Chicken Run (2000)

96% of critics liked it
(141 reviews)
53% of users liked it
(474,422 ratings)

Aardman Animations, the British clay-animation studio that created a cult sensation (and won three Academy awards) with its short subjects featuring Wallace and Gromit, presents its first feature film, a mixture of comedy and adventure. Mrs. Tweedy (voice of Miranda Richardson) operates a chicken… More Aardman Animations, the British clay-animation studio that created a cult sensation (and won three Academy awards) with its short subjects featuring Wallace and Gromit, presents its first feature film, a mixture of comedy and adventure. Mrs. Tweedy (voice of Miranda Richardson) operates a chicken farm, where most of the birds have resigned themselves to a short and uneventful life of producing eggs and ending up as the main course of someone's Sunday dinner. But when Rocky (voice of Mel Gibson), a rooster from America, arrives on the farm, things begin to change. Rocky soon finds romance with a hen named Ginger (voice of Julia Sawalha) who longs for a better life and has been trying to find a way out of the farm for some time; together they devise a plan to escape to freedom. However, Rocky and Ginger soon find themselves racing against the clock when Mrs. Tweedy decides it's time to turn the entire flock into chicken pies. Nick Park, director of the Wallace and Gromit shorts, co-directed Chicken Run with Peter Lord, who produced several Aardman projects and created animation for the TV series Pee-Wee's Playhouse. The voice cast also includes Jane Horrocks, Phil Daniels, and Timothy Spall. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Peter Lord, Animated
Written By: Karey Kirkpatrick, Jack Rosenthal
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Animation, Kids & Family, Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 21, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Nov 21, 2000
Studio: Dreamworks Pictures

Critic Reviews

Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
Exactly the picker-upper this macho-movie summer needs.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
Fans of the more subversive Wallace and Gromit tales are almost bound to be somewhat disappointed by this safer, more mainstream effort.
Joel Siegel, Good Morning America
There are last minute rescues and incredible visuals.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I was ready to fly the coop long before the 82 minutes were up, but if you're in the mood for something offbeat and wacky, Chicken Run may be just your kind of amiably birdbrained entertainment.
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
Before our disbelieving eyes, a pageant of jeopardy, romance and rescue unfolds.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
It's a very smart film.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Fab animation from Wallace and Gromit creator.
Nick Rogers, Suite101.com
"Chicken Run's" finale is on par both with "The Great Escape" and the classic Wallace and Gromit ending to "A Close Shave" for rousing excitement and ingenuity. When it comes to clever and fun entertainment with a twist, it's the cock of the walk.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
The sophisticated humor of Peter Lord and Nick Park's very funny comedy is more likely to strike a nerve with adults.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
The fact that this movie is animated entirely with clay ruined the enjoyment for me while watching this.
, Film4
Thoroughly endearing family entertainment.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
Park's love for all his characters, good and evil, is literally palpable: These characters have been forged of clay, fussed over, posed, photographed over a period of years.
Joe Lozito, Big Picture Big Sound
That rare animated film that can easily please all age groups.
Betsy Bozdech, Reel.com
A wonderful, spirited family movie that's easily one of the best films of the year.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
As far as laughs go, it's slow to take off; and in terms of gags, characters and narrative, it lacks the freshness of some of the earlier films.
Chris Gore, Film Threat
I know I've seen a good funny animal movie if I stop eating the animal in real life.
Karina Montgomery, Cinerina
Inventiveness taken to new levels...simply a marvel.
Scott Nash, Three Movie Buffs
I don't think two minutes went by where I wasn't laughing out loud.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
It has intelligence, humor, drama and tragedy, dance numbers, amour and more, any of which will have appeal to someone out there.
Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer
It's a wonder to know that each frame of this film was handmade, not orchestrated by a computer.

