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What's After the Movie?
Animated musical

Leo (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Leo (2023) movie poster

Leo is a 2023 animated musical directed by Robert Marianetti and David Wachtenheim, starring Adam Sandler as Leo, Jason Alexander and Rob Schneider. It runs 1 hour 42 minutes and earned $7 million worldwide. It earned 1 award nomination, including Feature Animation at the Artios Awards 2024. Critics gave it 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and 65 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.2/10.

IMDb rating
7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes
84%
worldwide gross
$7M
award nomination
1
Leo (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 42m (102 min)
Original language
English
Studio
Netflix
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Leo About?

The premise of Leo without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A grumpy 74-year-old lizard named Leo experiences an existential crisis when he realizes he’s going to die. Breaking free from his terrarium, he ventures outside and unexpectedly becomes involved in the lives of a class of elementary school students. He finds himself preoccupied with their anxieties and impossible dreams, offering guidance and ultimately learning valuable lessons about life, connection, and embracing change along the way.

Leo Themes & Keywords

· 41 tags
  • action hero
  • one word title
  • intermission
  • violence
  • extreme violence
  • graphic violence
  • bloodshed
  • fight
  • gory violence
  • husband wife kiss
  • one person army action
  • husband wife relationship
+29 more
  • hyena
  • emotional breakdown
  • opening action scene
  • murder
  • disarming someone
  • fistfight
  • one man army
  • one against many
  • robbery
  • brawl
  • hand to hand combat
  • martial arts
  • knife
  • knife fight
  • shootout
  • gunfight
  • showdown
  • pistol
  • police shootout
  • flashback
  • telling a story
  • kiss
  • limb ripped off
  • fingers cut off
  • gangster crime
  • epic action
  • lokiverse
  • character name in title
  • plot twist
Cast & crew

Leo Cast & Characters

Adam Sandler leads the cast as Leo, with Jason Alexander as Jayda's Dad and Rob Schneider as Principal. Directed by Robert Marianetti and David Wachtenheim; 20 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Leo Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Leo 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and 65 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 70/100, strongest in character & emotion (75) and weakest in story & flow (60).

70 /100

Leo Echo Score Breakdown

Leo delivers a congenial animated experience that balances gentle humor with moments of genuine warmth. The film’s bright visual palette and playful musical sequences offer visual appeal, while the voice performances anchor its emotional core. However, an episodic structure and occasional narrative detours can dilute momentum as it seeks both whimsy and sincerity. Overall, Leo presents an agreeable family adventure whose amiable tone outweighs its uneven pacing and familiar aesthetic.

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

  • Art & Craft 70

    In terms of art and craft, Leo showcases a vibrant color palette and fluid musical sequences that highlight its production design and editing. The direction emphasizes warm hues and dynamic slapstick moments, providing visual charm. Nevertheless, moments of factory-style backgrounds and generic animation frames occasionally break its immersive quality. As a result, the film’s visual approach remains appealing but lacks consistent distinction.

  • Character & Emotion 75

    When it comes to character and emotion, Leo benefits from strong voice work and a sincere emotional core. The titular lizard’s relationships and heartfelt exchanges provide genuine warmth and occasional insight into themes of individuality and guidance. Some character interactions feel underexplored, and shifts in tone can blur the intended emotional focus. Despite this, the performances maintain a steady emotional resonance that supports the film’s affable spirit.

  • Story & Flow 60

    With regard to story and flow, Leo offers a series of episodic vignettes that combine slapstick gags with earnest life lessons. Its pacing delivers varied energy, moving from comedic set-pieces to reflective moments, though the narrative sometimes meanders and struggles to fully engage the intended audience. Transition points can feel abrupt, and tonal shifts may dilute coherence. Overall, the storyline remains engaging enough for family viewing despite its uneven structure.

