Puss in Boots (2011)

83% of critics liked it
(137 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(65,164 ratings)

Long before he even met Shrek, the notorious fighter, lover and outlaw Puss in Boots becomes a hero when he sets off on an adventure with the tough and street smart Kitty Softpaws and the mastermind Humpty Dumpty to save his town. This is the true story of The Cat, The Myth, The Legend... The Boots.… More Long before he even met Shrek, the notorious fighter, lover and outlaw Puss in Boots becomes a hero when he sets off on an adventure with the tough and street smart Kitty Softpaws and the mastermind Humpty Dumpty to save his town. This is the true story of The Cat, The Myth, The Legend... The Boots. -- (C) Dreamworks/Paramount

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Chris Miller
Written By: Tom Wheeler, Brian Lynch, Will Davies
Genres: Action & Adventure, Animation, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 28, 2011 Wide
On DVD: Feb 24, 2012
Studio: Paramount/Dreamworks

Critic Reviews

Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle
Puss in Boots prances along on three basic truths. One, cats are funny. Two, vain Spanish cats in high-heeled musketeer boots are even funnier. Lastly, booted, vain Spanish cats voiced by a breathy Antonio Banderas are flat-out hilarious.
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger
An almost purr-fect little film that even a dog owner can enjoy.
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
It would overstate matters to say Puss in Boots leaves its cat holding the bag (we had to get that in). But it also leaves its hero awaiting a richer fable, one befitting his charms and his portrayer's talents.
William Goss, Film.com
The character may be here to save the day, but the movie's only here to pass the time and it does that just fine.
Jennie Punter, Globe and Mail
It's the morally-cracked Humpty who provides the film's emotional trajectory. Puss in Boots is a fun feline frolic -- with just a little egg on its face.
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
Almost shockingly good. And not just because a lot of you will approach it with lowered expectations.
R. L. Shaffer, IGN DVD
Puss in Boots delivers just the right mixture of fun, exciting and super cute.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
Combine the high-definition picture and sound with the beauty and complexity of the animation, and you get a spectacular audiovisual feast. (Blu-ray Combo edition)
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
Clever and witty enough for adults and colorful and zany enough for children. Moreover, it's adventurous enough for anyone to like, no matter what their age.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Puss proves more than capable and deserving of the solo spotlight, his outsize bravado, machismo, ego spilling out beyond the big screen in fiercely funny feline fashion.
Laurence Boyce, The Baltic Times
"Puss in Boots" shows that there's certainly enough in him to create a new hero beloved by both children and merchandise executives.
Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, Ebert Presents At The Movies
Avoids all the worst tendencies of the later Shrek movies.
Joseph Proimakis, Movies for the Masses
an eksaireseis kana dyo eksypna gags kai kapoies paixnidiarikes proseggiseis sthn paradosh toy Shrek na anakateyei klasika paramythia, s' olon ton ypoloipo afhghmatiko toys aksona kratane ta pragmata apelpistika paidika
Matt Neal, The Standard
With Banderas' scene-stealing feline finally getting his own film, the franchise now has a worthy successor to the two original Shrek movies.
Linda Cook, KWQC-TV (Iowa)
A sort of origin tail, I mean tale, 'Puss in Boots' is a furry feline frolic of flamenco, fights and fleeing. And fun. Antonio Banderas' voice provides the perfect vocal cords for Puss, who often stole the show in the 'Shrek' movies.
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher
I'm pretty sure that the reason Antonio Banderas was put on this planet was to make Puss in Boots speak... [H]ilariously and endlessly inventive...
Jason Best, Movie Talk
There are betrayals and double-crosses galore, rattling chases and swish sword fights, fleeting visual gags, mischievous verbal jokes and, best of all, a frisky flamenco dance-off between Puss and Kitty that will leave the viewer purring with pleasure.
Graham Young, Birmingham Mail
Puss's boots are delectable things which could almost have been the product of that classic fairy tale, The Elves and the Shoemaker ( ... ) and every time ( ... ) we see those little gnashers, the film is a technical marvel.
, Liverpool Echo
Puss In Boots is the cat's meow.
Philip French, Observer [UK]
An attractive adventure yarn that combines the fairytale and the western.

