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Chicken Little

Chicken Little

The end is near.

200581 minGMidcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
Director
Mark Dindal
Starring
Zach Braff, Garry Marshall, Don Knotts, Amy Sedaris

When the sky really is falling and sanity has flown the coop, who will rise to save the day? Together with his hysterical band of misfit friends, Chicken Little must hatch a plan to save the planet from alien invasion and prove that the world's biggest hero is a little chicken.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Chicken Little?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Chicken Little streaming on Disney+ and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Chicken Little?

Chicken Little earns 4 badges, led by Cultural touchstone and Award Winner.

  • Reception
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Chicken Little worth watching?

Chicken Little's Midcredits score is the 32nd percentile of all films, from 678K ratings across 6 sources. 34% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

32nd percentile

Better received than 32% of films

17th percentile among Animation31st percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)36th
Approval (how many liked it)29th

58 /100

36th percentile of all films

20th percentile among Animation36th percentile among 2000s

Critics 48 · Audience 58

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 5.9 — solid but not unanimous.

34% liked it

29th percentile of all films

16th percentile among Animation26th percentile among 2000s
34% rated it 7–1066% rated it 1–6

Critics 36% · Audience 47%

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

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 4 wins / 15 noms overall

99th percentile

678K ratings across platforms

97th percentile among Animation98th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 3% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$150M
Opening weekend$40M
Domestic gross$135M
Worldwide gross$314M

Returned 2.1× its budget — 93rd percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A lightweight, kid-oriented animated comedy with a simple underdog story and broad humor, though it lacks the depth and originality of Pixar's output.

Fans praised

  • funny, feel-good underdog story
  • humor works for kids without annoying adults
  • sweet characters and charming voice cast

Detractors panned

  • weak, derivative story leaning on pop-culture references
  • unfunny jokes and annoying character voices
  • rushed pacing and thin plot with little depth

What stands out

Acting60

voice cast charming; Braff's voice off-putting to some

Effects and spectacle60

action-packed set pieces; visually fluid animation

CharactersDivisive45

likable but shallow characterizations; simplistic designs

HumorDivisive45

great sight gags and puns for kids; jokes not amusing overall

Emotional impactDivisive45

sweet underdog story; sappy and melodramatic to detractors

Pacing40

77-minute runtime; some drag but fun scenes hold it together

Plot and story30

predictable, arbitrarily plotted; misses potential

Originality20

derivative and reliant on referencing other films

Preferred by

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

  • Women vs men even
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 4 points apart
  • Critics vs users 7 points apart
  • US vs non-US 7 points apart

Watch experience

What is Chicken Little like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Fun ride: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want a fun ride.

It is gentle and funny and leaves you hopeful. 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

Fun ride.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TriumphantWarmJoyfulHopeful
Heaviest: middle
Warm humor
Register
WarmSentimental · 8% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film treats its underdog story and father-son reconciliation with sincere warmth, never undercutting the emotional moments.
The rideThe film likely balances light comedy with a mid-story tension spike during the alien invasion, resolving in a triumphant final act.
StructureThe film follows a classic three-act structure: the acorn incident, the baseball triumph, and the alien invasion and resolution.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Hopeful.

The answer rests on this: HopefulFeel-good
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you feeling that perseverance and family love win out, with a cheerful resolution to the alien mix-up.
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).Rebirth
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%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • 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% (this title): Redemption 3% (this title) · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Rebirth: A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed. · Redemption: Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).

13% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeChicken Little seeks redemption for his false alarm by winning a baseball game and then saving the town from a misunderstood alien invasion, restoring his reputation and his father's pride.

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 filmsSelfSelf-worth
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% (this title) · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% (this title) · 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% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Self

Self-worth · 7% of filmsFamily bondsPurpose · 9% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeChicken Little's journey is about regaining his self-worth after public humiliation, while also exploring the need for familial support and finding a heroic purpose.
StanceThe film celebrates self-worth and the courage to overcome past failure, presenting them as virtues worth affirming.

The world

ContemporarySuburbanDomesticInstitutionalStylized realism
Orchestral classicalPopSupportive music · original score · John Debney
SettingA small American town populated by anthropomorphic animals.
MusicDebney's score likely blends playful orchestral themes with upbeat pop elements typical of 2000s family animation.

Content guide

Is Chicken Little okay for kids?

G

Chicken Little is rated G. As of September 28, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (33/100), sexual content at mild (20/100), language at mild (19/100), drug and alcohol content at minimal (13/100) and frightening material at moderate (37/100). Overall it is heavier than 44% of G-rated films.

Ratings in 21 other countries
  • UKU
  • CanadaG
  • AustraliaPG
  • Germany0
  • FranceU
  • IrelandG
  • JapanPG12
  • South KoreaALL
  • BrazilL
  • AustriaAA
  • Czechia15+
  • DenmarkA
  • Hong KongI
  • HungaryKN
  • MexicoAA
  • Netherlands6
  • ROAP
  • SpainAi
  • SwedenBtl
  • Switzerland12
  • THG
Overall
Mild · all five categories
Heavier than 8% of all filmsHeavier than 44% of G-rated films
Violence & Gore
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a G-rated film
heavier than 49%
Sex & Nudity
Mild
typical for a G-rated film
heavier than 60%
Profanity
Mild
typical for a G-rated film
heavier than 65%
Alcohol & Drugs
None / Minimal
typical for a G-rated film
heavier than 30%
Frightening / Intense
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a G-rated film
heavier than 50%

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

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is frightening material, heavier than 50% of G-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 Chicken Little have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Chicken Little?

Cast

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

Zach Braff
as Chicken Little
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Garry Marshall
as Buck Cluck
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.
Don Knotts
as Mayor Turkey Lurkey
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Amy Sedaris
as Foxy Loxy
Steve Zahn
as Runt of the Litter
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Joan Cusack
as Abby Mallard
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Patrick Stewart
as Mr. Woolensworth
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.
Fred Willard
as Melvin - Alien Dad
Catherine O'Hara
as Tina - Alien Mom
Wallace Shawn
as Principal Fetchit
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Chicken Little?

Movies like Chicken Little include The Garfield Movie (2024), PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie (2023) and Stuart Little (1999). Of the 12 closest matches, most are family adventures, and several are stories about aliens.

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

5 of these 12 share its subject: self-worth. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Chicken Little?

257 other films share the rarest tag below, premise: first contact. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.