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Animated family film

Pinocchio: A True Story (2021): Cast, Ratings & Where to Watch

Pinocchio: A True Story (2021) movie poster

Pinocchio: A True Story is a 2021 animated family film directed by Vasily Rovensky, starring Pauly Shore as Pinocchio (English), Anton Eldarov and Irina Kireeva. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes and earned $853,145 worldwide on a $358.2 million budget. Its Echo Score is 10/100. Stream it on Starz and Tubi TV, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

worldwide gross
$853.1K
Echo Score
10
budget
$358.2M
Pinocchio: A True Story (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 34m (94 min)
Director
Vasily Rovensky
Genres
Animation , Family , Fantasy
Original language
Russian
Budget
$358.2M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Pinocchio: A True Story About?

The premise of Pinocchio: A True Story without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

The story follows the true legend of Pinocchio as he comes to life. The young puppet runs away from his brilliant creator, Jepetto, and embarks on an adventure. Accompanied by his horse, Tibalt, he sets out to explore the world and joins a traveling circus led by the charismatic but deceptive Modjafocco.

Pinocchio: A True Story Themes & Keywords

· 10 tags
  • geppetto character
  • animated feature film
  • cgi animation
  • circus
  • pinocchio character
  • horse
  • talking horse
  • cg animation
  • dark fantasy
  • fairy tale fantasy
Where to watch

Where to Watch Pinocchio: A True Story

Stream it on Starz and Tubi TV, 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

Pinocchio: A True Story Cast & Characters

Pauly Shore leads the cast as Pinocchio (English), with Anton Eldarov as Geppetto (voice) and Irina Kireeva as Lucilda (voice). Directed by Vasily Rovensky; 11 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Pinocchio: A True Story

· 7 more
Ratings

Pinocchio: A True Story Reviews & Ratings

Our Echo Score gives it 10/100, strongest in art & craft (20) and weakest in rewatch factor (10).

10 /100

Pinocchio: A True Story Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Pinocchio: A True Story registers as a largely unsuccessful effort, with critics and audiences alike highlighting deficiencies across craftsmanship, performance, narrative, and sensory presentation. The consensus points to poorly executed animation, flat voice work, a disengaging plot, and an unappealing audiovisual experience. Consequently, the film offers minimal incentive for repeat viewings, resulting in a markedly low overall rating.

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

  • Art & Craft 20

    In terms of art and craft, the film suffers from substandard animation and CGI that reviewers described as visually jarring and eye‑straining. Directional choices fail to elevate the material, and the production design provides little distinction. The editing does not contribute to a cohesive visual flow, leading to a generally weak technical execution.

  • Character & Emotion 15

    When it comes to character and emotion, the voice performances are repeatedly criticized as flat and unconvincing, with Pauli Shore's delivery noted as especially ineffective. The lack of emotional depth makes the protagonists feel one‑dimensional, and no notable chemistry emerges among the cast, resulting in a disengaged audience response.

  • Story & Flow 10

    The story aspect is judged as markedly deficient; reviewers label the plot as sub‑par, unoriginal, and poorly paced. Narrative cohesion is lacking, and the script offers little intrigue or meaningful conflict. This combination renders the film largely unengaging and fails to sustain audience interest throughout its runtime.

  • Sensory Experience 20

    Sensory experience is hindered by weak sound design and an uninspired soundtrack that fail to complement the visual elements. The overall visual style is described as incoherent, with animation flaws detracting from immersion. Audio quality, particularly the voice work, further diminishes the film's ability to deliver a compelling sensory palette.

  • Rewatch Factor 10

    Rewatch factor is minimal, as both critics and viewers advise against repeat viewings. The combination of poor animation, lackluster performances, and a weak narrative leaves little lasting appeal. Consequently, the film offers scant incentive for audiences to return, reflecting a very low replay value.

Plot

Pinocchio: A True Story Plot Summary

What happens in Pinocchio: A True Story from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

An inventor Geppetto creates a wooden puppet named Pinocchio, blessed by the fairy Lucilda to talk and move like a human. Pinocchio yearns to see the world but is forced to hide with Geppetto since he is the only talking puppet in the world.

Full summary

The whole story of Pinocchio: A True Story, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Pinocchio: A True Story Box Office & Budget

Pinocchio: A True Story grossed $853,145 worldwide on a $358.2 million budget.

2021 box office

Worldwide gross

$853.1K

International
$853.1K
Budget
$358.2M
Videos

Pinocchio: A True Story Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Pinocchio: A True Story.

Pinocchio: A True Story | Official Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Pinocchio: A True Story?

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

Question 1 of 9

  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

What is the name of the inventor who creates Pinocchio?

Details

Pinocchio: A True Story Also Known As

22 alternative titles, including “Pinokkio 3D” and “Pinokkio. Pravdivaya istoriya”.

Also known as
  • Pinokkio 3D
  • Pinokkio. Pravdivaya istoriya
  • Пиноккио 3D
  • פינוקיו : סיפור אמיתי
  • 小木偶:馬戲團奇遇記
  • Pinocho. La verdadera historia
  • 皮诺奇。真实的故事
  • Pinocchio: Tositarina
  • פינוקיו שמי
  • Pinokkió: Egy igaz történet
  • Pinocchio: O Menino de Madeira
  • Pinocchio: Skutočný príbeh
+10 more
  • Pinocchio: Skutečný příběh
  • Pinocchio: O poveste adevărată
  • Pinocchio - Eine wahre Geschichte
  • Pinokio. Prawdziwa historia
  • Pinokyo: Sihirli Yolculuk
  • 극장판 피노키오 위대한 모험
  • Pinóquio: A História Verdadeira
  • Пинокио: Истинска история
  • Pinokio: Istinita priča
  • Pinocho: Una historia verdadera

Seen Pinocchio: A True Story?

FAQ

Pinocchio: A True Story FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, post-credit scenes and language of Pinocchio: A True Story, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Pinocchio: A True Story?

Pinocchio: A True Story runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).

When was Pinocchio: A True Story released?

Pinocchio: A True Story was released on December 23, 2021.

Who directed Pinocchio: A True Story?

Pinocchio: A True Story was directed by Vasily Rovensky.

More films by Vasily Rovensky

Who is in the cast of Pinocchio: A True Story?

Pinocchio: A True Story stars Pauly Shore as Pinocchio (English), Anton Eldarov as Geppetto (voice) and Irina Kireeva as Lucilda (voice), among 11 credited actors.

Where can I watch Pinocchio: A True Story?

In the US, Pinocchio: A True Story is streaming on Starz, Tubi TV and YouTube Free and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Pinocchio: A True Story make at the box office?

Pinocchio: A True Story grossed $853,145 worldwide on a budget of $358.2 million.

Does Pinocchio: A True Story have a post-credit scene?

No. Pinocchio: A True Story has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Pinocchio: A True Story in?

The original language of Pinocchio: A True Story is Russian.

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