Epic
Epic Image
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Metascore
52

Mixed or average reviews - based on 30 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 96 Ratings

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  • Starring: , , ,
  • Summary: Epic tells the story of an ongoing battle between the forces of good, who keep the natural world alive, and the forces of evil, who wish to destroy it. When a teenage girl finds herself magically transported into this secret universe, she teams up with an elite band of warriors and a crew of comical, larger-than-life figures, to save their world...and ours.… Expand
  • Director: Chris Wedge
  • Genre(s): Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Animation, Family
  • Rating: PG
  • Runtime: 102 min
  • More Details and Credits »

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 30
  3. Negative: 4 out of 30
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Stephan Lee
    May 23, 2013
    83
    Epic isn't quite destined for the “Again, again!” re-watchability of some of the Pixar classics, but for a satisfying explosion of color on a lazy summer day, it does the trick.
  2. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Michael Rechtshaffen
    May 22, 2013
    70
    While it might not amount to epic animated filmmaking in terms of scope and invention, Epic, a 3D, CG adventure-fantasy from Blue Sky Studios, nevertheless makes for pleasantly engaging viewing.
  3. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Claudia Puig
    May 23, 2013
    63
    The film's clever use of emerald-colored hummingbirds as transportation is a highlight.
  4. Total Film
    Reviewed by: Josh Winning
    May 21, 2013
    60
    By no means an epic fail, but lacking the spry wit of more adult-friendly animations, this is big on action and small on originality. Gorgeous visuals aside, Epic is resolutely kiddie fare.
  5. RogerEbert.com
    Reviewed by: Matt Zoller Seitz
    Jun 6, 2013
    50
    The ratio of humor and action and parent-child bonding is so formulaic, and the character design and molded-figurine-like animation so typical of the genre in the age of Pixar (and Pixar imitators), that Epic evaporates from the mind within minutes of leaving the theater.
  6. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Betsy Sharkey
    May 23, 2013
    50
    When the movie should touch the heart, it just misses. When moments should produce gales of laughter, it struggles for a smile. When panic and fear should set the heart racing, it doesn't.
  7. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Joe Neumaier
    May 23, 2013
    20
    Even young would-be botanists will find this charmless animated adventure as exciting as watching grass grow.

See all 30 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 38
  3. Negative: 5 out of 38
  1. Thegodfatherson
    May 25, 2013
    10
    It's cool, it's funny and its sleek. Epic is epic. So. Epic is a children's movie that takes place in a abnormal kingdom- Hidden Kingdom where everyone is afraid of The King except the forces who fight against him. A little girl shrinks accidentally by a potion that her dad made- Honey I Shrunk The Kids there!- who studies forest life. The girl digs deeper and helps the kingdom's peoples. To speaking the truth, this is the best cgi animation so far in 2013. The story is colorful, dark and tense with very very fun. Voice Actors include a huge cast of A list actors and B list ones too. In the end, Epic is funny, smart and innovative. You should not miss this creative movie. It's just not a kids movie. It's a kids movie alright but it does it job well.… Expand
  2. csveiman
    Jun 2, 2013
    8
    Where hollywood goes this film has more meaning and story in it that the vast majority of films produced by big studios.

    The story indeed h    as some stumps on it, but overall its beautifull though it leaves you wanting more.

    Epic will remind many out there of Brian Froud who designed creatures for amazing films such as The Dark Christal" and labyrinth" and although he had no part in this film, the creature designs, the colorful majestic scenery will keep even adults enthralled throughout the film.

    As I watched I kept wondering how this film would have been in ol' 2d and what my imagination conjured was magic itself.    … Expand
  3. hoops2448
    Sep 3, 2013
    7
    Blue Sky Studios, an animation company most known for the Ice Age series has created in Epic a film of astounding beauty with a story that feels both original and fun despite the fact it is based on a novel by William Joyce. When the queen of the forest (Beyonce Knowles) transfers her powers to a pod about to bloom, lead leafman and sworn protector of it Ronin (Colin Farrell) is tasked with protecting it with M.K (Amanda Seyfried), a human who has been shrunk to help the people of the forest defend the pod against Mandrake (Christoph Waltz, the leader of a group of creatures intent on destroying everything living. Epic is unexpected, exciting and clever and when the script isn't spewing out cliched dialogue about grief and loss, its actually quite funny with a story worth following. Unlike the rest of this years animation crop, Epic is a different animal, a light hearted adventure story just like the rest but displayed in a way that makes it original, especially in terms of the animation which helps establish this hard to believe yet wonderful world. Director Chris Wedge, the director of the original Ice Age has yet again created a world worth revisiting as it is ripe with potential. Filled with an impressive voice cast, Epic is just pure fun for kids and adults as it messes with the viewers sense of scale to create an adventure like none other.… Expand
  4. Iky009
    May 24, 2013
    6
    Spectacular quality. Hidden Kingdom is very busy and super colorful and very funny. Also more action and battle scenes are very well done. Now I know why the movie is called Epic.… Expand
  5. Andrew_Paterson
    Sep 22, 2013
    5
    I vacillated between giving an epic a 5 or a 6 and whilst I realise this is metacritic most people knee jerk to 0 or 10 I've finally come down on the side of 5.

    It's pretty but empty; horribly stereotyped with (some) poor voice acting. There is a lot to say about it's generic a cliched story and characters but. But...

    At this point of typing I've realised I just don't care enough finish this. And yes, I really do appreciate the irony in this 'review'.    … Expand
  6. Forrestgump1
    Jun 4, 2013
    4
    "Epic dares to be original, unique and well creative, but its not. It offers very little to most adults while only "truly" entertaining the children. Its Blue Sky animations worst movie to date and on the low end of the animation spectrum, I expected more" C… Expand
  7. Leaftorn
    May 27, 2013
    3
    I was truly torn by this movie. On one hand it was stunningly beautiful and the animation flowed at the high standard I have put for Blue Sky Studios. On the other hand I loathed the main characters. I honestly feel as if the movie would have been so much better if the Lead male role was either replaced by the secondary male role or just didn't appear. The movie asked me to like a character that was shallow, vain and disassociated from the main conflict, and still wanted me to like him at the end where his "emotional change and growth" really wasn't big enough to warrant any change in how I perceived him. All in All this is a very good looking film but that doesn't make up for the massive deficiency in character development.… Expand

See all 38 User Reviews

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