The Willoughbys (2020): Cast, Ratings, Ending & Where to Watch
The Willoughbys is a 2020 animated comedy directed by Cory Evans, starring Will Forte as Tim, Alessia Cara and Terry Crews. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Animated Feature at the Annie Awards 2021. Critics gave it 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 68 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10. Stream it on Netflix.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 30m (90 min)
- Director
- Cory Evans
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Netflix
- After the credits
- Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
What Is The Willoughbys About?
The premise of The Willoughbys without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
Four neglected siblings, yearning for adventure, hatch a plan to get rid of their self-absorbed parents. They find an unconventional nanny who unexpectedly joins their escapades, leading them on a journey filled with quirky challenges and hilarious mishaps. Along the way, they learn the true meaning of family and discover that connection goes beyond conventional relationships, embracing individuality and finding joy in unexpected places.
The Willoughbys Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- nanny
- mustache
- snow adventure
- neglected children
- neglectful parents
- trip around the world
- candy factory
- cat as narrator
- based on children's book
- life in the city
- mount everest
- orphan services
+38 more Show fewer
- dark comedy
- stray cat
- realtor
- volcano
- three brothers
- dirigible
- scottish american
- orphan
- computer animation
- cgi animation
- bear
- slimehouse
- shrekcore
- redhead
- red hair
- red haired girl
- red haired boy
- urban adventure
- twins
- twin brother
- glasses
- singing
- cat
- narrator
- baby
- knitting
- yarn
- ball of yarn
- rainbow
- wetting pants
- duck
- rain
- coal
- reference to india
- candy
- factory
- reference to the white house
- open house
Where to Watch The Willoughbys
Stream it on Netflix. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Stream 2
The Willoughbys Cast & Characters
Will Forte leads the cast as Tim, with Alessia Cara as Jane and Terry Crews as Commander Melanoff. Directed by Cory Evans; 15 actors are credited in all.
- Director Cory Evans
-
Will Forte as Tim -
Alessia Cara as Jane -
Terry Crews as Commander Melanoff -
Martin Short as Father
Also Starring in The Willoughbys
· 11 more- Maya Rudolph Nanny
- Ricky Gervais The Cat
- Jane Krakowski Mother
- Seán Cullen Barnaby A & B
- Brian Drummond Baby Ruth, Phil, Yokel
- Kris Pearn Spoons McGee
- Islie Hirvonen The Perfect Daughter
- Robyn Ross
- Rebecca Husain
- Shannon Chan-Kent
- Bonnie Riley Hippie Mom
The Willoughbys Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Willoughbys 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 68 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 67/100, strongest in art & craft (78) and weakest in rewatch factor (60).
The Willoughbys Echo Score Breakdown
The Willoughbys delivers a visually inventive animated adventure tempered by uneven narrative cohesion. Critics and viewers praise its stylized animation choices and vibrant production design, yet many note that the plot structure feels disjointed in places. The film’s brisk pacing and darkly comic tone provide intermittent charm, though emotional engagement is inconsistent. Overall, it offers a quirky family tale with strong visual appeal but stops short of thematic or storytelling consistency.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 78
Art & Craft stands out for its bold animation style and inventive production design. Multiple reviewers highlight the textured, semi-stop-motion aesthetic complemented by an understated color palette that reinforces the film’s macabre whimsy. The direction maintains a dynamic energy, particularly in candy-factory sequences. Overall, the visual approach is consistently engaging and highlights the film’s creative ambition.
- Character & Emotion 65
Character & Emotion offers moments of genuine warmth through the sibling bond but struggles with deeper development. Voice performances receive praise for bringing personality to each role, yet some find the parents and nanny lacking nuance. Emotional resonance peaks when the children unite, but uneven humor dampens investment in individual arcs. The result is a moderately effective ensemble dynamic.
- Story & Flow 63
Story & Flow exhibits imaginative premise and brisk pacing, yet narrative coherence wavers. Early scenes establish a clever critique of neglect and found family, and the script occasionally sparkles with irreverent humor. However, shifting subplots and accelerated plotting leave some story threads underexplored. In sum, the film sustains interest through originality but feels uneven in its overall structure.
