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Animated comedy

Ferdinand (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Ferdinand (2017) movie poster

Ferdinand is a 2017 animated comedy directed by Carlos Saldanha, starring John Cena as Ferdinand, Colin H. Murphy and Bobby Cannavale. It is partly based on The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson. It runs 1 hour 48 minutes and earned $296.1 million worldwide on a $111 million budget. It was nominated for 1 Oscar. Critics gave it 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and 58 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10. Stream it on HBO Max, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
70%
worldwide gross
$296.1M
award nominations
3
Ferdinand (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 48m (108 min)
Director
Carlos Saldanha
Original language
English
Budget
$111M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Ferdinand About?

The premise of Ferdinand without spoilers, adapted from The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A spirited animated film follows Ferdinand, a bull who prefers smelling flowers to fighting. When he escapes from a training camp meant to prepare bulls for fighting, he finds himself on an unexpected adventure. He joins forces with a group of unlikely animal friends, including a clever goat and some prickly hedgehogs, as they try to evade his former captors. Ferdinand must then confront the formidable El Primero and discover the strength in being gentle.

Ferdinand Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • bull
  • bullfighting
  • farm
  • flowers
  • village
  • pasture
  • countryside
  • nonviolence
  • goat
  • hedgehog
  • pacifist
  • escape
+38 more
  • kindness
  • courage
  • rescue
  • horse
  • death of parent
  • bully
  • calf
  • dog
  • flower festival
  • car chase
  • train
  • rabbit
  • chase
  • father daughter relationship
  • talking animal
  • champion
  • cow
  • udder
  • spain
  • spanish
  • gentle giant
  • camp
  • competition
  • fighter
  • fight
  • pacifism
  • brawl
  • muscle
  • fear
  • threat
  • arena
  • ring
  • legend
  • legendary
  • death
  • killing
  • sand
  • academy
Where to watch

Where to Watch Ferdinand

Stream it on HBO Max, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Ferdinand Cast & Characters

John Cena leads the cast as Ferdinand, with Colin H. Murphy as Young Ferdinand and Bobby Cannavale as Valiente's Father, Valiente. Directed by Carlos Saldanha; 20 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Ferdinand Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Ferdinand 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and 58 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 68/100, strongest in art & craft (75) and weakest in story & flow (55).

68 /100

Ferdinand Echo Score Breakdown

Ferdinand delivers an amiable animated experience that excels in its visual presentation and voice performances while remaining fairly conventional in its narrative. Critics and viewers alike praise its colorful animation and John Cena’s engaging vocal work. At the same time, many note the story’s predictability and occasional filler scenes that limit emotional impact. The film ultimately offers a pleasant family outing, though its narrative familiarity constrains its lasting distinction.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of art and craft, Ferdinand’s animation and direction stand out for their vibrant color palette and smooth character movements. Several critics highlighted the film’s stylistic nods to the original illustrations and its polished visual design. While some observers found it lacking in unique visual flair, the overall production design and editing maintain an appealing and cohesive aesthetic throughout.

  • Character & Emotion 72

    When it comes to character and emotion, the voice cast provides a reliably engaging performance, with John Cena frequently cited for his warm and expressive delivery. Most reviewers appreciated the likable lead and supporting ensemble, though some felt deeper emotional resonance was overshadowed by lighthearted comic relief. On balance, the film achieves solid character appeal despite occasional superficiality in development.

  • Story & Flow 55

    Regarding story and flow, Ferdinand follows a conventional arc that many deemed predictable from outset to conclusion. Viewers acknowledged a heartfelt third act and relevant thematic moments about authenticity, but critics frequently described early sections as filler and noted adherence to a safe template. The pacing is generally steady, yet the film’s lack of originality and narrative surprises results in a middling engagement level.

  • Sensory Experience 68

    In sensory experience terms, Ferdinand delivers richly colored animation and detailed backgrounds that create an immersive Spanish setting. Sound design and effects are competently executed, although the musical score and soundtrack were often described as serviceable rather than memorable. Overall, the film offers a pleasing audiovisual package, with striking visuals somewhat overshadowing its unremarkable musical accompaniment.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    As a rewatch factor, Ferdinand offers agreeable family entertainment that may appeal to younger audiences seeking comfort viewing. The film’s themes of gentleness and self-acceptance provide positive messages, yet its predictable plot and moderate emotional stakes limit repeat engagement for older viewers. While it may be revisited for its animation quality and voice work, its narrative familiarity reduces lasting replay value.

