Soul

Name: Soul
Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Comedy, Music
Released: December 25, 2020
Duration: 100 min
Rating: 83
Cast: Ahmir-Khalib Thompson, Aiyanna Miorin, Alice Braga, Angela Bassett, Azriel Dalman

2020

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 55 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 728 Ratings

See All

8.2

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8.2	Your Score
8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 728 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Soul

Now Playing: Soul

Movie Details & Credits

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | Release Date (Streaming): December 25, 2020 | PG

Starring: Ahmir-Khalib Thompson, Aiyanna Miorin, Alice Braga, Angela Bassett, Azriel Dalman, Daveed Diggs, Donnell Rawlings, Graham Norton, Jamie Foxx, Jason Pace, John Ratzenberger, June Squibb, Phylicia Rashad, Rachel House, Richard Ayoade, Sam Lavagnino, Tina Fey

Movie Facts:

Named best animated film of 2020 at the 93rd Annual Academy Awards.

Summary: Joe Gardner is a middle-school band teacher who gets the chance of a lifetime to play at the best jazz club in town. But one small misstep takes him from the streets of New York City to The Great Before – a fantastical place where new souls get their personalities, quirks and interests before they go to Earth. Determined to return to hisJoe Gardner is a middle-school band teacher who gets the chance of a lifetime to play at the best jazz club in town. But one small misstep takes him from the streets of New York City to The Great Before – a fantastical place where new souls get their personalities, quirks and interests before they go to Earth. Determined to return to his life, Joe teams up with a precocious soul, 22, who has never understood the appeal of the human experience. As Joe desperately tries to show 22 what’s great about living, he may just discover the answers to some of life’s most important questions.… Expand

Director: Kemp Powers and Pete Docter

Genre(s): Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Comedy, Music, Animation, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 100 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

The Telegraph Robbie Collin

Dec 29, 2020

Great animation can communicate wildly complex ideas with head-spinning clarity and wit, as Docter capably proved with Inside Out – a film which staged the interplay of emotions in an 11-year-old’s head like a vintage sitcom. If anything, Soul pushes this capacity for revelation even further: there are moments of true Blakean mystery and wonder here, expressed with a crispness that feels like a lightbulb snapping on above your head. Read full review

100

Kevin Harley

Oct 12, 2020

Moving ever-onward from the sequels years, Pixar gets right back in the zone with Soul. Deep, witty, and fast on its jazz-loving feet, it doesn’t miss a beat. Read full review

The Film Stage David Katz

Oct 12, 2020

Soul likes jazz very much. That’s a rare certainty in this ambitious film, which attempts to contemplate nothing less than the root of all human experience on this planet. Read full review

Karen Gordon

Dec 23, 2020

If you’ve seen enough of the studio’s movies, even something this full of imagination suffers from some predictability. There is a period in Soul, where, in spite of the lovely creativity and goofy story-telling, it lags and feels a bit listless, before bouncing back. Read full review

Kimberley Jones

Dec 24, 2020

The title, with its built-in weightiness ... well, it’s a tall order, one this latest Pixar animated feature falls just short of. The dominant mood here is not so much soulful as spirited, which is still better than most – and a most welcome gift. Read full review

A.A. Dowd

Nov 25, 2020

It’s overflowing, like a bright portal into a new reality, with gorgeous details. So what if they don’t quite add up to a deeper whole? Read full review

Empire Alex Godfrey

Oct 11, 2020

While not quite offering the emotional gut-punch it promises, its many ideas never completely cohering, Soul is nevertheless a gorgeous and tender existential trip. It’s full of surprises. Read full review

SEE ALL 55 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

maaden_swe

Dec 25, 2020

Amazing movie, I laughed , I cried, I got inspired. Make sure you have no distractions around you when you watch, turn the music up and let in to the story. WOW

18 of 24 users found this helpful186

feena

Mar 10, 2021

Loved it! You know the writers really did put their Heart and SOUL into making this film. Great character development you will really care for the protagonist and even the lost soul in the end. The conflict of the story is very original as well. I cant imagine how the same studio who madeLoved it! You know the writers really did put their Heart and SOUL into making this film. Great character development you will really care for the protagonist and even the lost soul in the end. The conflict of the story is very original as well. I cant imagine how the same studio who made SOUL, is also the same studio which made RAYA. Seriously Disney, you need to let go of all the people who wrote that movie. Before they cost your studio and tarnish your brand further.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Anonymous1233

Dec 26, 2020

I know a lot of people had their doubts when first seeing the promotional material and trailers for this Movie. From what I've seen, people have thought that the "Soul" part of the movie would just be there to cater to younger audiences. However, after watching the film, I think people willI know a lot of people had their doubts when first seeing the promotional material and trailers for this Movie. From what I've seen, people have thought that the "Soul" part of the movie would just be there to cater to younger audiences. However, after watching the film, I think people will realize that that's not the case. The way the soul world is intertwined with the real world can be a bit confusing at times, but is executed beautifully overall. This film is probably the most mature-themed Pixar movie I've seen. The visuals are absolutely stunning, and the storytelling is executed very well. This is probably one of the few movies that has hit close to home with me, and I can see it doing the same with others. I love to see that Pixar is constantly innovating and finding new ways to speak to the audience personally. I understand if some might not like the theme because of it's complicated nature, and it's more mature target audience, and that's okay. While there are a few shortcomings that I can't quite put my finger on currently, I think this movie has one of the most powerful messages, and definitely had an impact on me.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Soixist

Dec 30, 2020

Masterpiece.Masterpiece. Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.Masterpiece.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Rockyki

Dec 25, 2020

Buena película, es bueno ver como pixart trata de conectar o aflorar sentimientos en sus films, de princio a fin crea un ambiente entretenido y sentimental.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

theredsky

Jan 1, 2021

A pleasant surprise considering the original trailer for this film made it look like Inside Out 2. This is a huge step up in quality from Pixar’s previous film Onward from last year. For reference, I gave Onward a 5/10. Soul has probably the most gorgeous animation in a Pixar film and I knowA pleasant surprise considering the original trailer for this film made it look like Inside Out 2. This is a huge step up in quality from Pixar’s previous film Onward from last year. For reference, I gave Onward a 5/10. Soul has probably the most gorgeous animation in a Pixar film and I know saying that good animation in a Pixar film is like saying water is wet but I really wanted to highlight it here because it’s incredibly gorgeous. The way Pete Docter and the animators incorporate different colors and shots for both the spirit world and New York is beyond amazing. Some might be glad to know that this film doesn’t feel like Inside Out 2 like most were predicting. They only spend maybe 1/4 or 1/3 of the movie in the spirit world and I really enjoyed a lot of the metaphysical jokes they made and the art style of it. It distinguished itself from Inside Out by doing this. The story and themes here are captivating. We learn through Jamie Foxx’s character Joe that we need to slow down and not devout ourselves to only one idea or else we will get stuck in that pit never get out. There is also a lot about our purpose and what we should do with our life which is represented through Tina Fey’s character 22. It’s surprising at how mature these themes are even for a film that is geared towards a younger audience. I have to talk about the music too because it’s great. Scratch that, it’s incredible. It’s almost all jazz music and it fits the themes and tones of the film perfectly. You couldn’t ask for a better score than this. My issues with the film are with its ending and one performance; Graham Norton. I think Norton is a fine talk show host but it was distracting whenever he was on screen here. They probably should have cast somebody else because his performance was average at best compared to the great performances from Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey. The ending of this film is a little bit abrupt and a tad underwhelming. We get this absolutely incredible Jazz section with Joe reflecting on life before it takes us to a more normal ending and I kinda wish the film had been resolved in a better way. I still think the ending is good but it could have been better. If you enjoy Pixar movies or just animated movies in general then I would highly recommend this.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

derekjaypost

Jan 11, 2021

Movie is riddled with plot holes. I was really excited to see it, but was extremely let down.

4 of 12 users found this helpful48

SEE ALL 224 REVIEWS