Turning Red (2022): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
Turning Red is a 2022 animated comedy directed by Domee Shi, starring Rosalie Chiang as Meilin, Panda Meilin, Sandra Oh and Ava Morse. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes and earned $21.8 million worldwide on a $175 million budget. It was nominated for 1 Oscar. Critics gave it 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 83 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10.
What Is Turning Red About?
The premise of Turning Red without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
Mei Lee is a confident and quirky 13-year-old who is struggling to balance her family’s traditions with her desire for independence. When she experiences strong emotions, she unexpectedly transforms into a giant red panda. As she navigates the challenges of adolescence, Mei must learn to embrace her newfound abilities while managing her mother's expectations and discovering who she truly is.
Turning Red Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- red panda
- friendship
- chinese canadian
- shapeshifting
- mother daughter relationship
- cgi animation
- teenage girl
- canada
- indian canadian
- emasculation
- f rated
- menstruation
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- furry
- kitten
- overprotective mother
- domineering mother
- reference to celine dion
- panda
- computer animation
- chaos
- transformation
- pixar
- 2000s
- teenage protagonist
- female protagonist
- birthday party
- middle school
- temple
- korean canadian
- year 2002
- toronto ontario canada
- rite of passage
- red moon
- symbolism
- teenager
- bully
- aunt niece relationship
- fan
- school bully
- teacher student relationship
- drawing
- magic
- slimehouse
- shaking one's butt
- rebelling against parent
- fans
- selling pictures
- friend
- two word title
- color in title
Turning Red Cast & Characters
Rosalie Chiang leads the cast as Meilin, Panda Meilin, with Sandra Oh as Ming, Panda Ming, Young Ming and Ava Morse as Miriam. Directed by Domee Shi; 17 actors are credited in all.
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Director Domee Shi
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Rosalie Chiang as Meilin, Panda Meilin -
Sandra Oh as Ming, Panda Ming, Young Ming -
Ava Morse as Miriam -
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Priya
Also Starring in Turning Red
· 13 more- Hyein Park Abby
- Tristan Allerick Chen Tyler
- Orion Lee Jin
- James Hong Mr. Gao
- Jordan Fisher Robaire (4*Town)
- Sherry Cola Helen
- Wai Ching Ho Grandma, Grandma Panda
- Lori Tan Chinn Auntie Chen
- Sasha Roiz Mr. Kieslowski
- Finneas O'Connell Jesse (4*Town)
- Josh Levi Aaron Z. (4*Town)
- Mia Tagano Lily
- Ho-Wai Ching
More from Domee Shi
More films directed by Domee Shi, best-rated first: Elio and Bao.
Turning Red Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Turning Red 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 83 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 49/100, strongest in art & craft (70) and weakest in character & emotion (30).
Turning Red Echo Score Breakdown
Turning Red delivers a vibrant visual experience and heartfelt moments, but its narrative and character work generate polarized reactions. Critics commend its authentic coming‑of‑age themes, lively animation, and cultural texture, while many user reviewers find the story formulaic and the protagonists underdeveloped. The sensory design is widely praised, yet the film’s replay value is questioned by detractors. Overall, the movie sits in a mixed territory, appealing strongly to some and leaving others unimpressed.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 70
In terms of art and craft, the film excels with its rich color palette, detailed textures, and fluid animation. Critics highlight the feast for the eyes created by red‑panda fur and Toronto street scenes, and several users acknowledge the animation’s quality. However, a subset of viewers feels the overall production falls short of Pixar’s usual standards. The net impression is that the visual execution is a notable strength.
- Character & Emotion 30
When assessing character and emotion, opinions diverge sharply. Critics praise the nuanced portrayal of a teenage girl navigating puberty and the resonant familial dynamics. In contrast, many user reviews denounce the characters as clichéd, unengaging, and even cringe‑worthy. The disparity results in a low aggregate score, indicating that the character work is viewed as a significant weakness by a large portion of the audience.
- Story & Flow 40
Regarding story and flow, the film mixes authentic coming‑of‑age beats with familiar Pixar formulas. Critics commend its heartfelt messiness and relatable humor, yet several users label the plot predictable and the dialogue subpar. The narrative’s blend of originality and retread leads to a mixed assessment, positioning the story as an area with moderate but uneven reception.
- Sensory Experience 60
The sensory experience garners generally positive feedback. Critics note the pastel‑shaded setting, lively soundtrack, and cohesive visual style that enhance the film’s atmosphere. Some users echo appreciation for the animation quality, though a few dismiss the overall sensory impact as insufficient to compensate for other flaws. Consequently, the sensory domain is regarded as a solid, though not exceptional, component.