- Sensory Experience 68
Sensory Experience is marked by a lively score and cohesive sound design that underscore the film’s offbeat tone. The synth-driven soundtrack and playful sound effects amplify the dark-comedy moments, while the visual style remains uniformly distinctive. At times the music and sound effects verge on overpowering, yet they largely enhance the quirky atmosphere. Overall, the audio-visual mix is vibrant and complementary.
- Rewatch Factor 60
Rewatch Factor yields a mix of lasting appeal and uneven replay value. The distinctive visuals and macabre humor may reward subsequent viewings for style enthusiasts, while the brisk pace and oddball moments maintain moderate entertainment on repeat. Conversely, narrative gaps and tonal inconsistencies limit emotional resonance on future watches. In sum, it offers occasional rewatch merit but lacks strong universal replay appeal.
-
IMDb 6.4 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 92% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 66%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 68 Metascore
User score 6.7
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 71% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.1 /5
117 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.8 /5
See on Movie Insider
The Willoughbys Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in The Willoughbys 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
A clever cat serves as the narrator, weaving the tale of the Willoughby siblings: Tim, Jane, and the twins, both named Barnaby. Despite the Willoughby family’s storied legacy, the children’s parents focus solely on themselves, harboring a disdain for children and leaving their offspring starved for affection, nourishment, and joy. Tim yearns for the grandeur of his family’s past.
Full summary
The whole story of The Willoughbys, scene by scene, with the ending explained
The Willoughbys Awards & Nominations
The Willoughbys earned 1 award nomination, including Best Animated Feature at the Annie Awards 2021.
1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Annie Awards 2021 1 nomination- Nominated Best Animated Feature
The Willoughbys Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 1 trailer and 2 featurettes.
- Featurette The Willoughbys | Bringing the World of THE WILLOUGHBYS to Life I Netflix
- Featurette The Willoughbys | An Old-Fashioned Story for the Modern World I Netflix
How Well Do You Know The Willoughbys?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who serves as the witty narrator for the story?
The Willoughbys Also Known As
32 alternative titles, including “Rodzeństwo Willoughby” and “La Famille Willoughby”.
- Also known as
-
- Rodzeństwo Willoughby
- La Famille Willoughby
- 윌러비 가족
- La famiglia Willoughby
- ウィロビー家の子どもたち
- Os Irmãos Willoughbys
- Семья Уиллоби
- Syskonen Willoughby
- משפחת וילובי
- Willoughbylar oilasi
- ویلابیها
- Familien Willoughby
+20 more Show fewer
- Οικογένεια Γουίλομπι
- A Willoughby testvérek kalandjai
- Os Willoughby
- 威樂比這一家
- Willoughby Si Phinong Phachonphai
- Willoughby Ailesi
- Віллоубі
- Gia Đình Willoughby
- Willoughbyovi
- عائلة ويلوبي
- Familie Willoughby
- Os Irmãos Willoughby
- Los hermanos Willoughby
- 威洛比家的孩子们
- Сем. Уилоуби
- Вилоугбијеви
- วิลโลบี้ สี่พี่น้องผจญภัย
- Сім'я Віллоубі, უილობები
- خانواده ویلوبی
- Familia Willoughby
Seen The Willoughbys?
Movies Like The Willoughbys
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Wind in the Willows, The Twits and Wendell & Wild.
The Willoughbys FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Willoughbys, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Willoughbys?
The Willoughbys runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).
When was The Willoughbys released?
The Willoughbys was released on April 22, 2020.
Who directed The Willoughbys?
The Willoughbys was directed by Cory Evans.
Who is in the cast of The Willoughbys?
The Willoughbys stars Will Forte as Tim, Alessia Cara as Jane and Terry Crews as Commander Melanoff, among 15 credited actors.
Where can I watch The Willoughbys?
In the US, The Willoughbys is streaming on Netflix (availability from JustWatch).
How is The Willoughbys rated?
The Willoughbys has 6.4/10 on IMDb, 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 68 on Metacritic and 71% on TMDB.
Was The Willoughbys nominated for any awards?
The Willoughbys received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
Does The Willoughbys have a post-credit scene?
Yes. The Willoughbys has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.
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