Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- breezy
- silly
- warm
- family movie night
- lazy afternoon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film blandly inoffensive and predictable, while acknowledging its appeal as lightweight family entertainment.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Popper's growing household of penguins disrupts his apartment, work, family celebrations, and professional plans.
Tom's neglect of his children is challenged when the penguins bring him into sustained contact with them.
Tom's father's penguin gift unexpectedly reorganizes his domestic life and priorities.
The penguins' physical presence and behavior drive the film's visual gags across domestic, workplace, restaurant, and zoo environments.
Films like Mr. Popper's Penguins, and why
Hotel for Dogs
Shares family comedy, animal-centered chaos, and a workaholic parent learning emotional responsibility.
Dr. Dolittle
Shares live-action family comedy, mischievous animals, and a child-friendly story about repairing family relationships.
Liar Liar
Shares broad physical humor, warm family themes, and an adult protagonist whose priorities are transformed by children and animals.
Movie Details
- Director
- Mark Waters
- Release Date
- 2011-06-17
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (3248)
Cast
- Jim Carrey
- Carla Gugino
- Angela Lansbury
- Ophelia Lovibond
- Madeline Carroll
- Clark Gregg
- Jeffrey Tambor
- David Krumholtz
- Philip Baker Hall
- Maxwell Perry Cotton
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Mr. Popper's Penguins about?
- A career-obsessed Manhattan businessman discovers that six unruly penguins may be the unlikely key to reconnecting with his children.
- What is Mr. Popper's Penguins like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Mr. Popper's Penguins as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Mr. Popper's Penguins violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Mr. Popper's Penguins.
- What did critics think of Mr. Popper's Penguins?
- Critics broadly found the film blandly inoffensive and predictable, while acknowledging its appeal as lightweight family entertainment.
- Which films are like Mr. Popper's Penguins?
- Films with a similar feel include Hotel for Dogs, Dr. Dolittle, and Liar Liar.
- How long is Mr. Popper's Penguins?
- Mr. Popper's Penguins runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch Mr. Popper's Penguins?
- In United States, Mr. Popper's Penguins is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
