Rihanna's Smurfs animated film sets streaming release date, allegedly confirmed.
In the world of animated films, the latest incarnation of the beloved Smurfs franchise has made its way to the big screen. Released in 2025, the movie, directed by Chris Miller (known for his work on Shrek the 3rd and Puss in Boots), has been met with a generally unfavourable response from both audiences and critics.
The film, which revolves around a rescue mission involving Papa Smurf, magical books, and a quest that takes the Smurfs to the real world (Paris), has been criticized for its lifeless animation, generic choices, and confusing transition between Smurf Village and real-world scenes. The voice acting, particularly from stars like Rihanna and James Corden, was also criticized, with performances described as lacking authenticity or enthusiasm.
Many reviewers found the storyline to be thin, with musical numbers that were seen as disconnected and not really advancing the story, diminishing its effectiveness as a musical. The humor and jokes were also deemed weak, with some describing it as boring or unfunny, failing to engage both kids and adults. The overall impression was that this movie felt like a low-effort attempt to capitalize on the Smurfs brand, lacking heart, script depth, and memorable characters.
In contrast, the 2021 Smurfs TV series, while not a movie, has received more mixed but generally moderate reviews. It has been praised for its great animation and faster pacing, but criticized for changes in tone and humor, with some disliking the use of gross-out humor, which was absent in earlier versions. However, it was praised for regaining some of the original comics' spirit.
Smurfs, the movie, has been rated PG and is expected to debut on digital streaming via premium video on demand on Tuesday, Aug. 12. It will be available for purchase for $24.99, or for a 48-hour rental period for $19.99. The film has earned $29.6 million domestically and $61.1 million internationally, with a production budget of $58 million before prints and advertising costs, according to The Numbers.
The film features the voices of Rihanna, John Goodman, Nick Offerman, JP Karliak, James Corden, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña, Marshmello, and Kurt Russell.
While the 2025 Smurfs movie may not have been the smurfest tool in the shed, as the Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus puts it, it will still be available for audiences to decide for themselves when it arrives on various digital platforms, including Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Prime Video, and YouTube.
Rihanna's voice acting in the Smurfs 2025 movie has been criticized for lacking authenticity, contrasting with John Goodman's work in various movies and TV shows. Despite the unfavourable response, the Smurfs movie will be streaming for purchase on digital platforms like Netflix, starting August 12.
