Pixar Is Back: New Movie Nabs Best Rotten Tomatoes Score Since 2017

Pixar has a new original on deck, and early reactions make it sound like the studio swung big and landed it. The film is called 'Hoppers' and critics are pretty into its energy, its weirder swings, and yes, its love of beavers. The Rotten Tomatoes score is already flirting with the top of the chart, which puts this one squarely on the must-watch list.

So what are people saying?

The consensus so far: lively, inventive, emotionally grounded, and more adventurous than you might expect from a crowd-pleasing Pixar release. A few folks wish the character motivations hit harder, but the voice cast — led by Curda and Moynihan — is getting real love, especially when the movie leans into its oddball personality. Multiple reviews flag a darker edge that creeps in as it goes, which, frankly, sounds like a welcome swing.

• 'Hoppers' is getting called both strange and heartfelt, with praise for gorgeous animation and a finale that goes unexpectedly dark.
• There is some push-pull over the story: a handful of critics think certain emotional beats feel pushed, even as the movie finds a sharper, funnier tone than expected.
• The nature theme is a throughline — and beavers are a whole thing here — which gives the movie a sweet, specific focus.
• One dissent argues the film does not dig as deeply as it promises into its heavier ideas about persuasion versus violence under pressure.

'The result is a wacky, heartfelt, surprisingly dark adventure that reminds you why Pixar can make almost any premise work.'

'Don’t call it a comeback — but this is really strong stuff from Pixar: funny, thoughtful, sweet, making for a heartfelt paean to nature, and beavers in particular. Dam good.'

'It falls well short of providing any satisfying exploration of its weighty theme of persuasion versus violence in the face of oppression.'

On the more glowing end, you also see takes like 'Pixar at its best' — warmth, humor, zippy action, endearing characters, and a big-tent sense of community — while others admire the refreshingly darker humor alongside all the nature love.

That eye-popping Rotten Tomatoes number

'Hoppers' currently sits at a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes from 69 reviews. That plants it right next to the studio’s heavy hitters that share the same score — think 'Coco' (2017) and 'The Incredibles.' The audience score is still pending, but more than 100 verified users have already weighed in on the Popcornmeter.

For the stat fans: it is tagged under Kids & Family, Comedy, Adventure, and Animation, runs 1 hour and 45 minutes, and opens in theaters March 6, 2026.

Bottom line

Early buzz points to a playful, slightly twisted nature romp with standout voice work and a late-breaking dark streak — the kind of swing that gets people talking. If the wider audience vibes with it the way critics are, Pixar might have its most universally adored original since the late-2010s highs.