Planet 51
Metascore
39 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 21 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 21
  3. Negative: 4 out of 21
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  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Adam Markovitz
    75
    Delivers a few pleasant surprises, including a smart story -- a reverse-E.T. riff that plops an American astronaut down in a world of just-like-us-only-green creatures -- and clever characters.
  2. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    63
    Although not bowling me over, Planet 51 is a jolly and good-looking animated feature in glorious 2-D.
  3. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Kirk Honeycutt
    50
    A perky though not terribly imaginative feature aimed primarily at youngsters.
  4. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Rene Rodriguez
    50
    What's missing is originality and story and inventiveness.
  5. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Steven Rea
    50
    An uninspired computer-animated feature that may satisfy undiscriminating pipsqueaks and nearly no one else, Planet 51 is a low-IQ E.T. in reverse.
  6. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Amy Biancolli
    50
    The movie as a whole isn't exactly ground-breaking, and some of the humor tanks. But it has enough action, laughs and candy-hued visuals to satisfy the target audience without plunging grown-ups into despair.
  7. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
    Reviewed by: Rick Groen
    50
    Bursting with potential that never gets realized.
  8. St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Reviewed by: Joe Williams
    50
    This movie, which was made by an animation studio in Spain, isn't trying to make a social statement; it speaks in the international language of lightweight comedy.
  9. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Glenn Whipp
    50
    It's a missed opportunity. The premise is OK enough, even if it is like one of those old "Star Trek" episodes.
  10. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Tasha Robinson
    50
    Largely, it’s a jellybean of a movie: bright, colorful, sugary, and with no real content.
  11. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Joe Neumaier
    40
    Movie references abound, but there's not enough humor to fuel even 90 minutes.
  12. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Elias Savada
    40
    Perhaps Planet 51 should have added a dash of Pedro Almodovar, one of Spain's preeminent directors.
  13. Time Out New York
    Reviewed by: Nick Schager
    40
    Neither the film’s main players nor its random period spoofery has any personality.
  14. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Brian Miller
    40
    Like "E.T." in reverse, this pleasantly mediocre CG animation tale lands an astronaut on a distant planet.
  15. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Stephen Holden
    40
    Agreeable but flagrantly unoriginal.
  16. Variety
    Reviewed by: Todd McCarthy
    40
    There's nothing funny, provocative or involving about what "Shrek" co-writer Joe Stillman and the team from Madrid-based Ilion Animation Studios do with the notion here.
  17. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Cliff Doerksen
    40
    The script lacks wit, and the in-joke references to cinematic sci-fi classics will soar over little kids' heads without pleasing many adults.
  18. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Michael O'Sullivan
    38
    Planet 51 is cute, but it's no "Shrek."
  19. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    38
    Young children and adults with high pain thresholds will enjoy the movie during its brief pause on the way to your On Demand menu.
  20. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Kyle Smith
    25
    Yet the moral at the end is that we should all be more tolerant of different cultures. Is that really true, though, if the culture you're trying to tolerate is trying to open your skull with a circular saw?
  21. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    20
    While expertly executed animation-wise and passably entertaining for very young kids (less so, their parents), is still as dull as the hull on Rocketship X-M.

User Reviews

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User Score
5.2 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 108 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 37
  3. Negative: 10 out of 37
  1. JamesH
    2
    The worse animated film I've seen in quite a while. SO predictable! NOT funny. The movie could not hold the attention of most of the kids in the theater as they were noisy and fidgety. By comparison, when I saw Wall-e in the theater you could hear a pin drop. I'm giving it a 2 because the animation is descent and there is one funny line when the aliens see the human naked. Otherwise it's a ZERO. AVOID this bore-fest!… Full Review »
  2. BrandonBonasera
    6
    PLANET 51 is a nice, little kiddie film that has many great homages to famous sci-fi movies.
  3. MichaelC.
    9
    Its not the best animation movie of the year, but its really funny to see, with high quality 3D, simple argument (But simple isn't bad) with some memorable jokes. Ill be really proud if my first animation movie would be like that!! I recommend it.… Full Review »
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