Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Animated comedy

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature (2017): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature (2017) movie poster

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature is a 2017 animated comedy directed by Callan Brunker, starring Jackie Chan, Peter Stormare and Kari Wahlgren. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes and earned $68.7 million worldwide on a $40 million budget. It earned 1 award nomination, including Animation at the Artios Awards 2018. Critics gave it 15% on Rotten Tomatoes and 36 on Metacritic.

Rotten Tomatoes
15%
worldwide gross
$68.7M
award nomination
1
Echo Score
33
Loading streaming availability…
The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 31m (91 min)
Director
Callan Brunker
Original language
English
Budget
$40M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature About?

The premise of The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

When Liberty Park faces demolition to make way for a new amusement park, Surly and his animal companions must unite to thwart the corrupt mayor's scheme. They team up with Mr. Feng, a mysterious kung-fu expert harboring his own secrets, and embark on a wild adventure. The unlikely heroes must overcome obstacles and work together to protect their home and prove that anyone can be a champion.

Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature Cast

Jackie Chan leads the cast, with Peter Stormare and Kari Wahlgren. Directed by Callan Brunker; 12 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Callan Brunker

More films directed by Callan Brunker, best-rated first: Paw Patrol: The Movie and Escape from Planet Earth.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature 15% on Rotten Tomatoes and 36 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 33/100, strongest in sensory experience (50) and weakest in rewatch factor (25).

33 /100

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature delivers limited appeal with sporadic visual highlights overshadowed by underdeveloped characters and a disjointed narrative. Criticism centers on thin jokes, patchwork plot structure, and lack of emotional depth, although the brisk pacing keeps the film from overstaying its welcome. A handful of entertaining sequences offer momentary levity, but they fail to compensate for the pervasive unevenness. The net impression is of an unmemorable sequel with few redeeming qualities.

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

  • Art & Craft 35

    Art & Craft largely underwhelms due to passive direction and uneven animation quality. Reviews mention an inconsistent visual tone, citing moments of vivid color and dynamic 3-D effects alongside sequences that appear under-polished. The editing fails to establish smooth transitions between set pieces, and the production design lacks innovation. Overall, the visual presentation feels inconsistent and rarely elevates the material.

  • Character & Emotion 30

    When it comes to character depth, the film underdelivers with largely one-dimensional personalities. The protagonist trio provides occasional moments of charm, but the supporting cast lacks development and emotional resonance. Dialogue often resorts to clichéd quips that fail to generate meaningful chemistry. As a result, the performances feel perfunctory and struggle to establish genuine engagement.

  • Story & Flow 25

    In terms of story and flow, the narrative feels fragmented and predictable. Plot developments unfold through loosely connected set pieces, and the pacing alternates between rushed sequences and flat stretches. Attempts at thematic depth are undermined by thin motivations and recycled ideas from the original film. Ultimately, the plot fails to maintain coherent engagement or deliver meaningful progression.

  • Sensory Experience 50

    From a sensory standpoint, the film presents a mixed experience with moments of vivid sound design and spirited musical cues. Action sequences showcase dynamic 3-D effects and energetic ambient audio, yet inconsistent sound mixing occasionally diminishes impact. The visual style offers bursts of color and momentum, but lacks cohesion across scenes. In sum, the sensory elements oscillate between engaging and uneven execution.

  • Rewatch Factor 25

    When considering rewatch value, the sequel offers limited incentive for return viewings. Initial novelty in set pieces and characters may engage young audiences briefly, but the thin narrative and repetitive humor diminish incentives to revisit. The modest improvements over the original fail to establish lasting appeal, and most of the film feels tailored for a single, casual viewing experience.

Plot

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature Plot Summary

What happens in The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

As the charming wildlife community of Liberty Park basks in the afterglow of Norvirus Raccoon’s defeat, Surly Squirrel enjoys a newfound celebrity status among his fellow critters. The once humble Maury’s Nut Shop, now known as Nibbler’s Nut Shop, serves as a beloved buffet spot, but Andie, with her more pragmatic mindset, begins to disrupt Surly’s laid-back way of living. Despite Mole’s well-intended but clumsy attempts at running the nut shop, a catastrophic accident leaves the establishment in ruins.

Full summary

The whole story of The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature Box Office & Budget

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature grossed $68.7 million worldwide on a $40 million budget, 1.7 times what it cost. $28.4 million came from the US and Canada and $40.4 million (59%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$68.7M

1.7× its budget

US & Canada
$28.4M
International
$40.4M
Budget
$40M
US & Canada 41% Rest of the world 59%
Awards

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature Awards & Nominations

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature earned 1 award nomination, including Animation at the Artios Awards 2018.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.

Official Trailer
  • Clip Surly Squirrel Faces His Biggest Challenge Yet - Extended Preview
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature?

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 establishment becomes a staple of park life after Norvirus Raccoon's downfall?

Cars

Cars in The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature

9 cars on screen, including the 1968 Checker Taxicab and the 1957 Chevrolet.

All 9 cars
  • 1968 Checker Taxicab in The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature 1968 Checker Taxicab Minor role
  • 1957 Chevrolet in The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature 1957 Chevrolet Minor role
  • 1959 Ford Zephyr MkII in The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature 1959 Ford Zephyr MkII Minor role
  • Mack CF in The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature Mack CF Minor role

Seen The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature?

FAQ

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature FAQ: Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature?

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).

When was The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature released?

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature was released on August 11, 2017.

Who directed The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature?

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature was directed by Callan Brunker.

More films by Callan Brunker

Who is in the cast of The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature?

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature stars Jackie Chan, Peter Stormare and Kari Wahlgren, among 12 credited actors.

How much did The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature make at the box office?

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature grossed $68.7 million worldwide ($28.4 million domestic, $40.4 million international) on a budget of $40 million.

How is The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature rated?

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature has 15% on Rotten Tomatoes, 36 on Metacritic, 60% on TMDB and 3.7/5 on Movie Insider.

Was The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature nominated for any awards?

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

Does The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature have a post-credit scene?

No. The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app