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Animated comedy

The Emoji Movie (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

The Emoji Movie (2017) movie poster

The Emoji Movie is a 2017 animated comedy directed by Anthony Leondis, starring T.J. Miller, Jennifer Coolidge and Steven Wright. It runs 1 hour 26 minutes and earned $217.8 million worldwide on a $50 million budget. Critics gave it 6% on Rotten Tomatoes and 12 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 3.4/10.

IMDb rating
3.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
6%
worldwide gross
$217.8M
Echo Score
18
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The Emoji Movie (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 26m (86 min)
Director
Anthony Leondis
Original language
English
Budget
$50M
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is The Emoji Movie About?

The premise of The Emoji Movie without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In this animated adventure, Gene, an emoji born with the ability to express multiple feelings, feels like an anomaly in a world of simple expressions. Determined to become a normal emoji, he sets off on a quest with his friends Hi-5 and Jailbreak. Their journey takes them through the phone's various apps, where they face challenges and unexpected dangers. Along the way, they must work together to save their entire world from deletion and restore the richness of emotional expression.

The Emoji Movie Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • food
  • anthropomorphism
  • no opening credits
  • title at the end
  • app
  • scene during end credits
  • altered version of studio logo
  • 3d animation
  • human
  • feminist
  • facebook
  • twitter
+38 more
  • internet
  • video game world
  • z movie
  • trash movie
  • b movie
  • psychotronic film
  • surrealism
  • smartphone
  • slimehouse
  • shrekcore
  • unintentionally funny
  • villainess
  • stereotype
  • hacker
  • 3d
  • cg animation
  • campy
  • reference to candy crush
  • crying
  • instagram
  • candy crush game app
  • beer
  • coffee
  • push ups
  • eggplant
  • firewall
  • fire
  • candy corn
  • candy
  • volcano
  • sushi
  • doughnut
  • pizza
  • band aid
  • bandage
  • cringe comedy
  • smartphone emojis
  • hi 5 emoji
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Cast & crew

The Emoji Movie Cast

T.J. Miller leads the cast, with Jennifer Coolidge and Steven Wright. Directed by Anthony Leondis; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Anthony Leondis

One more film directed by Anthony Leondis: Igor.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Emoji Movie Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Emoji Movie 6% on Rotten Tomatoes and 12 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 3.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 18/100, strongest in art & craft (25) and weakest in rewatch factor (10).

18 /100

The Emoji Movie Echo Score Breakdown

The Emoji Movie registers as a largely negative entry in animated features. Critics and users alike note the film’s artless presentation and lack of emotional depth, with reviewers describing ugly visuals, insipid gags, and negligible character investment. Pacing and plot coherence are frequently criticized, with nonessential app games interrupting narrative flow and few memorable moments emerging overall. The aggregated responses reflect a consistently poor reception that leaves the film with minimal appeal or recommendation.

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

  • Art & Craft 25

    In terms of art and craft, the film is widely regarded as artless and visually uninspired. Critics describe an “ugly” and “surface-level” aesthetic lacking stylistic cohesion, while few praise emerges beyond occasional bright color choices. Production design and editing fail to elevate the material, contributing to an overall visual presentation seen as uninspired and superficial. The net effect is a consistently shallow visual identity.

  • Character & Emotion 20

    When it comes to character depth and emotion, reviewers note virtually no investment in the protagonists. Performances are deemed bland and devoid of nuance, with chemistry among the emoji figures rarely registering. With a predictable, randomness-driven script and negligible emotional stakes, the characters remain flat and fail to generate audience engagement. The film’s characters leave little lasting impact.

  • Story & Flow 15

    In story and flow, the plot is viewed as incoherent and driven by promotional app tie-ins rather than narrative logic. Critics highlight abrupt pacing, with sequences like Candy Crush interludes interrupting any dramatic momentum. The overall storyline is labeled random and predictable, lacking in original ideas or sustained engagement. Consequently, the narrative feels shallow and unsatisfying.

  • Sensory Experience 20

    In terms of sensory experience, the film’s audio-visual elements are criticized for lacking distinction. Soundtrack and sound design barely register beyond standard children’s fare, while the visual style is considered drab or discordant. Though a few users note occasional colorful sequences, the overall presentation fails to create an immersive or memorable sensory world. The sensory aspects offer minimal enhancement.