Read all 22 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Justin Y

Chris Miller goes nursery rhyme mash-up with Puss in Boots.Aside from a back story segment for the lead, Puss in Boots, the plot moves forward at a quick pace with the end credits happening at only the 80 minute mark. The film has a lot to work with, as it… More
Chris Miller goes nursery rhyme mash-up with Puss in Boots.Aside from a back story segment for the lead, Puss in Boots, the plot moves forward at a quick pace with the end credits happening at only the 80 minute mark. The film has a lot to work with, as it takes a number of popular nursery rhymes and shuffles them into the plot, but at the same time it keeps things simple, which contributes to the brief run time, for a family friendly experience.The comedy is light, with some obvious cat antics thrown in. There isn't much of it that feels forced, which is a good thing. Visually, there isn't anything overly impressive. Once again it is catered for a younger and less sophisticated audience.Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek are nice fits into the Spanish theme of the picture, which also has an attractive soundtrack. Zach Galifianakis ends up as nice compliment to the aforementioned leads.Puss in Boots isn't great. It isn't terrible. It's merely in between and a quick sit through.
Jim H

A swashbuckling cat searches for magic beans to repay an old debt. This film is innocuous fun. It isn't that funny or exciting, but it holds one's attention, and replacing some of the typical cartoon violence with a "dance battle" is a welcome trend in the genre.… More
A swashbuckling cat searches for magic beans to repay an old debt. This film is innocuous fun. It isn't that funny or exciting, but it holds one's attention, and replacing some of the typical cartoon violence with a "dance battle" is a welcome trend in the genre. Overall, I can't say that I liked Puss in Boots, but I find it hard to dislike it.
Chris M

I was so happy when they decided to give my favorite Shrek character his own movie. To my relief Puss In Boots is way better then the third and fourth Shrek films. This movie is actually one of the funniest animated films I have seen since Rango. The story was a bit weak and would of… More
I was so happy when they decided to give my favorite Shrek character his own movie. To my relief Puss In Boots is way better then the third and fourth Shrek films. This movie is actually one of the funniest animated films I have seen since Rango. The story was a bit weak and would of fit better if this was a movie about Jack and the beanstalk, but then again I liked how it sort of parodied the old stories I used to hear as a kid (though thats not really anything special because there have been four Shrek movies that did the same thing). Overall I would say Puss in Boots is an enjoyable time for the whole family and provides a few good laughs.
Alexander D

The animation in PUSS is superb. The scene when the three protagonists plant the magical beans, the scene involving the Ã¢cloud-ball fight,Ã¢? the first five minutes, and just about every action sequence stand out the most. With the intricate designs of the animal characters, the… More
The animation in PUSS is superb. The scene when the three protagonists plant the magical beans, the scene involving the Ã¢cloud-ball fight,Ã¢? the first five minutes, and just about every action sequence stand out the most. With the intricate designs of the animal characters, the lifelike (yes, lifelike) embellishments, and the countless carefully-animated objects (i.e. rain on a beanstalk up in the sky), it was meant for a 3-D theatrical release. Even on home video, it still looks stunning. We canÃ¢(TM)t expect this much of a SHREK movie anymore, nor does any entry have the right to be this excellent. Somehow, this works when it tries to convince us out of thinking that it qualifies as a SHREK movie, with a soundtrack consisting of catchy Latin tunes, an entirely new cast for entirely new characters (with one obvious exception), and not one reference to Donkey, Shrek, or Fiona. That said, I guarantee youÃ¢(TM)ll love it, regardless of you having seen any of the original SHREK movies. Ranked #10 of 2011.
Reid V

