Kubo and the Two Strings

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Released Aug 19, 2016

1h 42m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Adventure

Action

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

228 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Young Kubo's (Art Parkinson) peaceful existence comes crashing down when he accidentally summons a vengeful spirit from the past. Now on the run, Kubo joins forces with Monkey (Charlize Theron) and Beetle (Matthew McConaughey) to unlock a secret legacy. Armed with a magical instrument, Kubo must battle the Moon King (Ralph Fiennes) and other gods and monsters to save his family and solve the mystery of his fallen father, the greatest samurai warrior the world has ever known.

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Critics Consensus

Kubo and the Two Strings matches its incredible animation with an absorbing -- and bravely melancholy -- story that has something to offer audiences of all ages.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

Sweeping tableaux, a wonderful voice cast and adventure that feels genuinely folkloric make this a film that definitely deserves to be taken out of cellophane.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 27, 2016

Full Review

Kate Muir

Times (UK)

A glorious flight of the imagination.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 10, 2016

Full Review

Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

It explores unexpectedly profound ideas of rebirth and destiny rewritten, like origami paper sheets refolded into another form.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 11, 2016

Full Review

JD Duran

InSession Film

Kubo and the Two Strings isn’t a film that relies on emotion, but rather, it earns its affection by delivering a fun story that is engaging and moving...

Rated: A

Aug 19, 2024

Full Review

Jason Best

Movie Talk

What casts the film’s most potent spell is the exquisite animation, haunted by centuries of Japanese art and thoroughly bewitching throughout.

Aug 7, 2024

Full Review

Zach Pope

Zach Pope Reviews

Laika Studio's Masterpiece

Aug 7, 2023

Full Review

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Ellie B

This is an excellent movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

Full Review

Jorge R

Beautiful and breathtaking! Kubo the Two Strings is definitely worth watching! 👍

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/12/25

Full Review

Mitchell S

It's artistically done and has good messages. The stop-motion animation is bewildering!! This might be my favorite Laika movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/09/25

Full Review

N P

"Kubo and the Two Strings" has a lot of promise. With its engaging first act and interesting foundation, I was hoping this trajectory would continue through the rest of the film. Unfortunately, the mysterious mood turned into your typical adventure film, which left the emotional and bonding impact scenes falling flat. The stop motion visuals are beautiful and breathtaking at times, but if I'm being honest, that's the main thing going for it. The editing and placement of storylines can be changed, and the consistency of tone can be more pronounced - for a more complete and coherent viewing experience. It was... okay, with a slice of visual goodness.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/25

Full Review

SkyRo P

"Kubo and the Two Strings," the animated gem released in 2016, deserves a much higher place in the ranks of the greatest animated films of all time than it currently holds. This film should undoubtedly be included in everyone’s top 20, yet it often goes unnoticed, failing to even make it into the top 100 for many. This lack of recognition seems to stem from a general unawareness of the film's brilliance, as those who have seen it understand just how remarkable it truly is. The animation quality is impressive for its time, offering a fresh take on the genre that excels in every aspect. The storyline is imaginative, engaging, and musical, featuring anthropomorphic animals that speak and charm viewers as they navigate Kubo's enchanting world. While some characters may come off as cheesy and certain elements can feel exaggerated, the film ultimately delivers a rich and rewarding experience. I've heard concerns from some parents about the portrayal of witchcraft, but I find such critiques amusing. It seems like a misguided attempt to shield children from the realities of storytelling and the fantastical elements that make films captivating. If witchcraft in movies is a dealbreaker, it might be best to avoid all forms of entertainment altogether. At its core, the film chronicles Kubo's magical adventure, where he shines as a character. Voice actor Art Parkinson brings Kubo to life with a performance that fully immerses the audience in his journey. It's disheartening that this film remains underappreciated, and I truly hope more people discover it, allowing it to earn its rightful place as a cult classic. Given its box office performance, it certainly deserves another chance to captivate audiences.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/06/25

Full Review

Darren D

Laika Studios "Kubo and the Two Strings" is another beautiful piece of art from the studio, their dazzling stop-motion animation mixing with an inspiration of Japanese art styles from Origami & Ink Wash painting. Laika's choice of setting to use Feudal Japan is perfect, as the elements of adventure & dark fantasy perfectly pays off with the different art styles. Rarely can film makers get a balance of tone, yet I find with Laika Studios, they get it spot on for a younger & older audience. The adventure, the darkness, the growth, the humour & the love in their stories just connect. The music from Dario Marianelli is amazing with fitting in with every scene.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/18/24

Full Review

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Travis Knight

Director

Charlize Theron

Monkey

Art Parkinson

Kubo

Ralph Fiennes

Moon King

George Takei

Hosato

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa

Hashi

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Kubo and the Two Strings: Trailer 4

1:01

Kubo and the Two Strings: Trailer 3

2:14

Kubo and the Two Strings: Trailer 2

2:25

Kubo and the Two Strings: Trailer 1

1:59

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Synopsis

Director: Travis Knight
Producer: Arianne Sutner, Travis Knight
Screenwriter: Marc Haimes, Chris Butler
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Laika, Focus Features
Rating: PG (Scary Images|Action and Peril|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Adventure, Action, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 19, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $48.0M
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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Kubo and the Two Strings

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