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Tabby McTat

Tabby McTat

TV movie202325 minGMidcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
Directors
Sarah Scrimgeour, Jac Hamman
Starring
Jodie Whittaker, Rob Brydon, Sope Dirisu, Susan Wokoma

Busker Fred and his cat Tabby McTat entertain and delight passersby with music across London. One day, Fred falls, injures his leg, and is whisked away in an ambulance, leaving Tabby alone on the city's streets.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Tabby McTat?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove does not list Tabby McTat on any major US streaming service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Tabby McTat?

Tabby McTat earns 4 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Award Winner.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Tabby McTat worth watching?

Tabby McTat's Midcredits score is the 87th percentile of all films, from 2.9K ratings across 4 sources. 77% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

87th percentile

Better received than 87% of films

80th percentile among Animation87th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)83rd
Approval (how many liked it)87th

71 /100

83rd percentile of all films

75th percentile among Animation82nd percentile among 2020s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.4 — solid but not unanimous.

77% liked it

87th percentile of all films

82nd percentile among Animation87th percentile among 2020s
77% rated it 7–1023% rated it 1–6

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 2 wins / 6 noms overall

Reach

How many have seen it

66th percentile

2.9K ratings across platforms

41st percentile among Animation65th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 24% in 30 days

Box office

Worldwide gross$803K

27th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A gentle, slow-paced Christmas-themed children's film adapted from a Julia Donaldson book.

Fans praised

  • heartfelt story of loyalty and friendship
  • beautiful animation mimicking stop-motion
  • excellent voice cast and music

Detractors panned

  • boring and repetitive story
  • creepy cat singing and ugly animation
  • derivative and dull for adults

What stands out

Emotional impact70

heartwarming and tearful for fans

Ending70

satisfying reunion that tugs heartstrings

Plot and storyDivisive65

simple tale of separation and reunion

Sound and musicDivisive65

pleasant songs and narration, but critiqued as repetitive

CharactersDivisive50

loyal cat and sympathetic owner, but disliked by detractors

PacingDivisive45

slow-paced, refreshing to some but boring to others

DialogueDivisive45

rhyming narration, repetitive to some

OriginalityDivisive30

derivative of other Julia Donaldson adaptations

Watch experience

What is Tabby McTat 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, takes its time and leaves you feeling good. Skip it when you want things to move fast.

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

What it asks of you

Patience.

What it feels like

Feel-good.

Moods
WarmBittersweet
Heaviest: late
Warm humor
Register
WarmTender · 13% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film treats its emotional journey with warm sincerity, undercutting none of its gentle affection.
The rideThe film maintains a gentle warmth, with a bittersweet separation period before a hopeful reunion.
StructureThe story follows a linear, conventional arc from friendship through separation to reunion.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Feeling good.

The answer rests on this: Feel-goodHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayThe story leaves a warm, hopeful feeling about the power of loyalty and love.
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).QuestRescue
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% (this title) · 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%: 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. · Rescue: Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).

10% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeTabby searches for his lost owner Fred after they are separated, making the story a rescue quest.

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

Bonds

Friendship · 9% of filmsLoyalty · 4% of filmsFamily bonds
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores the enduring bond between a cat and his human, tested by separation and the pull of new attachments.
StanceThe film celebrates the loyalty and friendship between Tabby and Fred.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanRealistic
Orchestral modernFolkSupportive music · original score · René Aubry
SettingLondon streets, busker and cat
MusicThe score combines orchestral and folk elements to evoke the London street atmosphere.

Content guide

Is Tabby McTat okay for kids?

G

Tabby McTat is rated G.

Ratings in 5 other countries
  • UKU
  • AustraliaG
  • IrelandG
  • Hungary6
  • Switzerland0

No detailed content scores for this title yet.

What content warnings does Tabby McTat have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Tabby McTat?

Cast

Jodie Whittaker
as Narrator
Rob Brydon
as Fred
Sope Dirisu
as Tabby McTat
Susan Wokoma
as Sock
Joanna Scanlan
as Pat
Cariad Lloyd
as Prunella
David Holt
as Additional Voices
Lizzie Waterworth
as Additional Voices
Felix Tandon
as Ambulance Boy
Rory Finnegan
as Samuel Sprat

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Tabby McTat?

Movies like Tabby McTat include Ohh My Dog (2026) and A Street Cat Named Bob (2016), both stories about animal companions.

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

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Tabby McTat?

813 other films share the rarest tag below, relationship: animal companion. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.