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Animated comedy

The Inventor (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

The Inventor (2023) movie poster

The Inventor is a 2023 animated comedy directed by Pierre-Luc Granjon, starring Stephen Fry as Leonardo da Vinci, Matt Berry and Gauthier Battoue. It runs 1 hour 32 minutes and earned $2.1 million worldwide on a $10 million budget. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Animated Feature at the Annie Awards 2024. Critics gave it 76% on Rotten Tomatoes and 66 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10.

IMDb rating
5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
76%
worldwide gross
$2.1M
award nomination
1
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The Inventor (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 32m (92 min)
Original language
English
Budget
$10M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Inventor About?

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

Driven by a desire to understand the secrets of life, Leonardo da Vinci leaves Italy and travels to the French royal court. There, the brilliant inventor dedicates himself to his work, experimenting with groundbreaking flying machines, studying human anatomy through dissection, and creating inventive devices. As he pursues his scientific inquiries, he confronts profound philosophical questions about the nature of existence and his place in the world.

The Inventor Themes & Keywords

· 25 tags
  • leonardo da vinci
  • stop motion animation
  • 16th century
  • body snatching
  • dead body
  • corpse
  • stealing a corpse
  • artwork
  • stop motion
  • year 1516
  • 1510s
  • show
+13 more
  • ill
  • pope
  • based on real people
  • painter as protagonist
  • male protagonist
  • inventor
  • period piece
  • painting
  • universe
  • two word title
  • musical number
  • scene after end credits
  • title at the end
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Cast & crew

The Inventor Cast & Characters

Stephen Fry leads the cast as Leonardo da Vinci, with Matt Berry as Pope Leo X and Gauthier Battoue as Francis I of France. Directed by Pierre-Luc Granjon; 13 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Inventor

· 9 more
Ratings

The Inventor Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Inventor 76% on Rotten Tomatoes and 66 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 61/100, strongest in art & craft (78) and weakest in story & flow (45).

61 /100

The Inventor Echo Score Breakdown

The Inventor delivers a visually striking tribute to Leonardo da Vinci, yet its narrative cohesion falters, producing a mixed overall impression. Critics commend the film's handcrafted stop‑motion and hand‑drawn animation, while several viewers find the story disjointed and overly didactic for younger audiences. Praise for the film's charm and educational intent is tempered by criticism of pacing and character accessibility. Consequently, the movie appeals to aficionados of traditional animation but may struggle to sustain broad rewatch interest.

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

  • Art & Craft 78

    In terms of art and craft, the film excels with its meticulous stop‑motion and hand‑drawn techniques, earning frequent commendation for visual beauty and bold design choices. Critics highlight the timeless quality of the animation and its skilled execution, and many users note the striking visuals as a standout feature. Some reviewers mention simplified character features, but these do not outweigh the overall technical accomplishment. The visual craftsmanship therefore remains a strong point.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    When evaluating character and emotion, opinions diverge. The voice work of Stephen Fry and other performers receives occasional praise for charm, yet several critics and users describe the protagonists as disjointed or overly simplistic. Audience feedback indicates that younger viewers struggle to grasp character motivations, while a few families find the personalities endearing. This blend of modest approval and notable criticism results in a moderate character assessment.

  • Story & Flow 45

    The story and flow draw mixed reactions, with many pointing to uneven pacing and a heavy didactic tone. Critics label the narrative as disjointed and insufficient to sustain its runtime, and several users report boredom and a lack of coherent progression. Though a few reviewers appreciate the imaginative premise and satisfying resolution, the prevailing sentiment highlights structural weaknesses that diminish overall engagement.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    Sensory experience receives generally positive feedback, especially regarding the film's soundtrack and visual style. Reviewers admire the cohesive aesthetic, atmospheric sound design, and the energy conveyed through animation. While a minority note unclear voice accents and occasional tonal inconsistency, the majority of commentary underscores an enjoyable auditory and visual environment that supports the film's thematic goals.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    Rewatch factor is ambivalent; the film’s charm and educational value attract some families who would view it again, yet many cite its pacing and didactic elements as deterrents to repeat screenings. Positive remarks emphasize its heart and uniqueness, whereas negative feedback stresses boredom and lack of narrative drive. This split leads to an average assessment of its lasting appeal.

Plot

The Inventor Plot Summary

What happens in The Inventor from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In Rome, 1516, Leonardo da Vinci, Stephen Fry, curiously experiments with a mirror-based device that resembles a telescope, peering at the Moon to uncover clues about oceans, life, and the soul. The moment is watched by members of the Papal Court, and in a room where Zoroastro unveils a body for scientific probing, the Pope, Matt Berry, sternly orders Leonardo to halt further exploration of God’s works.

Full summary

The whole story of The Inventor, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Inventor Box Office & Budget

The Inventor grossed $2.1 million worldwide on a $10 million budget, 21% of what it cost. $306,385 came from the US and Canada and $1.8 million (85%) from the rest of the world.

2023 box office

Worldwide gross

$2.1M

21% of its budget back

US & Canada
$306.4K
International
$1.8M
Budget
$10M
US & Canada 15% Rest of the world 85%
Awards

The Inventor Awards & Nominations

The Inventor earned 1 award nomination, including Best Animated Feature at the Annie Awards 2024.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

The Inventor Trailers & Videos

5 videos: 1 trailer, 1 clip and 3 behind-the-scenes videos.

Official US Trailer
  • Clip An Ideal City
  • Behind the Scenes BTS Clip Ideal City
  • Behind the Scenes BTS Clip Planet Dance
  • Behind the Scenes BTS Clip Voice Acting Daisy Ridley| New Rome
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Inventor?

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

In which city does Leonardo first use a mirror contraption to examine the Moon?

Details

The Inventor Also Known As

18 alternative titles, including “Leonardo and the king” and “Léo”.

Also known as
  • Leonardo and the king
  • Léo
  • Leonardo, el Inventor
  • Léo, la fabuleuse histoire de Léonard de Vinci
  • Волшебное приключение Да Винчи
  • Vynálezca
  • Vynálezce
  • Leonardo. Odkrywca
  • Leonardo – der Erfinder
  • Винахідник
  • Leonardo
  • O Inventor
+6 more
  • 大發明家
  • A feltaláló - Leonardo da Vinci
  • 发明家
  • Da Vinci: O Grande Inventor
  • Leo, marele inventator
  • Izumitelj

Seen The Inventor?

FAQ

The Inventor FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

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

How long is The Inventor?

The Inventor runs 1 hour 32 minutes (92 minutes).

When was The Inventor released?

The Inventor was released on September 15, 2023.

Who directed The Inventor?

The Inventor was directed by Pierre-Luc Granjon.

Who is in the cast of The Inventor?

The Inventor stars Stephen Fry as Leonardo da Vinci, Matt Berry as Pope Leo X and Gauthier Battoue as Francis I of France, among 13 credited actors.

How much did The Inventor make at the box office?

The Inventor grossed $2.1 million worldwide ($306,385 domestic, $1.8 million international) on a budget of $10 million.

How is The Inventor rated?

The Inventor has 5.8/10 on IMDb, 76% on Rotten Tomatoes, 66 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.

Was The Inventor nominated for any awards?

The Inventor received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

Does The Inventor have a post-credit scene?

No. The Inventor has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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