Common Sense Media Review
By Betsy Bozdech
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Positive messages, but colorful adventure is mostly "meh."
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Emoji Movie
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 95 parent reviews
Parents say the film offers a colorful and humorous take on digital life, catering primarily to children with its themes of self-acceptance and individuality, though critiques mention a lack of originality, overwhelming consumerism, and poor character development. While some kids delight in its silliness, many adults find it disappointing, labeling it as tedious and shallow with excessive product placement.
- colorful visuals
- humor for kids
- lack of originality
- excessive consumerism
- mixed adult reception
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 417 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is overwhelmingly disliked due to its poor plot, generic characters, and excessive product placement, making it feel more like a long advertisement than a story. While some viewers find it entertaining for young children, many argue it delivers inappropriate messaging and lacks substance, creating a polarized reception among audiences.
- poor plot
- annoying characters
- excessive advertising
- mixed audience reception
- inappropriate messaging
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
THE EMOJI MOVIE invites viewers into the world of Textopolis, a colorful city inside the phone of a teenager named Alex (voiced by Jake T. Austin). Populated entirely by emojis, Textopolis is a town in which everyone has a single role/expression, and their job is to perform that role flawlessly when Alex needs to send a text. Chaos ensues when eager young "meh" face Gene (T.J. Miller) freaks out on his first day at work and exhibits many different expressions, leading Alex to think something might be wrong with his phone. Head emoji Smiler (Maya Rudolph) is determined to keep Textopolis perfect -- and protected -- so she labels Gene a malfunction. His only hope is to track down a hacker by the name of Jailbreak (Anna Faris) to see whether he can be reprogrammed to correctly fulfill his "meh" destiny. So with the help of new friend Hi-5 (James Corden), Gene leaves Textopolis and ventures into the other apps on Alex's phone. But does Gene really need to be "fixed"?
Is It Any Good?
It's pretty risky to center a movie around the concept of "meh," which basically means "unimpressive," if you're not going to knock it out of the park -- and this one unfortunately doesn't. The Emoji Movie isn't bad, but it isn't great, either. It's "meh." Kids will definitely enjoy the colorful characters, easy-to-follow story, and potty humor ("we're number two!" the poop emoji and his son exclaim). Young viewers are also sure to catch the movie's positive messages about teamwork, friendship, and being yourself. Plus, the voice cast is pretty good. Rudolph is gleefully manic as Smiler, and there are some standouts in the supporting cast. No one is better at doing a "meh" voice than Steven Wright (as Gene's dad, Mel Meh), and Jennifer Coolidge matches him as Mel's monotone wife, Mary. And did we mention that the aforementioned poop emoji is voiced by none other than Sir Patrick Stewart?
But most audience members old enough to actually own phones will probably realize that much of The Emoji Movie's plot is predictable (it feels like a mashup of Inside Out and Wreck-It Ralph, with a dash of The Wizard of Oz) and its humor only so-so. Don't be alarmed if your mind wanders and you start asking yourself questions like: "How many kids have even heard of Dropbox?" and "Why do Gene and his parents get 'people' names, while Smiler and Hi-5 just have emoji names?" and "Would a real teenager really call someone to make a tech appointment at the phone store?" If you need something else to think about, try to figure out how you'd describe the movie's plot using just emojis. Just don't pull out your phone in the theater!
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Emoji Movie's themes and messages. What does it mean when characters say, "What good is it to be number one if there aren't any other numbers"? How do the characters learn the value of teamwork?
How does the movie portray texting and phone use among teens? Does it seem realistic? Kids: Did seeing the movie make you want to get a phone? What are your family's rules about devices?
At one point, a character says of someone that "none of these people know him, but they 'like' him -- and that's what matters in this life, popularity." Do you think it's true that, in the age of social media, people want fans more than friends?
Which parts of the movie were scary to you? How much scary stuff can young kids handle?
Kids: Do you like communicating using emojis? Why or why not? Do you know what they all mean?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 28, 2017
- On DVD or streaming : October 24, 2017
- Cast : T.J. Miller , James Corden , Patrick Stewart
- Director : Anthony Leondis
- Studio : Sony Pictures Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Friendship
- Character Strengths : Teamwork
- Run time : 86 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : rude humor
- Last updated : November 6, 2025
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