Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- witty
- playful
- breezy
- family movie night
- children's weekend viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film to be a simplistic children's comedy whose CGI novelty cannot sustain its thin material.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Garfield interacts with human actors and real environments while existing as a CGI cat voiced by Bill Murray.
Garfield resents Jon's adoption of Odie and treats the dog as a competitor for affection and domestic authority.
The film emphasizes Garfield's laziness, food obsession, animal antics, and straightforward rescue humor for young viewers.
After Odie runs away and is dog-napped, Garfield leaves his comfortable routine to search for and rescue him.
Films like Garfield, and why
Stuart Little
shared live-action and computer-generated animal comedy, child-friendly slapstick, and pet-centered rivalry
Cats & Dogs
shared family comedy, talking animal characters, domestic pet chaos, and a rescue-oriented adventure
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
shared comic-strip adaptation, anthropomorphic animal humor, and broad family-friendly comedy
Movie Details
- Director
- Peter Hewitt
- Release Date
- 2004-06-10
- Runtime
- 80 min
- Rating
- 5.7 / 10 (4331)
Cast
- Bill Murray
- Breckin Meyer
- Jennifer Love Hewitt
- Stephen Tobolowsky
- Evan Arnold
- Mark Christopher Lawrence
- Jimmy Kimmel
- Debra Messing
- Nick Cannon
- Alan Cumming
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus
- 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 Garfield about?
- A self-satisfied house cat must overcome jealousy and venture beyond his lazy routine when his canine rival disappears.
- What is Garfield like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Garfield as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Garfield violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Garfield.
- What did critics think of Garfield?
- Critics broadly found the film to be a simplistic children's comedy whose CGI novelty cannot sustain its thin material.
- Which films are like Garfield?
- Films with a similar feel include Stuart Little, Cats & Dogs, and The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle.
- How long is Garfield?
- Garfield runs 80 minutes.
- Where can I watch Garfield?
- In United States, Garfield streams on Disney Plus.
