Parents' Guide to

Playmobil: The Movie

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Bland and unoriginal but may still amuse young kids.

Movie PG 2019 99 minutes
Playmobil: The Movie Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 5+

Based on 11 parent reviews

TR7
TR7 Adult
September 1, 2020
age 5+

Wholesome movie

I feel like this movie gets a lot of hate just because it doesn't have sarcasm and adult humor in it, like many other so-called kids movies these days. This is a good movie. There are a few things I didn't like, the almost swears, "son of a..." and "Oh my..." and the colloseum death of a Playmobil character (it is not shown). But the songs are really good, it's a musical. The plot line is developed. The bad guy is easy to hate. The main and supporting characters are easy to like and cheer for and fun to watch. There is a lot of great humor and laughing moments for all ages, not just little kids. Yes, mom and dad die at the beginning of the movie (who we never get to meet by the way, the focus is entirely on brother and sisters relationship), but I felt it was a necessary part of the plot. What else would have changed the sister so dramatically? I wasn't expecting much from this movie, because of all the poor critic reviews, but found it to be quite delightful, showing that once again, if a movie is wholesome today's critics will often say it is no good or dated. Family movies that are wholesome and entertaining are very much appreciated in this household. Thank you to Playmobil and the makers of this movie!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
3 people found this helpful.
Lebron12James3
Lebron12James3 Parent
February 17, 2022
age 2+

So bad we blocked it.

This movie was so awful that we blocked it from our TV for good. No Garfield, no Curious George, no Shrek, no Vector, no Simba, and no WALL.E! Even Space Jam 2 is better than this trash.
1 person found this helpful.
See all 11 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In PLAYMOBIL: THE MOVIE, Brooklyn-raised high school senior Marla (Anya Taylor-Joy) loves playing with her 6-year-old brother, Charlie (Gabriel Bateman), but she can't wait to graduate and start traveling the world with her brand-new passport. Then life takes an unexpected turn when tragedy strikes. Four years later, Marla struggles to raise 10-year-old Charlie, who runs off to Manhattan to join a friend but gets sidetracked at a toy convention that features a huge Playmobil display. When Marla tracks her brother down there, they get magically transported into the animated Playmobil universe, where Marla looks basically the same but Charlie looks like a warrior with super strength. The siblings are drawn into a war between pirates, Vikings, and knights, and Charlie is kidnapped at the bequest of Maximus (voiced by Adam Lambert), a Roman-style emperor who hosts gladiator-style battles to the death featuring the strongest warriors of the universe. Now Marla must figure out a way to once again find and rescue her brother.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (11):
Kids say (22):

There aren't enough moments of delight, humor, or joy in this toy-based movie, which is likely to bore parents but may well appeal to young kids who enjoy Playmobil sets. After the success of the Lego movies, it's hard not to see Playmobil: The Movie as a completely derivative endeavor that falls far short. In a reverse of the original Lego Movie, this one begins with the live-action part and then transitions into the animated toy world. But this one isn't nearly as clever or funny, the music isn't as catchy, and the set pieces and characters are only vaguely familiar, unless you're an existing (or former) Playmobil fan.

All of that said, the talented voice cast saves this from being a completely wasted 90 minutes. While the songs are bland and forgettable, Lambert's Freddie Mercury-esque vocals as the villainous Maximus are fun. (Just don't expect to leave singing the new "it song" of the season.) The buddy road-trip subplot between Marla and Del is silly, though it lacks sparkling banter and chemistry. But it's still funnier than the parts with Charlie and his fellow imprisoned "gladiators." Disappointing but not unwatchable, Playmobil feels more like a C-grade copycat than an original idea.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Playmobil: The Movie capitalizes on familiarity with the toy brand. What toy-based movies have worked the best? Does seeing toys in a movie make you want to get them?

  • Why do you think lots of family-targeted movies feature orphans and dead parents? What is it about orphans that make them appealing as characters? Who are your favorite pop culture orphans?

  • Who do you consider a role model in the movie? How do they exhibit character strengths like perseverance and courage?

Movie Details

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