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The Croods

The Croods

The journey begins.

201398 minPGMidcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Directors
Kirk DeMicco, Chris Sanders
Starring
Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener

The prehistoric Croods family live in a particularly dangerous moment in time. Patriarch Grug, his mate Ugga, teenage daughter Eep, son Thunk, and feisty Gran gather food by day and huddle together in a cave at night. When a more evolved caveman named Guy arrives on the scene, Grug is distrustful, but it soon becomes apparent that Guy is correct about the impending destruction of their world.

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Croods?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Croods to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about The Croods?

The Croods earns 9 badges, led by Cultural touchstone and Family friendly.

Show 1 more
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Content

Reception

Is The Croods worth watching?

The Croods' Midcredits score is the 81st percentile of all films, from 848K ratings across 6 sources. 75% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

81st percentile

Better received than 81% of films

72nd percentile among Animation81st percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)74th
Approval (how many liked it)85th

68 /100

74th percentile of all films

62nd percentile among Animation73rd percentile among 2010s

Critics 55 · Audience 69

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.3 — solid but not unanimous.

75% liked it

85th percentile of all films

79th percentile among Animation85th percentile among 2010s
75% rated it 7–1025% rated it 1–6

Critics 71% · Audience 77%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 1 Oscar noms · 4 wins / 46 noms overall

  • NominatedAcademy Awards· Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
  • NominatedGolden Globes· Best Animated Feature Film

99th percentile

848K ratings across platforms

97th percentile among Animation99th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 36% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$135M
Opening weekend$44M
Domestic gross$187M
Worldwide gross$587M

Returned 4.4× its budget — 97th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

The Croods is a visually lively but story-wise conventional family adventure with a strong voice cast.

Fans praised

  • All-star voice cast brings warmth and humor to the roles
  • Inventive, colorful set-pieces and brisk pacing keep it engaging
  • Family dynamic and emotional core land well, especially the father-daughter arc

Detractors panned

  • Plot is formulaic and predictable, leaning on tired archetypes
  • Humor often falls flat, lacking the wit of the best animated films
  • Character development feels shallow, with one-note supporting roles

What stands out

Effects and spectacle80

3D and set-pieces described as inventive and spectacular

ActingDivisive72

Cast praised for bringing charm; Cage's performance singled out as standout

Atmosphere72

World-building engaging though sometimes generic

PacingDivisive65

Brisk, engaging but some found it rushed

Humor60

Slapstick-heavy but some gags miss

CharactersDivisive58

Archetypal but father-daughter dynamic resonates; some call them one-note

Plot and story45

Formulaic hero's journey noted as derivative

Originality40

Criticized as paint-by-numbers and borrowing heavily from genre tropes

Preferred by

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Over-30s

Over-30s scored it 10 points higher than under-30s.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 1 point apart
  • Critics vs users 1 point apart
  • US vs non-US 9 points apart

Watch experience

What is The Croods like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Feel-good: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something warm that leaves you smiling.

It is gentle, has a few laughs and leaves you entertained. Skip it when you want something with weight.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Very little.

What it feels like

Feel-good.

Moods
JoyfulHopefulThrilling
Heaviest: middle
Slapstick humor
Register
PlayfulWarmAdventurous · 11% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe Croods plays its prehistoric family adventure straight, with heartfelt family bonding and slapstick humour, never undercutting its emotional moments.
The rideThe film maintains a generally light and adventurous atmosphere with moments of mild peril, balancing comic relief with sentimental family beats.
StructureThe story is told chronologically from the cave destruction to the family's arrival in the new paradise.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Entertained.

The answer rests on this: FunHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayThe film's upbeat ending and family reconciliation leave the viewer entertained and optimistic about embracing change.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Quest
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1% (this title)
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Pilgrimage: The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.

10% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeThe Croods follows a prehistoric family forced from their cave, journeying with a resourceful stranger to find a new home, with the overprotective father learning to embrace change. The journey to 'Tomorrow' transforms the family, making it a quest with a pilgrimage-like arc.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% (this title) · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% (this title) · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsComing of age · 5% of filmsTradition vs change · 2% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on the Crood family's survival and unity, with a strong focus on a father protecting his family while a daughter's coming-of-age drives them to adapt and embrace change.
StanceThe film celebrates family bonds and the value of embracing change, focusing on Grug's journey from overprotection to openness.

The world

PrehistoricWildernessDomesticIn transitFantasy
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score · Alan Silvestri
Settinga prehistoric world with fantastical creatures, from a barren rocky cave to a lush forest and a final paradise valley

Content guide

Is The Croods okay for kids?

PG

The Croods is rated PG: “Rated PG for some scary action” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (28/100), sexual content at minimal (10/100), language at minimal (8/100), drug and alcohol content at minimal (3/100) and frightening material at mild (26/100). Overall it is heavier than 8% of PG-rated films.

Ratings in 32 other countries
  • UKU
  • CanadaG
  • AustraliaPG
  • Germany0
  • FranceU
  • IrelandG
  • JapanPG12
  • South KoreaALL
  • BrazilL
  • Austria6
  • Belgium12
  • BGА
  • CzechiaU
  • Denmark7
  • FinlandS
  • GreeceΚ
  • Hong KongI
  • Hungary6
  • ItalyT
  • MexicoAA
  • NetherlandsAL
  • Norway9
  • Poland12
  • PortugalM/6
  • ROAP
  • Russia0+
  • SK7
  • SpainAi
  • Sweden7
  • Taiwan普遍級
  • THท ทั่วไป
  • TürkiyeGenel İzleyici
Overall
Mild · all five categories
Heavier than 2% of all filmsHeavier than 8% of PG-rated films
Violence & Gore
Mild
typical for a PG-rated film
heavier than 31%
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
light for a PG-rated film
heavier than 14%
Profanity
None / Minimal
light for a PG-rated film
heavier than 12%
Alcohol & Drugs
None / Minimal
light for a PG-rated film
heavier than 4%
Frightening / Intense
Mild
light for a PG-rated film
heavier than 25%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is violence, heavier than 31% of PG-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does The Croods have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Croods?

Cast

3 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Nicolas Cage
as Grug
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Emma Stone
as Eep
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Ryan Reynolds
as Guy
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Catherine Keener
as Ugga
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Cloris Leachman
as Gran
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Clark Duke
as Thunk
Chris Sanders
as Belt
Oscar nominee: Academy Award nomination — Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Randy Thom
as Sandy
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like The Croods?

Movies like The Croods include The Croods: A New Age (2020), Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) and Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012). Of the 12 closest matches, several are films written by Chris Sanders, and most are films set in a fictional world.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

All 12 share its subject: family bonds. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with The Croods?

2.1K other films share the rarest tag below, up against: nature. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.