A flimsy story that delivers a surprising amount of laughs. While I was in awe about how a giant studio could have green-lit a script that was so piss-poor, I was amazed by the spectacular animation. This film proved to me that Dreamworks, visually speaking, could soon give Pixar a… More
A flimsy story that delivers a surprising amount of laughs. While I was in awe about how a giant studio could have green-lit a script that was so piss-poor, I was amazed by the spectacular animation. This film proved to me that Dreamworks, visually speaking, could soon give Pixar a run for their money. Now if only they could hire some capable screenwriters...
Albert K

A spin-off of a series that was only entertaining in its first outing. "Puss in Boots" has entertaining set-pieces but everything else falls apart. This spin-off came to realization because of the mysteries and attraction that we as the audience have for this character of… More
A spin-off of a series that was only entertaining in its first outing. "Puss in Boots" has entertaining set-pieces but everything else falls apart. This spin-off came to realization because of the mysteries and attraction that we as the audience have for this character of the "Shrek" movies... but yet, he is ridiculously uninteresting in this particular movie. He's a womanizer (James Bond) that wants to leave his awful past (almost every action bad-ass movie) where he has lived as an outlaw, wrongly accused (many many action movies). In the end, Puss, the protagonist, is a cliche with no charm. But it ain't about the characters, right? The plot, pacing, and the rest of the cast, were all mediocre at best. The comedy doesn't work too well for adults and whenever "Puss in Boots" goes for an emotional punch, its only at a surface level and doesn't try to dig deep like many Pixar movies do. Overall, "Puss in Boots" may have the visuals and the production value to make a statement that says, "This is a great animated movie" but it all falls apart. Its sloppily put together, the pacing (whether in one scene or the entire movie) is poorly constructed, and the pop culture references that "Puss in Boots" has are all things children should not be learning at such an age. "Puss in Boots" doesn't carry the charm of an innocent children's movie but rather, carries the stench of a sloppy and boring movie.
Lorenzo v

"Get ready for an adventure nine lifetimes in the making." A story about the events leading up to the sword fighting cat's meeting with Shrek and his friends. <center>"Get ready for an adventure nine lifetimes in the making." A story about the events leading up to the sword fighting cat's meeting with Shrek and his friends. <center>REVIEW</center> The best element in the last two films from the Shrek franchise was the supporting characters; and even though I would have preferred to see a spin-off of the Donkey, the chosen one to start its own franchise ended up being the Puss in Boots, whose first film seems to have been cooked on the same mold as Shrek...a lot of adventure, some romance and abundant "meta-humor" focused on the clichés of the fairy tales. And even though Puss in Boots is not nearly as ingenious and original as the first two films from the Shrek franchise, I at least consider it an entertaining family comedy with appropriate voice acting, excellent animation and a main character with enough charisma. The screenplay from Puss in Boots is well written, because of its adequate character development and appropriate balance of drama, humor and adventure. On the other hand, I found the action scenes a bit dull. They are not badly done, but they feel as forced interruptions of a narrative which would have may worked better with a subtler style...almost like a spy story. But with two cats and a new humanoid. In spite of that, I had a good time while watching Puss in Boots, despite the final experience not being very memorable, because of the competent screenplay, adequate voice acting from Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek and Zach Galifianakis, and an excellent animation which shows consistency with the caricatured style employed in the Shrek franchise. In conclusion, I think Puss in Boots deserves a moderate recommendation.
Crash E

Beautiful,a rich animation combined with comedy captured so many funny moments it was really nice family movie.
Directors C

This is the rare spin off film that works. Puss in Boots is better than any of the Shrek sequels and although it lacks a good story its a near perfect family movie with great animation as usual from the artist's at Dreamworks and seductive voice acting.
♥˩ƳИИ &

