A Bug's Life
Metascore
77 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
view
per page
  1. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Peter Stack
    100
    One of the great movies -- a triumph of storytelling and character development, and a whole new ballgame for computer animation. Pixar Animation Studios has raised the genre to an astonishing new level.
  2. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Janelle Brown
    100
    It's impossible not to be utterly blown away by Pixar's animation.
  3. Dallas Observer
    Reviewed by: Michael Sragow
    100
    Lasseter and Stanton and the rest of the animators and gagsmiths use the computer with staggering imaginative freedom.
  4. Newsweek
    Reviewed by: Jeff Giles
    100
    All-embracing--funny and silly and tender, full of fun scares and endless sight gags.
  5. Time
    Reviewed by: Richard Corliss
    100
    At the end, the movie tops itself with comic outtakes, undoubtedly the funniest finale of any cartoon feature. “Antz” may have amused viewers with its sidewise wit, but as a comprehensive vision of computerized moviemaking, Pixar's dream works. And when A Bug's Life hits its stride, it's antastic.
  6. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Ron Wells
    90
    This is a family film. There's a great deal of wackiness.
  7. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Nathan Rabin
    90
    Smashing family entertainment: The whole thing is quick-witted, fast-paced, and loaded with clever sight gags and colorful, engaging supporting characters.
  8. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Amy Taubin
    90
    There are big crowd scenes, intimate close-ups, and lots of bug’s-eye point-of-view shots. Call me gullible: I believed every second of it.
  9. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    90
    What A Bug's Life demonstrates is that when it comes to bugs, the most fun ones to hang out with hang exclusively with the gang at Pixar.
  10. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Elvis Mitchell
    90
    Makes jaunty, imaginative use of both extraordinary technology and bold storytelling possibilities within the insect world.
  11. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Lisa Alspector
    90
    Full of adventure, spectacle, light romance, and the kind of suspense that doesn't require an unpredictable outcome to make your spine tingle.
  12. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    88
    The story, about an ant colony that frees itself from slavery to grasshoppers, is similar in some ways to the autumn's other big animated release, "Antz," but it's aimed at a broader audience and lacks the in-jokes.
  13. ReelViews
    Reviewed by: James Berardinelli
    88
    A Bug's Life, like “Toy Story,” develops protagonists we can root for, and places them in the midst of a fast-moving, energetic adventure.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 121 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 30
  3. Negative: 2 out of 30
  1. grandpajoe6191
    8
    "A Bug's Life" is a well-animated movie that rounds up to a good morale; screw the dictators. I personally enjoyed one of Pixar's early masterpieces.
  2. gm101
    10
    Excellent movie by Pixar that introduced many children to Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai," in an animated, yet brilliant way. Amazing cast of voice actors as well!… Full Review »
  3. Joe
    10
    Let's see. The folks who rated this movie low can't even spell "decent" or "disappoint" correctly. A great film with great animation, voice acting, and some really funny moments.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »