The Cat in the Hat

Name: The Cat in the Hat
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Released: November 21, 2003
Duration: 82 min
Rating: 19
Cast: Dakota Fanning, Mike Myers, Spencer Breslin

2003

METASCORE

Overwhelming dislike based on 37 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 211 Ratings

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3.9

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3.9	Your Score
3.9	User Score Generally unfavorable reviews based on 211 Ratings

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The Cat In The Hat

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: November 21, 2003 | PG

Starring: Dakota Fanning, Mike Myers, Spencer Breslin

Summary: Mike Myers stars in the title role of Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat, a film adaptation of the beloved literary classic. (Universal Pictures)

Director: Bo Welch

Genre(s): Adventure, Comedy, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 82 min

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Critic Reviews

Stephen Hunter

So good it breaks your heart for not being better. It is kept from brilliance by a soggy climax and a clumsy central narrative device. Read full review

Claudia Puig

Long on visual dazzle but short on warmth, and the humor is excessively raunchy for a family film. Read full review

Kevin Carr

Left me feeling empty inside. There’s no warmth and character from the original Dr. Seuss book, and there’s no substance or soul in the story elements. Read full review

Michael Sragow

Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat is gorged with shtick and gadgetry. When it comes to highlighting everything better left in the dark, it makes even the Matrix sequels look like works of genius. Read full review

Connie Ogle

Charmless and grating and immediately forgettable. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Maitland McDonagh

Frenetic and cheerless action aside, the film's real problem is the Cat, who looks most unmagically like a second-string college sports mascot and conducts himself like a risque baggy-pants comedian. Read full review

Megan Lehmann

The narrative itself, attributed to three former "Seinfeld" writers who also worked on "The Grinch," reeks of desperation. Read full review

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User Reviews

ianriker

Oct 26, 2011

People gave this movie 0. You know what I say to that? Get a life you criticizing critic bozos! It was funny for kids and adults and until I read these reviews I thought people had brains. If you can't watch this movie without groaning you are a perfectly normal person with great taste. ThePeople gave this movie 0. You know what I say to that? Get a life you criticizing critic bozos! It was funny for kids and adults and until I read these reviews I thought people had brains. If you can't watch this movie without groaning you are a perfectly normal person with great taste. The cat was realistically made and was funny as well. Made the Grinch look more terrible than it really is. Great movie, and if you don't think so, go soak your head.… Expand

6 of 22 users found this helpful616

Mabo69

Mar 17, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This film was so sublime that I watched it 17 times in a row. I must also add how absolutely amazed I was by the hat!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

gm101

Feb 26, 2012

I'm probably going to be cursed for giving this movie a good review, but honestly, I don't care. It's my opinion. My childhood was never full of Dr. Suess-related stuff. Sure I have fond memories of reading "Green Eggs and Ham" and "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish," but I didn't feelI'm probably going to be cursed for giving this movie a good review, but honestly, I don't care. It's my opinion. My childhood was never full of Dr. Suess-related stuff. Sure I have fond memories of reading "Green Eggs and Ham" and "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish," but I didn't feel like my childhood was getting stabbed in the movie. Sure, some of the material in the movie shouldn't be shown to kids, but I'm an adult, so I'm fine. And honestly, in 2003, I was more offended by Ang Lee's Hulk movie then this.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

JakeH

Jul 24, 2008

this movie was full of mature themes and it wa creepy! If they want to make a film wwith a talking cat, use animation!

2 of 4 users found this helpful

gzayas91

Jul 31, 2018

Awful, just plain awful. This is most disrespectful to Seuss's classic book. It's a good thing that Audrey Geisel decided to stop Universal making live-action Seuss movies.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

NinjaMafia

Dec 30, 2003

This film is utterly disgusting. I was actually thinking that, hey, the movie critics could be wrong about this movie, they were on Equilibrium. Then I heard actual people talking about how crappy this movie was. I was pretty convinced after a week since it was out that it sucked, horribly. This film is utterly disgusting. I was actually thinking that, hey, the movie critics could be wrong about this movie, they were on Equilibrium. Then I heard actual people talking about how crappy this movie was. I was pretty convinced after a week since it was out that it sucked, horribly. So what possessed me to see this film? Okay, I have this theatre in my town. 1.99 for one ticket. I was extremely bored one day so I decided to go to that theatre to see a movie. I had already seen everything they were playing except for the Cat in the Hat. I decide, hell why not, it might be good, besides, its only 2 dollars. I feel extremely ripped off, that's how bad this movie is. Okay, if you don't know the cat in the hat's plot I suggest you go get a life or maybe end it. The cat in the hat is a story everyone knows. The thing is is that they screwed up such a basic story that it leads me to wonder if they actually read the book. The jokes in this movie were just horrible. Okay, I did laugh a few times, kind of. The thing is is that the jokes were crude and unfitting of this movie. If you want a family film everyone can enjoy, try to put humor in their that is non offensve and funny at the same time, I can think of a few ways you could do that. Mike Meyers plays a horrible cat. He kept on sonding like Doctor Evil or Austin Powers. Maybne that is just how I interpret him. The classic Dr. Suess rhyming was kept at such a minimum that it lead me to beleive who ever wrote the script is in need of an imagination. This movie should have aimed for young children, instead, they decided they should aim it at every age group and then fail horribly. The Cat in the Hat is one of the worst book to movie adaption ever, and also one of the worst movioes of the year (beat only by Gigli, From Justin to Kelly, and Malibus Most Wanted).… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful

FreedomFighters

Oct 31, 2016

What happens when you give a guy with no directing experience the opportunity to direct a film based on a Dr. Seuss book? You get "The Cat in the Hat," one of the worst films of all time. Poorly-acted, poorly-written, completely inappropriate for it's intended audience, indescribablyWhat happens when you give a guy with no directing experience the opportunity to direct a film based on a Dr. Seuss book? You get "The Cat in the Hat," one of the worst films of all time. Poorly-acted, poorly-written, completely inappropriate for it's intended audience, indescribably annoying, and filled with awful, annoying characters, "The Cat in the Hat" becomes unlikeable from the jump. As soon as I saw the Cat on the poster...well, I jumped because he looked kinda creepy, but I also knew that I was in for a bad time. If I can say ONE good thing about this abomination, it's that it's relatively short, but this definitely feels much longer than the 82 minutes it claims to be. This film is an absolute travesty, and no one deserves to put themselves through this. Please, don't watch this. I BEG of you, DO NOT watch this film UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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10	#10 Most Discussed Movie of 2003
17	#17 Most Shared Movie of 2003