Cast :Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Amy Sedaris, Billy Bob Thornton Director: Chris Miller Summary: Voiced by Antonio Banderas, the dauntless feline of legend goes on an animated adventure to purloin a priceless golden-egg-laying goose. To help him on his… More
Cast :Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Amy Sedaris, Billy Bob Thornton Director: Chris Miller Summary: Voiced by Antonio Banderas, the dauntless feline of legend goes on an animated adventure to purloin a priceless golden-egg-laying goose. To help him on his mission, Puss brings along his friends Humpty Dumpty and the super-stealthy Kitty Softpaws. My Thoughts: "I can't say that I really enjoyed this film. The kids didn't really enjoy it all that much either. They were expecting it to be funnier, as was I. The story just isn't very interesting and the new characters were nothing special.The film was just too boring. Too many references to fairy tales and nursery rhymes and not enough originallity. I'm a fan of the Shrek films, but this one fail to impress me or the kids."
Sergio G

A great Dreamworks animation. The voice of Antonio is fantastic. You never expect Puss in Boots talking like him. The story again is a mix of different Perrault compilations and is not too bad. Neither too good. If you have a cat you'll laugh like crazy. Worth the ticket for you… More
A great Dreamworks animation. The voice of Antonio is fantastic. You never expect Puss in Boots talking like him. The story again is a mix of different Perrault compilations and is not too bad. Neither too good. If you have a cat you'll laugh like crazy. Worth the ticket for you and your kids.
Manu G

He's been a bad kitty. Good movie! Puss in Boots was what I expected - interesting characters, some great laughs, and an interesting backstory. Unfortunately, no cameos from major Shrek characters. Overall, kids and adults will love the movie for its humor, cute characters, and… More
He's been a bad kitty. Good movie! Puss in Boots was what I expected - interesting characters, some great laughs, and an interesting backstory. Unfortunately, no cameos from major Shrek characters. Overall, kids and adults will love the movie for its humor, cute characters, and action. Puss in Boots is a worthy spin-off of Shrek. And, the movie has a great message about learning from our mistakes, retribution, and making good choices. Years before meeting Shrek and Donkey, the adorable but tricky Puss in Boots must clear his name from all charges making him a wanted fugitive. While trying to steal magic beans from the infamous criminals Jack and Jill, the hero crosses paths with his female match, Kitty Softpaws, who leads Puss to his old friend, but now enemy, Humpty Dumpty. Memories of friendship and betrayal enlarges Puss' doubt, but he eventually agrees to help the egg get the magic beans. Together, the three plan to steal the beans, get to the Giant's castle, nab the golden goose, and clear Puss' name.
Greg S

A swashbuckling kitty teams up with an egg to steal magic beans from notorious criminals Jack and Jill. This is good children's entertainment that got swallowed up min 2011 in a sea of great children's entertainment; it's thrilling but not as thrilling as TINTIN,… More
A swashbuckling kitty teams up with an egg to steal magic beans from notorious criminals Jack and Jill. This is good children's entertainment that got swallowed up min 2011 in a sea of great children's entertainment; it's thrilling but not as thrilling as TINTIN, adventurous but not as adventurous as RANGO, cute but not as cute as THE MUPPETS.
Luke B

Hollywood just don't know when to quit, in this instance that proves to be a blessing. Puss in Boots is a spin-off from Shrek, but gladly stands on its own two-boot encased-feet. The film follows Puss' early life, from orphan to outlaw. We learn of his relationship with… More
Hollywood just don't know when to quit, in this instance that proves to be a blessing. Puss in Boots is a spin-off from Shrek, but gladly stands on its own two-boot encased-feet. The film follows Puss' early life, from orphan to outlaw. We learn of his relationship with fellow orphan Humpty Dumpty and their quest to obtain the magic beans which will lead to the golden eggs. Puss is hailed as a hero in his hometown while his brother Humpty is lead into a life of crime to prove his worth. Their interactions form the main crux ofthe movie. They both consider themselves betrayed at one point or another, and seeing their brotherly love gradually return is a joy. The films biggest success is just taking one character and actually creating a story around them. There isn't a single nod to Shrek, and overall it has an entirely different tone. Even the fairytale references are played down for a more western feel. The voice work is spot on, with Banderas taking his role very seriously. Hayek adds some nice chemistry as his female equivalent, and even Galifianakis shines. This is probably his most emotional role, and he avoids becoming an irritant. The animation is wonderful, and really captures that Spanish/Latino flavour. The writers knew exactly when to focus on exposition and when to add an action scene. This is mostly an action adventure movie, with some comedy. A great film that should be wary about trying to spawn its own franchise.
Stuart B

