‘The Cat in the Hat’ Reviews Are In, and Warner Bros. Animation’s Big Swing Isn’t Landing
Few characters in children’s literature carry as much mischief as the striped-hat-wearing troublemaker created by Dr. Seuss. That is why ‘The Cat in the Hat’ arriving as a fully animated feature felt like such a major moment for Warner Bros. Pictures Animation. The studio had plenty riding on it, and the pressure showed long before the film reached theaters.
The road to the screen was far from smooth. The project was first dated for March 6, then shifted to February 27, before Warner Bros. finally settled on a November 6 release. It is also the first feature born from the studio’s partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, arriving more than 2 decades after the 2003 live-action version starring Mike Myers, which sits at 10% on Rotten Tomatoes and nudged the Seuss estate toward animation.
Now the first wave of critic reactions has landed, and the numbers are rough. The animated adaptation debuted with a Metascore of 47 on Metacritic, which falls under “Mixed or Average” and is based on 11 critic reviews. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, it is holding at just 45%, with 11 out of 24 reviews positive.
That places it among the worst-received animated movies of the decade. It has also fueled talk that this could be Warner Bros.’ 9th bomb in a row, a brutal label for a project meant to steady the studio.
THE CAT IN THE HAT is panned by critics and debuts with 47 on Metacritic, holding just 45% on Rotten Tomatoes (11 out of 24). It’s one of the worst received animated movies this decade and Warner Bros 9th bomb in a row. https://t.co/7xKPrNG6uZ
— Global Box Office (@GlobalBoxOffice) November 4, 2026
The reviews are split rather than uniformly brutal. Deadline called the film a delightful and long-overdue animated debut, praising a Cat with a hip edge and cultural observations that adults may enjoy even more than their kids. MovieWeb found surprising heart beneath the madness but felt too many fart jokes got in the way. Hader himself draws some of the warmest notices, with an easy playfulness that helps sell the idea that the trouble is worth getting into.
The harsher notices go after the movie’s identity. The Hollywood Reporter said it captures the antic silliness of Dr. Seuss without the charm, and described it as more of a sequel than a true adaptation, with the Cat working as a beleaguered employee of the Institution of Imagination and Inspiration. Frantic pacing and juvenile gags come up again and again across the reviews.
The sharpest takedown came from a critic who argued the film waters down the anarchy that defined the book. As TheWrap put it in its review, the production isn’t incompetent, but it’s “only competent at regurgitating a brand.” Few lines sting more for a property built on unpredictability.
In this version, the Cat is handed a tough assignment: cheer up siblings Gabby and Sebastian as they settle into a new town. As an agent of chaos with a reputation for crossing lines, he has to prove himself or lose his magical hat for good.
Hader voices the Cat alongside Matt Berry as the family fish, Waffles. Quinta Brunson, Xochitl Gomez, Tiago Martinez, Giancarlo Esposito and America Ferrera round out the voice cast. Alessandro Carloni and Erica Rivinoja directed, with DNEG Animation serving as the animation partner.
New trailer for ‘The Cat In The Hat’, in theaters on November 6th. The trailer features Hilary Duff’s new song “CATastrophe.” https://t.co/Vk0fmjOf9y
— Cartoon History (@Cartoonhistory2) October 4, 2026
The timing could hardly be more delicate. Warner Bros. has endured a punishing year, with ‘The Bride!’, ‘Supergirl’, ‘The End of Oak Street’ and ‘Digger’ all counted among its disappointments. According to Variety, the studio’s share of the box office dropped from 21% last year to just 6% this year.
Before the reviews arrived, tracking looked promising. Boxoffice Pro initially projected a $40 million to $50 million opening before trimming it to $35 million to $45 million, while Box Office Theory pegged it at $25 million to $35 million. With an estimated budget of $70 million to $90 million, the film also faces off against ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ for the top spot, though it has the family lane to itself until ‘Hexed’ arrives at Thanksgiving.
Early first reactions had been warm, with social posts calling the movie funny and heartfelt, which makes the critical turn all the more striking. Still, the 2003 film opened to $38.3 million despite brutal reviews and went on to earn $134 million worldwide on a $109 million budget. Families, not critics, may ultimately decide how this story ends.
Will the negative reviews hurt The Cat in the Hat at the box office?
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