Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Warm, funny animation has themes of death, toilet humor.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
10 Lives
What's the Story?
In 10 LIVES, after his most recent family move away and leave him all alone, British cat Beckett (Mo Gilligan) finally finds his perfect "forever" home with kindly scientist Rose (Simone Ashley). But when Rose's ex-boyfriend Larry (Dylan Llewellyn) comes back on the scene to help with her latest research into bee preservation, Beckett gets jealous and tries to get rid of the problem, accidentally losing his ninth life in the process. He is offered one final chance to change and make amends, with nine brand new lives to do so. But what he doesn't realize is that in each life, he'll come back as a different creature. Can he reconnect with his beloved Rose if she doesn't recognize him? And can he figure out what's going on with her dastardly professor and his enforcers before they put Rose and her life's work at risk?
Is It Any Good?
Christopher Jenkins has worked on some big studio hits over the years, as effects animator on the likes of Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. But this latest British animated outing, 10 Lives, shows great promise for his directing career, in what's just the second time he's taken to the hot seat. Here he brings together all the important elements of an animated family hit: bright, lively visuals; a fun central character in search of redemption; a villain who's as ridiculous as he is malevolent; plenty of action and comedy; and those all-important tearjerker moments. The homegrown voice cast do a great job of bringing the characters to life, with Bill Nighy and Zayn Malik as the two biggest names, but Ashley and Llewellyn, alongside Sophie Okonedo, also impress in making their roles their own. The evergreen British countryside proves a charming setting, and there's an eco-friendly message in there that may buzz over younger kids' heads but be familiar and relatable to adults and nature-loving children. Overall, it's a fun premise that's executed well and kept to a manageable less-than-90-minute runtime, making it a near-purrfect family film.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what lessons Beckett learned in 10 Lives. How did his behavior change over the course of the film?
Which characters demonstrated perseverance and compassion? Why are these important character strengths? Can you think of times in your own life when you've shown either of these?
How did the movie compare to other animated films with animals as the central characters? What's similar and different about the animals' personalities? What makes a good animal character?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 20, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : December 10, 2024
- Cast : Mo Gilligan , Simone Ashley , Sophie Okonedo , Bill Nighy
- Director : Christopher Jenkins
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Sky Cinema
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Animals , STEM
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Perseverance
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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