Brilliant! Easily as good as any of the Shrek movies. Laugh out loud funny on many occasions and a joy to watch all of the way through. Never gets boring, always amusing and the characters are puuurfect.
Dead A

Nice!
Pedro H

Get ready for an adventure nine lifetimes in the making. Prrrr-ecious Although this isn't Shrek, and does not even come close to it, It is a funny film. I love animations, and many times animations only have two roads to take, the good one… More
Get ready for an adventure nine lifetimes in the making. Prrrr-ecious Although this isn't Shrek, and does not even come close to it, It is a funny film. I love animations, and many times animations only have two roads to take, the good one and the bad one. This movie however takes the mediocre dirt road to the good highway. This Shrek spin-off, tells the adventures of Puss(Banderas) who is framed and now his only way to gain his respect back is by getting Jack(Billy Bob) and Jill's(Amy Sedaris) beans, and payback his city San Ricardo. Puss is a fun character, he has always been since Shrek, and in his own movie he shines even brighter. However, it is only puss that develops a fun character; Humpty Dumpty played by Galifinakis is a dull character who non of us will remember in 10 years from now. Basically all the other characters are lame in this movie with the exception of Puss. Overall a fun movie, worth watching, a nice ride and experience, it will give you a little bit of the feeling you got when you watched, and fell in love with Shrek. Puss in Boots: " Fear me, if you dare! "
Everett J

I am a HUGE fan of the "Shrek" series. I love each movie, and all the characters. So naturally, I would be super amped for the spin-off, "Puss in Boots". The story is kind of a prequel adventure. It tells the tale of how Puss became, Puss in Boots. It's… More
I am a HUGE fan of the "Shrek" series. I love each movie, and all the characters. So naturally, I would be super amped for the spin-off, "Puss in Boots". The story is kind of a prequel adventure. It tells the tale of how Puss became, Puss in Boots. It's then a story about him and his orphanage brother, Humpty Dumpty, and their adventure to get the golden goose. Puss is awesome. He's funny, charming, and likes to stop and lick his private parts when he can. Other than Puss, the characters in this kind of fall flat. Humpty Dumpty is eh just okay, which is odd because I love Zach Galifianakis(Humpty's voice). The best side character is Kitty Softpaws(Selma Hayek), who is kind of a female Puss in Boots. Their chemistry is good. It's not a bad cartoon, but when you compare it to the "Shrek" series, it falls way short. Good action, just not as many laughs or as much charm as I had hoped for. Kids will probably love it, and the parents will probably dig it. Just keep the expectations lower, and you'll be more than satisfied.
Christopher H

A good movie that happens to be a Puss in Boots spin-off. This film has everything the whole family can enjoy. It contains action, humor, visual spectacle, romance, and an intriguing plot. Antonio Banderas is great as always playing Puss but the biggest surprise of the film is Zach… More
A good movie that happens to be a Puss in Boots spin-off. This film has everything the whole family can enjoy. It contains action, humor, visual spectacle, romance, and an intriguing plot. Antonio Banderas is great as always playing Puss but the biggest surprise of the film is Zach Galifianakis, who plays Humpty Dumpty. Zach succeeds in making Humpty an unusually complex character that is rarely found in films of this sort. The film is not groundbreaking by any shape or form but it mostly succeeds in what it sets out to do.
Letitia L

So many of my favourite things. Adorable cat jokes. Latin dancing. Gratuitous purring. Had me LOLing on the plane. It also makes me quite sad to note that these two cats (Banderas and Hayek) can generate more sexual chemistry than most young leads in today's movies. SMH