Plot

Ferdinand Plot Summary

What happens in Ferdinand from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

This animated feature, inspired by a beloved children’s book, begins its story in Spain, where it unfolds at the Casa Del Toro, a bull-training ranch. Here, three young calves eagerly anticipate which older bull will be chosen to face a matador. Among them is the gentle Ferdinand, voiced by Colin H. Murphy, who tends to a delicate rose he has planted in the pasture. He endures mockery from his peers, particularly from Valiente (voiced by Jack Gore), alongside his companions Guapo (portrayed by Jet Jurgensmeyer) and Bones (voiced by Nile Diaz).

Full summary

The whole story of Ferdinand, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Ferdinand Box Office & Budget

Ferdinand grossed $296.1 million worldwide on a $111 million budget, 2.7 times what it cost. $84.4 million came from the US and Canada and $211.7 million (71%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$296.1M

2.7× its budget

US & Canada
$84.4M
International
$211.7M
Budget
$111M
US & Canada 29% Rest of the world 71%
Awards

Ferdinand Awards & Nominations

Ferdinand was nominated for 1 Oscar. The 3 nominations come from 2 ceremonies, the most at the Golden Globes 2018.

3 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

Ferdinand Trailers & Videos

8 videos: 2 trailers, 2 teasers and 4 clips.

All 8 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer Trailer
  • Teaser Teaser Trailer
  • Teaser Straight from the Horse's Mouth: Ferdinand
  • Clip Filthy Hedgehogs
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Ferdinand?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the name of the ranch where Ferdinand grows up?

Cars

Cars in Ferdinand

5 cars on screen, including the 2012 Land-Rover LR4 and the Made For Movie Cartoon mongrel.

All 5 cars
  • 2012 Land-Rover LR4 in Ferdinand 2012 Land-Rover LR4 Important role
  • Made For Movie Cartoon mongrel in Ferdinand Made For Movie Cartoon mongrel Minor role
  • Marcopolo Torino GV in Ferdinand Marcopolo Torino GV Minor role
  • Pegaso 1063 A in Ferdinand Pegaso 1063 A Minor role
Details

Ferdinand Also Known As

26 alternative titles, including “The Story of Ferdinand” and “Olé: El viaje de Ferdinand”.

Also known as
  • The Story of Ferdinand
  • Olé: El viaje de Ferdinand
  • ΦΕΡΔΙΝΑΝΔΟΣ
  • フェルディナンド
  • Ferdinand - Geht STIERisch ab!
  • Ferdinánd
  • O Touro Ferdinando
  • Φερδινάνδος
  • Бикът Фердинанд
  • Фердинанд
  • פרדיננד
  • فردیناند
+14 more
  • 萌牛費迪南
  • Ferdinands
  • 公牛历险记
  • 페르디난드
  • Fernando
  • Ferdinando
  • Tjuren Ferdinand
  • Olé, el viaje de Ferdinand
  • Bulius Ferdinandas
  • Ferdinand Phiêu Lưu Ký
  • 快D啦牛牛
  • เฟอร์ดินานด์
  • فيرديناند
  • Bikec Ferdinand, ფერდინანდი

Seen Ferdinand?

FAQ

Ferdinand FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and the book behind it of Ferdinand, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Ferdinand?

Ferdinand runs 1 hour 48 minutes (108 minutes).

When was Ferdinand released?

Ferdinand was released on December 15, 2017.

Who directed Ferdinand?

Ferdinand was directed by Carlos Saldanha.

More films by Carlos Saldanha

Who is in the cast of Ferdinand?

Ferdinand stars John Cena as Ferdinand, Colin H. Murphy as Young Ferdinand and Bobby Cannavale as Valiente's Father, Valiente, among 20 credited actors.

Where can I watch Ferdinand?

In the US, Ferdinand is streaming on HBO Max and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Ferdinand make at the box office?

Ferdinand grossed $296.1 million worldwide ($84.4 million domestic, $211.7 million international) on a budget of $111 million.

How is Ferdinand rated?

Ferdinand has 6.7/10 on IMDb, 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, 58 on Metacritic and 72% on TMDB.

Is Ferdinand based on a book?

Yes. Ferdinand is partly adapted from The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson.

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