- Rewatch Factor 45
Rewatch factor shows a split perspective. Critics suggest the movie’s charm and humor invite repeat viewings, especially for its cultural nuances and emotional beats. Conversely, many user reviewers state they would not seek a second viewing, citing story and character issues. This balanced but lean‑negative sentiment results in a modest score, reflecting limited replay appeal for a sizable audience.
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IMDb 6.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 95% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 67%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 83 Metascore
User score 6.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 74% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.5 /5
2.3K ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.8 /5
See on Movie Insider
Turning Red Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Turning Red 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 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 2002, Meilin “Mei” Lee, a spirited 13-year-old girl of Chinese-Canadian descent, lives in Toronto. She takes on the responsibility of helping maintain her family’s temple, which honors their ancestor, Sun Yee, all while trying to uphold the expectations of her strict and protective mother, Ming. Despite her efforts, Mei keeps her personal interests under wraps, including her strong admiration for the boy band 4*Town, which she shares with her closest friends Miriam, Priya, and Abby.
Full summary
The whole story of Turning Red, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Turning Red Box Office & Budget
Turning Red grossed $21.8 million worldwide on a $175 million budget, 12% of what it cost. $1.4 million came from the US and Canada and $20.4 million (94%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$21.8M
12% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $1.4M
- International
- $20.4M
- Budget
- $175M
Turning Red Awards & Nominations
Turning Red was nominated for 1 Oscar. The 6 nominations come from 6 ceremonies.
6 nominations6 ceremonies
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Critics' Choice 2023 1 nomination- Nominated Best Animated Feature
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Artios Awards 2023 1 nomination- Nominated Animation
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Annie Awards 2023 1 nomination- Nominated Best Animated Feature — Independent
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BAFTA 2023 1 nomination- Nominated Best Animated Film – Domee Shi
Show all 6 ceremonies Show fewer ceremonies
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Golden Globes 2023 1 nomination- Nominated Best Motion Picture – Animated
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Oscars 2023 1 nomination- Nominated Animated Feature Film
Turning Red Trailers & Videos
8 videos: 1 trailer, 1 clip and 6 featurettes.
- Clip
- Featurette "Nobody Like Pixar" Featurette
- Featurette “Welcome to 4*Town” Featurette
- Featurette Filmmaker Interview
How Well Do You Know Turning Red?
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
What is Mei's age at the beginning of the movie?
Turning Red Also Known As
40 alternative titles, including “变红” and “Devenir rouge”.
- Also known as
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- 变红
- Devenir rouge
- 터닝 레드
- เขินแรงแดงเป็นแพนด้า
- Es sarkstu
- 메이의 새빨간 비밀
- 熊抱青春記
- Proměna
- Red - Crescer É Uma Fera
- Jaz, rdeča panda
- Volviendose Rojo (Red)
- Over de rooie
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- Red
- Alerte rouge
- Red: Crescer é Uma Fera
- 青春養成記
- Rot
- 青春变形记
- אדומה אש
- Я Краснею
- Punainen
- Я — панда
- Πάντα στο Κόκκινο
- To nie wypanda
- Pirula panda
- 私ときどきレッサーパンダ
- Kırmızı
- Rød
- Keď sa červenám
- Röd
- Roșu aprins
- Crvena panda
- Gấu Đỏ Biến Hình
- Turning Red - Estranhamente Vermelho, გაწითლება
- سرخ شدن
- الباندا الأحمر الكبير
- Raudonoji panda
- Поцрвенела панда
- Мей Червената панда
- Punane pandaplika
Seen Turning Red?
Movies Like Turning Red
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Panda! Go Panda!, Bao and Kung Fu Panda.
Turning Red FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Turning Red, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Turning Red?
Turning Red runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).
When was Turning Red released?
Turning Red was released on March 11, 2022.
Who directed Turning Red?
Turning Red was directed by Domee Shi.
More films by Domee Shi Who is in the cast of Turning Red?
Turning Red stars Rosalie Chiang as Meilin, Panda Meilin, Sandra Oh as Ming, Panda Ming, Young Ming and Ava Morse as Miriam, among 17 credited actors.
How much did Turning Red make at the box office?
Turning Red grossed $21.8 million worldwide ($1.4 million domestic, $20.4 million international) on a budget of $175 million.
How is Turning Red rated?
Turning Red has 6.9/10 on IMDb, 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 83 on Metacritic and 74% on TMDB.
Was Turning Red nominated for any awards?
Turning Red received 6 nominations across 6 ceremonies.
Does Turning Red have a post-credit scene?
Yes. Turning Red has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.
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