Rugrats (film series)
Animated comedy-adventure film series from Nickelodeon.
The *Rugrats* film series consists of three American animated comedies based on the Nickelodeon franchise created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain. The movies came out in 1998, 2000, and 2003. The first two films did well at the box office and earned mostly favorable reviews, but the third movie was a box office disappointment and received poor reviews.
In *The Rugrats Movie* (1998), Tommy Pickles struggles after his new brother Dil is born. The baby won’t stop crying and hogs their parents’ attention. Lil and Phil suggest returning Dil to the hospital, but Tommy and Chuckie disagree. The babies take the Reptar Wagon on a wild ride into the deep woods and get lost. They must find their way home while being chased by escaped circus monkeys. Meanwhile, Angelica sets out to find them after they accidentally take her Cynthia doll. Guest stars include David Spade as Ranger Frank, Whoopi Goldberg as Ranger Margret, and Tim Curry as Rex Pester.
*Rugrats in Paris: The Movie* (2000) follows Chuckie Finster as he searches for a new mother. Tommy’s father, Stu, is invited to Paris to rebuild a robotic Reptar for a stage musical. Angelica convinces Stu’s child-hating boss, Coco LaBouche, to marry Chuckie’s father, Chas, so she can become head of her company. Chuckie and the other Rugrats must stop the wedding. Guest stars are Susan Sarandon as Coco LaBouche, John Lithgow as Jean-Claude, and Mako Iwamatsu as Mr. Yamaguchi. This was Christine Cavanaugh’s final theatrical film role before she retired in 2003 and died in 2014. The film opens with a classical version of the *Rugrats* theme song.
*Rugrats Go Wild* (2003) is a crossover with *The Wild Thornberrys*. Stu and Didi Pickles take a vacation with their children Tommy and Dil, along with their friends. The boat Stu charters is unseaworthy, and the group ends up stranded on an uncharted Pacific island. The kids search for TV personality Sir Nigel Thornberry, who is also on the island with his family. Nigel’s daughter Eliza, who can talk to animals, meets the Pickles’ dog, Spike. The *Wild Thornberrys* cast reprises their roles. Guest stars include Bruce Willis as Spike, Chrissie Hynde as Siri the clouded leopard, and Ethan Phillips as Toa. This is the only film where Nancy Cartwright voices Chuckie Finster, after his original voice actress retired in 2001.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Igor Kovalyov (1) / Norton Virgien (1 & 3) / Stig Bergqvist (2) / Paul Demeyer (2) / John Eng (3)
- Producer
- Arlene Klasky (1-3) / Gábor Csupó (1-3)
- Screenplay
- David N. Weiss (1 & 2) / J. David Stem (1 & 2) / Jill Gorey (2) / Barbara Herndon (2) / Kate Boutilier (2 & 3)
- Based On
- Rugrats · Arlene Klasky / Gábor Csupó / Paul GermainRugrats characters created · Arlene Klasky · Gábor Csupó · Paul Germain
- Starring
- E.G. Daily / Christine Cavanaugh / Nancy Cartwright / Kath Soucie / Cheryl Chase / Tara Strong / Cree Summer / Dionne Quan / (Complete list)
- Music
- Mark Mothersbaugh
- Editing
- John Bryant (1-3) / Kimberly Rettberg (1 & 3)
- Studio
- Nickelodeon Movies / Klasky Csupo
- Distributor
- Paramount Pictures
- Released
- 20 November 1998 · 1 · 2000 · 11 · 17 · 2 · 2003 · 06 · 13 · 3
- Runtime
- 238 minutes
- Country
- United States
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Rugrats film series began with The Rugrats Movie in 1998, which follows Tommy Pickles dealing with the birth of his new brother Dil. The babies end up lost in the deep woods after a high-speed ride in the Reptar Wagon, pursued by escaped circus monkeys, while Angelica searches for them. Guest stars include David Spade, Whoopi Goldberg, and Tim Curry.
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie (2000) focuses on Chuckie Finster's search for a new mother. Stu Pickles is invited to Paris to rebuild a robotic Reptar, and Angelica's manipulation leads to a plot by Stu's boss Coco LaBouche to marry Chuckie's father. Guest stars include Susan Sarandon, John Lithgow, and Mako Iwamatsu. This was Christine Cavanaugh's final theatrical film role before her retirement in 2003 and death in 2014.
Rugrats Go Wild (2003) is a crossover with The Wild Thornberrys, where the families become stranded on an uncharted island. The film features Bruce Willis as the voice of Spike and was presented with scratch-and-sniff cards during its theatrical release. It was the least successful of the series both critically and commercially.
Reader's Guide
The Rugrats film series represents a key expansion of the Nickelodeon animated franchise into theatrical releases. The first two films achieved commercial success and generally positive reviews, establishing the brand's viability beyond television. The third film, a crossover with The Wild Thornberrys, was a commercial failure and received unfavorable reviews, marking the end of the original film series. The series is notable for featuring guest voice actors from film and music, including Whoopi Goldberg, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Bruce Willis. A live-action/CGI hybrid film was announced in 2018, with various delays and changes in directors and writers, and as of October 2024 production had resumed with Jason Moore directing. The series remains a reference point for Nickelodeon's animated film adaptations.
Did You Know?
- The first and second films were a commercial success and received generally positive reviews, while the third film was a commercial failure and received unfavorable reviews.
- Rugrats Go Wild was presented with scratch-and-sniff cards during its theatrical release, which were also included on the home video version.
More in Adventure film series 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced