when. It came out around the same time as Antz, and the two have strong elements of similarity (excepting of course that my main memory from Antz is that of a neurotic ant (Woody Allen)). I remember a co...( read more)uple of Korean kids getting totally addicted to this film, and I can see why: it's great fun, and. Yes, there are a number of jokes here that have been recycled from previous films, but thre are also jokes that will be used in it that are reused by later films (notably the 'transforming' catepillar in Monsters vs Aliens). And, when it comes right down to it, it's inventive family, fun. Rent the movie on an evening you're feeling low, and it won't let you down.
  • gypsyonly1
    November 19, 2009
    gypsyonly1
    Love it and was exact
  • queenofthepath
    November 17, 2009
    queenofthepath
    it was actually one of my fav movies when i was a child
  • chloeleo1
    November 11, 2009
    chloeleo1
    I luv dat movie...(:
  • xxsmallvilleroxxx
    November 10, 2009
    xxsmallvilleroxxx
    Im a beatiful butterfly! Childhood fave.
  • totalefreiheit
    November 3, 2009
    totalefreiheit
    No me gusto. Se me hace mejor ANTS.

View All A Bug's Life Reviews

Critic Reviews

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

I enjoyed the use of animation to visualize a world that could not be seen in live action and could not be created with special effects. full review

View more A Bug's Life reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • gloriabrandenberger
    January 15, 2009
    gloriabrandenberger
    Ant, really Special ° just look the eyes, How can be so cute?, just Unforgetable, for Remember always * hugs <>
    Thanks for put here this Movie, THANKS*
  • gloriabrandenberger
    January 8, 2009
    gloriabrandenberger
    Bugs movie, ant the more lighting animation little ant. look the Big and the LightEyes. °CuTe°
  • gloriabrandenberger
    January 6, 2009
    gloriabrandenberger
    Bugs, SpecialOne, & ant always work hard, ants are cute, One ant can make long, lovely good way. Yes, is true ants are really good little animals, constuit(build) with solid and hard work. Ant help eachother, are noble, strong, and so so so so cute, big Eyes has ant & with antennas, in the movie see the Smile in his her mouth, Smilecutting...(this movie i saw long long long time ago) is really nice movie.
  • brawlalley21
    December 1, 2008
    brawlalley21
    A very cool movie... its animation works is fantastic!!
  • YoureXxAllowedXoxToXxBeXxHappy
    July 30, 2008
    YoureXxAllowedXoxToXxBeXxHappy
    LOVE!!!!!!

    ^_^
  • Hitboy330
    July 20, 2008
    Hitboy330
    i love thiz movie better than antz..
  • MovieLover57
    June 11, 2008
    MovieLover57
    I Like This Movie.
    But ANTZ Is Better.
  • kairikitten
    April 9, 2007
    kairikitten
    hayden played like dot
  • mama2buffa2
    March 14, 2007
    mama2buffa2
    its so koolio!!!
    Myspace CodesMyspace LayoutsMyspace CodesMyspace CodesMyspace LayoutsMyspace CodesMyspace LayoutsMyspace Text Generator, Myspace GraphicsMyspace Layouts
  • pyroonsnw
    January 31, 2007
    pyroonsnw
    My god hu did hayden play?
Post A Comment | View All Comments

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

All Rotten Tomatoes content is used under license from Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes, Certified Fresh, and the Tomatometer are the trademarks of Incfusion Corporation, d/b/a Rotten Tomatoes, a subsidiary of IGN Entertainment, Inc.

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Finding Nemo
    Finding Nemo (65%)
  • Monsters, Inc.
    Monsters, Inc. (70%)
  • Chicken Little
    Chicken Little (71%)
  • Toy Story & Toy Story 2 in 3D Double Feature
    Toy Story & Toy Story 2 in 3D Double Feature (100%)

More Movies like A Bug's Life

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

A Bug's Life : Watch Free on TV

A Bug's Life Trivia

  • What animated Pixar movie features a colony of ants trying to make due in a harsh environment ruled by violent grasshoppers?  Answer »
  • which pixar a film had the line " ah candy corn"  Answer »
  • What do these Movies have in common? Mimic Meet the applegates Arachnaphobia A Bugs Life  Answer »
  • "Those puny little ants outnumber us a 100/1 and if they ever figure that out, the're goes our way of life..."  Answer »
More A Bug's Life Trivia

Movie Quizzes

Create a Quiz |

All Quizzes

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All A Bug's Life Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add A Bug's Life to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

osman Skin by osman
21360 Profiles
Add to Profile

More Skins