Film

Peter Rabbit

Name: Peter Rabbit
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family
Released: 2018
Cast: James Corden, Rose Byrne, Domhnall Gleeson, Margot Robbie, Elizabeth Debicki

Slapstick
Light-hearted

A cheerful animated romp where Peter Rabbit and Mr. McGregor's ancient feud takes a romantic turn when a kind woman moves in between them. It's brightly coloured, fast-paced, and aimed squarely at kids who like their animals cheeky and their conflicts consequence-free. Families after something warm and silly without the slightest edge.

TMDb rating

3.4

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you enjoy slapstick animation with a sly, self-aware streak, where the gags land on hungry rabbits and grumpy gardeners and the whole thing bounces along like a cheerful chase.

Skip it if you want your family films gentle and sweet, since this one leans into bickering, pratfalls and a lot of mischief-making that some grown-ups will find a bit frantic.

What it asks of you: Ninety-three minutes of brisk, busy comedy with no quiet stretches, so it asks you to keep up with the noise and let the energy carry you along.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Zootopia2016

A smartly written animal adventure that works on multiple levels: genuinely funny for adults, visually stunning, and driven by real character arcs rather than just gags. The buddy-cop dynamic is genuinely delightful.

But It's an animated film about city bureaucracy, which sounds dry on paper. Some will find the social commentary heavy-handed, and the pacing slows in the middle.

Hop2011

A live-action/animation hybrid with a similar tone—mischievous bunny, human love interest, soft-focus moral messages. It's unashamed about being silly, and the Easter Bunny mythology gives it genuine charm.

But The humour leans heavily on slapstick and bodily functions. The human lead (James Marsden) does his best but feels slightly miscast, and it drags in stretches.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted2012

Chaotic, colourful, and bursting with energy. The voice cast is clearly having fun, the circus setting is visually inventive, and it never stops moving long enough for you to question the plot.

But The humour is relentless and broad—occasionally juvenile. If you prefer subtlety or character development over constant gags, this will exhaust you.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted poster

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Peter Rabbit

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Watership Down1978

Both are rabbit-centric family narratives, but Watership Down shows what happens when you approach the same animals with gravity instead of sentimentality. It's the dark mirror—same creatures, entirely different film.

An animated film about rabbits that takes itself entirely seriously—a genuine epic with gorgeous, painterly animation and a story about survival, courage, and freedom. It's visually singular and genuinely moving in ways that disarm you.

But It's dark. There is genuine peril, real death, and a moral weight that feels at odds with watching cute animals. Made in 1978, the animation is static in places. It's not for children looking for Peter Rabbit's cheeky adventures.

The Secret Life of Pets2016

A neat premise (what do your pets do when you're out?) executed with Illumination's trademark bright animation and vocal talent. It's genuinely warm about the human-pet bond beneath the chaos.

But The plot is thin and predictable. It's more interested in cute moments and set pieces than in genuine surprises, and some jokes land harder with kids than adults.

Sing2016

A musical jukebox film with real heart. The ensemble cast gets solid character moments, the animation is polished, and it has something genuinely moving to say about second chances and self-belief.

But The story beats are familiar. The songs, while catchy, sometimes overwhelm character moments, and the tonal whiplash between comedy and earnestness can feel uneven.

Raya and the Last Dragon2021

Visually lush and confidently told, with a genuinely interesting friendship arc at its core. The animation is stunning, the world-building is specific, and it takes its adventure seriously without losing humour.

But The plot twists are telegraphed well in advance. Some voice performances feel slightly phoned in, and the pacing stumbles in the second act as it juggles too many plot threads.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs2009

Absurdist and joyful, with genuinely clever visual gags that work for all ages. The animation is expressive and inventive, and it commits fully to its ridiculous premise without apology.

But The plot is utterly slight. It's a concept stretched to feature length, and there's minimal character development—you're watching for spectacle and silliness, not story.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs poster

Shaun the Sheep Movie2015

Stop-motion craftsmanship at its finest, wordless but somehow completely clear. It's genuinely clever, visually stunning, and works beautifully for families who appreciate skill and wit over noise.

But Being wordless means some jokes land only on repeat viewing. The pacing is gentle, which some will find contemplative and others boring. It's not high-energy entertainment.

Charlotte's Web2006

A faithful, tender adaptation of a beloved book. The animation is soft and appealing, the voice acting is genuine, and it captures the story's balance of childhood wonder and mortality with unusual grace.

But It's slower and quieter than modern animated fare. Some will find it dated-looking, and the deeper sadness in the story may not land with very young children used to louder films.

The Tale of Despereaux2008

Both centre on small animals causing chaos in the domestic world, but where Peter Rabbit is anarchic mischief, Despereaux is about redemption and the power of choosing kindness. One is a lark; the other is a fable.

A storybook film with a genuine narrative architecture and real emotional stakes. It's beautifully animated, the voice work is understated and warm, and it treats its mouse protagonist with the seriousness of a proper fable.

But It's slower and more contemplative than you might expect from a family film. The animation style is dated now, and some will find the fairy-tale earnestness cloying rather than charming.

Mary and Max2009

Both explore the comedy and complications of cross-species (or in this case, cross-generation) friendship, but Mary and Max earns its warmth through genuine pain and strangeness, whereas Peter Rabbit offers it freely and without cost.

Stop-motion animation that's blackly comic and absolutely heartbreaking—an unlikely friendship between an Australian girl and a New York man with autism. It's weird, touching, and completely original in tone and appearance.

But It's monochrome and deliberately unsettling to look at. The humour is dark and the sadness is real—this is not a children's film despite the animation. It's slow and demands patience. You will cry.