Arthur Christmas
Metascore
69 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 32
  3. Negative: 1 out of 32
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  1. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: Peter Rainer
    Dec 3, 2011
    91
    The action is swift and witty, and the 3-D effects are imaginative and not simply tacked on as with so many animated movies these days.
  2. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Michael Rechtshaffen
    Nov 10, 2011
    90
    Leave it to the folks who brought us "Wallace & Gromit," "Chicken Run" and "Flushed Away" to bring a delightful blast of fresh air to the conventional Christmas genre. Aardman's Arthur Christmas is that and more - an endlessly amusing 3D, CG-animated Yuletide romp with lively innovation at every turn and a dream voice cast headed by James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie and Bill Nighy.
  3. Movieline
    Reviewed by: Michelle Orange
    Nov 22, 2011
    85
    Arthur Christmas is a Grinch-style story of rekindled Christmas spirit told from inside Santa's compound at the North Pole.
  4. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Keith Staskiewicz
    Nov 22, 2011
    83
    The resulting adventure, like most of Aardman's work (Chicken Run, Flushed Away), is more clever than outright funny, but it's also genuinely sweet, and the complicated relations among Santa's clan are surprisingly believable.
  5. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Nathan Rabin
    Nov 22, 2011
    83
    Arthur Christmas gets a little sappy toward the end - it is a Christmas movie, after all - but it otherwise strikes just the right combination of naughty and nice, reverent and irrelevant, holiday-sweet and Aardman dry.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.4 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 70 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. TVJerry
    5
    The Aardman animators (best know for Wallace & Gromit) usually infuse their films with deadpan whimsy and eccentric personalities. This is an exception. The story takes place on Christmas night when Santa and his team have one last present to deliver. Leave it to the eponymous black-sheep son to come into his own and save the day. While the pacing is frantic and almost every frame is full of activity, the characters aren't especially unique and the writing isn't particularly clever. I really wanted to like it, but found it flat and lacking personality.… Full Review »
  2. tallmanwriting
    9
    This movie just entered our family's Christmas rotation. Really fun movie that has something for everyone in the family. If you're looking for a lighthearted break from the holiday stress, get lost in this hilarious tale of Arthur, a child-at-heart dreamer who wants every child to experience the magic of Christmas. Well done. One of the few movies I'll actually buy when it's released on DVD. Merry Christmas!… Full Review »
  3. man
    5
    Really wanted to see the Muppets this weekend,but got dragged into this sloppy movie instead.This movie really is quite a mess.First off,the 3D was impressive,but the movie itself contained hardly any funny dialogue,a crazy,all-over-the-place plot,and the fact that everyone thought Arthur and Santa's sleigh was an alien invasion(whatever!)Really didn't expect much from this and met no expectations of mine.Also,haters beware!The worst singer in existence(you can probably guess who)sings an unbearable three-minute music video of "Santa Clause is Coming to Town"before the movie starts! I'd also like to point out that this movie seemed WAY longer than an hour-and-a-half!Probably cause I got bored with it half of the film.Summing up,not very funny,crooked plot,and a horrible singer!Had good intensions,but was mostly boring overall.Want to waste a long hour-and-a-half with your kids?See this.… Full Review »
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