  • Rewatch Factor 10

    When considering rewatch value, the film consistently rates low on replay appeal. Critics describe it as forgettable and boring, with few jokes or moments warranting a second viewing. Occasional humorous bits do little to sustain interest on repeat watches. The net impression is that the film holds negligible lasting appeal.

Plot

The Emoji Movie Plot Summary

What happens in The Emoji Movie 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

The story begins in a bustling high school where students are deeply engaged with their smartphones. We dive into the digital realm of a freshman named Alex, whose smartphone serves as the stage for our main characters, the Emojis residing in the vibrant city of Textopolis. Among these characters is Gene, voiced by T.J. Miller, who famously struggles with his assigned role as a “meh” Emoji. Unlike his parents, Mel and Mary—voiced by Steven Wright and Jennifer Coolidge—who embody the single expression he is supposed to mimic, Gene possesses a multitude of emotions, which sets him apart from his peers.

Full summary

The whole story of The Emoji Movie, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Emoji Movie Box Office & Budget

The Emoji Movie grossed $217.8 million worldwide on a $50 million budget, 4.4 times what it cost. $86.1 million came from the US and Canada and $131.7 million (60%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$217.8M

4.4× its budget

US & Canada
$86.1M
International
$131.7M
Budget
$50M
US & Canada 40% Rest of the world 60%
Videos

The Emoji Movie Trailers & Videos

5 videos: 3 trailers and 2 featurettes.

THE EMOJI MOVIE - Official Teaser Trailer (HD)
  • Trailer THE EMOJI MOVIE - Official Trailer (HD)
  • Trailer THE EMOJI MOVIE - Official International Trailer (HD)
  • Featurette The EMOJI Movie (2017) T.J. Miller "Gene" talks about his experience making the movie
  • Featurette Rapid Fire Questions With The Emoji Movie Cast
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Emoji Movie?

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 main character who defies Emoji norms?

Details

The Emoji Movie Also Known As

43 alternative titles, including “อิโมจิ App ติสต์ ตะลุยโลก” and “이모티-더 무비”.

Also known as
  • อิโมจิ App ติสต์ ตะลุยโลก
  • 이모티-더 무비
  • EmojiMovie: Express Yourself
  • 이모티; 더 무비
  • De Emoji Film
  • Emoji大冒險
  • 表情奇幻冒险
  • Broskall í vanda
  • Le Monde secret des Emojis
  • Emoji - Der Film
  • Emoji: La película
  • Емоджі муві
+31 more
  • Emoji: Η Ταινία
  • אימוג'י: הסרט
  • Emoji Filmen
  • Емоджи: Филмът
  • Emoji-elokuva
  • Емоџи филм
  • Émoji le film
  • Emoji: O Filme
  • Az Emoji-film
  • Emoji: La pel·lícula
  • Emotki: Film
  • Emoji - Accendi le emozioni
  • Emojifilmen
  • Đội Quân Cảm Xúc
  • Emoji Filmi
  • Emoji film
  • Emoji ve filmu
  • Эмоджи фильм
  • 表情符號電影
  • 이모티: 더 무비
  • ایموجی
  • อิโมจิ แอ๊พติสต์ตะลุยโลก
  • Emodži filma
  • Emodži filmas
  • 絵文字の国のジーン
  • Emoji Filmul. Aventura zâmbăreților
  • Film o emojijih
  • العالم السرّي للإيموجي
  • Emoji – Der Film
  • द इमोजी मूवी
  • Emoji: სმაილები კინოში

Seen The Emoji Movie?

FAQ

The Emoji Movie FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is The Emoji Movie?

The Emoji Movie runs 1 hour 26 minutes (86 minutes).

When was The Emoji Movie released?

The Emoji Movie was released on July 28, 2017.

Who directed The Emoji Movie?

The Emoji Movie was directed by Anthony Leondis.

More films by Anthony Leondis

Who is in the cast of The Emoji Movie?

The Emoji Movie stars T.J. Miller, Jennifer Coolidge and Steven Wright, among 10 credited actors.

How much did The Emoji Movie make at the box office?

The Emoji Movie grossed $217.8 million worldwide ($86.1 million domestic, $131.7 million international) on a budget of $50 million.

How is The Emoji Movie rated?

The Emoji Movie has 3.4/10 on IMDb, 6% on Rotten Tomatoes, 12 on Metacritic and 54% on TMDB.

Does The Emoji Movie have a post-credit scene?

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

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