Read all 24 critic reviews

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)

Featured Audience Ratings

Directors C

This film has a hugely undeniable charm, it is exciting and brilliant to look at. The detail of the animation is simply a spectacle and the voice acting is a real talent. I feel that this film is so much better then the Wallace and Grommit pieces of work. You will care so much about… More
This film has a hugely undeniable charm, it is exciting and brilliant to look at. The detail of the animation is simply a spectacle and the voice acting is a real talent. I feel that this film is so much better then the Wallace and Grommit pieces of work. You will care so much about the characters and there are moments in the film that are hilarious when it's not telling a well thought out story that is.
Christopher H

The stop-motion animation is impressive with well-executed action sequences to boost. Unfortunately, the story treads on too much familiar ground and tends to feel too mellow at times. The characters do a good job for the purposes they serve even though not one is particularly… More
The stop-motion animation is impressive with well-executed action sequences to boost. Unfortunately, the story treads on too much familiar ground and tends to feel too mellow at times. The characters do a good job for the purposes they serve even though not one is particularly memorable. Despite some really good moments of humor, this film fails to be as endearing as Wallace and Gromit, another Aardman Animation effort.
Brad W

Chicken Run is a genius piece of animated film, and it will be in my childhood until the day I die, and it really is funny and has a great storyline, and is a great spoof to The Great Escape.
Alexander D

Good
Tim S

From the creators of Wallace & Grommet comes Chicken Run, Dreamworks very first animated film. Although this movie draws heavily upon The Great Escape for the actual story and style (not to mention the score), it still goes out on its own and manages to come up with some… More
From the creators of Wallace & Grommet comes Chicken Run, Dreamworks very first animated film. Although this movie draws heavily upon The Great Escape for the actual story and style (not to mention the score), it still goes out on its own and manages to come up with some interesting ideas. The comedy itself is very deadpan, with a few visual gags tossed in to change things up. It's also slightly dark in areas for a modern family film, which is a good thing. I have a few problems with it, none that I can mention without spoiling the film, but overall it's pretty entertaining. It doesn't have a lot of repeatability, but it's very enjoyable for a one-off.
Thomas B

wallace and gromit have a lot to answer for.
Michael E

its almost as good as all the wallace and gromit movies but thats the biggest flaw it isn't wallace and gromit
Richard C

C
Conner R

I was never a fan and never will be a fan of Wallace and Grommet so I was bound to have my issues with this. I really distasted the humor, it was either overplayed or just dumb. I felt like they were just trying to be the anti-Pixar, but much like Dreamworks other animated films it… More
I was never a fan and never will be a fan of Wallace and Grommet so I was bound to have my issues with this. I really distasted the humor, it was either overplayed or just dumb. I felt like they were just trying to be the anti-Pixar, but much like Dreamworks other animated films it just failed to be anything. The plot was uninteresting and the characters equally so, it needed a lot of work from where it was.
Dead A

This was good.
KJ P

A perfect film! This movie stands alone as one of the best claymation movies out there!
Film C

Always entertaining to watch this brilliant animated fun movie! Entertainging funny and love the characters always entertaining to watch!
Anthony L

It has its moments and the animation is brilliant, I just don?t think it?s Park?s best work.
Jennifer D

Very cute.
Candy R

Good original story about chickens who want to escape their pens before they are made into chicken pies!
Matthew C

Classic, from the people that have brought you Wallace & Gromit short films and The Curse of the WereRabbit. I only got to see the last half of the movie, but it's an excellent kids movie, with plenty of British humor to keep the adults entertained. The pie maker part is… More
Classic, from the people that have brought you Wallace & Gromit short films and The Curse of the WereRabbit. I only got to see the last half of the movie, but it's an excellent kids movie, with plenty of British humor to keep the adults entertained. The pie maker part is CLASSIC!
Keith A

It's "The Great Escape" meets "Wallace & Gromit".
Leigh R

Neat film for the humor and storyline.
Red L

Is a great animated movie. Chickens in a dead-end job, looking for a way to escape!
Stephen M

Not bad, but it's a bit slick and compromised for the American marketplace.