  • Sensory Experience 72

    In terms of sensory experience, Leo employs a lively soundtrack and carefully timed sound design to complement its animated sequences. Musical numbers integrate raucous and melodic elements, reinforcing character traits while maintaining narrative momentum. The bright visual style offers engaging compositions, although the occasional generic background work can disrupt immersion. Overall, the film presents a pleasing sensory mix that enhances its playful and warm atmosphere.

  • Rewatch Factor 65

    Regarding rewatch factor, Leo’s blend of humor and heartfelt moments encourages repeated viewings for its comforting tone. The bright animation and musical interludes offer renewed enjoyment, especially for family audiences seeking lighthearted entertainment. Some jokes and narrative beats may feel familiar upon revisiting, reducing surprise, but the film’s core warmth and compelling voice performances sustain its appeal. In sum, Leo retains respectable replay value as an agreeable animated outing.

Plot

Leo Plot Summary & Ending Explained

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

Spoilers ahead

Parthiban “Parthi” is an animal rescuer and cafe owner residing in Theog, Himachal Pradesh. He lives a quiet life with his wife Sathya, his teenage son Siddharth “Siddhu” and daughter Mathi “Chintu”. One day, his friend Joshy Andrews, a local forest ranger, reaches out to him for assistance in dealing with a dangerous spotted hyena that has been terrorizing the town. This hyena, known for its rabid behavior, has already attacked several locals, and the police are unwilling to take any action against it. With the help of his son, Parthi successfully tranquilizes the ferocious beast, understanding that hyenas are social animals and this one is likely lost or separated from its pack. Opting for discretion, he adopts the hyena, naming it Chakadbangadu, after ensuring it is safe.

Full summary

The whole story of Leo, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Leo Box Office

Leo grossed $7 million worldwide.

2023 box office

Worldwide gross

$7M

International
$7M
Awards

Leo Awards & Nominations

Leo earned 1 award nomination, including Feature Animation at the Artios Awards 2024.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

Leo Trailers & Videos

6 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser and 4 clips.

All 6 videos
Official Trailer
  • Teaser Official Teaser
  • Clip Escape - Official Clip
  • Clip Leo Roasts the New Fifth Grade Class
  • Clip Party Animals Break Out
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Leo?

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 kind of establishment does Parthi run in his Kashmiri town?

Cars

Cars in Leo

9 cars on screen, including the 2008 Blue Bird Vision and the 2006 Hyundai Accent.

All 9 cars
  • 2008 Blue Bird Vision in Leo 2008 Blue Bird Vision Important role
  • 2006 Hyundai Accent in Leo 2006 Hyundai Accent Minor role
  • 2011 Kia Sedona in Leo 2011 Kia Sedona Minor role
  • Pontiac Unknown in Leo Pontiac Unknown Minor role
Details

Leo Also Known As

16 alternative titles, including “Untitled Animated Adam Sandler Project” and “Leo - Breaking out”.

Also known as
  • Untitled Animated Adam Sandler Project
  • Leo - Breaking out
  • 蜥蜴伯伯里奥
  • لئو
  • 蜥蜴伯伯里欧
  • 毕业有蜥望
  • 레오
  • Лео
  • ลีโอ
  • レオ
  • Λίο
  • ليو
+4 more
  • 畢業有蜥望
  • Leó
  • ליאו
  • 蜥蜴伯伯裏歐, ლეო

Seen Leo?

FAQ

Leo FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Leo, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Leo?

Leo runs 1 hour 42 minutes (102 minutes).

When was Leo released?

Leo was released on November 17, 2023.

Who directed Leo?

Leo was directed by Robert Marianetti and David Wachtenheim.

More films by Robert Marianetti

Who is in the cast of Leo?

Leo stars Adam Sandler as Leo, Jason Alexander as Jayda's Dad and Rob Schneider as Principal, among 20 credited actors.

How much did Leo make at the box office?

Leo grossed $7 million worldwide.

How is Leo rated?

Leo has 7.2/10 on IMDb, 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, 65 on Metacritic and 73% on TMDB.

Was Leo nominated for any awards?

Leo received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

Does Leo have a post-credit scene?

Yes. Leo has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

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