Pokémon Detective Pikachu
Rent & Buy
In a world where people collect pocket-size monsters (Pokémon) to do battle, a boy comes across an intelligent monster who seeks to be a detective.
What critics thought
Critics were genuinely split on Detective Pikachu: fans of the franchise tended to find the world-building charming and the Reynolds-voiced Pikachu disarming, while skeptics found the plot thin and the tonal shifts awkward. The visuals drew consistent praise, but whether they compensate for weak storytelling was the central argument. Audience enthusiasm ran well ahead of critical opinion.
“Detective Pikachu works because it's a good movie first and a promising franchise-starter or a brand cash-in second. It's a real film, rooted in character arcs and narrative twists with just enough raw emotion and personal stakes to make the significant special effects moments matter beyond spectacle.”
Scott Mendelson·Forbes
“What's clever is the way this live-action spinoff exploits nostalgia for the family-friendly blockbusters of the late 1980s and the 1990s... rather than the Japanese "Pocket Monsters" themselves.”
Simran Hans·The Observer
“Although the script ... tends to compartmentalize the comedy, action and emotional bits rather than organically blending them all together, Letterman's energetic direction manages to hold everything aloft.”
Michael Rechtshaffen·The Hollywood Reporter
“no amount of technical polish can detract from a thin narrative that confuses far more than it amuses”
Kate Erbland·IndieWire
“Though consistent with the games ... the story of Detective Pikachu doesn't allow nearly enough Pokémon-related action, while the quality of the computer animation ... falls far short of the basic level of competency audiences have come to expect from effects movies.”
Peter Debruge·Variety
Parents guide
- Violence
- mild
- Sex
- none
- Profanity
- mild
- Substances
- mild
- Intensity
- mild
Genres
Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Cast & Crew
Rob LettermanDirector
Ryan ReynoldsDetective Pikachu (voice)
Justice SmithTim Goodman
Kathryn NewtonLucy Stevens
Bill NighyHoward Clifford
Ken WatanabeLieutenant Hide Yoshida
Chris GeereRoger Clifford
Suki WaterhouseMs. Norman
Josette SimonGrams
Alejandro De MesaBartender
Rita OraDr. Ann Laurent
Karan SoniJack
Max FinchamYoung Tim Goodman
Henry JackmanComposer
Nicole PerlmanWriter
Benji SamitWriter
Dan HernandezWriter
Derek ConnollyWriter
John MathiesonCinematographyFrom the studio
Pokémon Detective Pikachu
In a world where people collect pocket-size monsters (Pokémon) to do battle, a boy comes across an intelligent monster who seeks to be a detective.
What critics thought
Critics were genuinely split on Detective Pikachu: fans of the franchise tended to find the world-building charming and the Reynolds-voiced Pikachu disarming, while skeptics found the plot thin and the tonal shifts awkward. The visuals drew consistent praise, but whether they compensate for weak storytelling was the central argument. Audience enthusiasm ran well ahead of critical opinion.
“Detective Pikachu works because it's a good movie first and a promising franchise-starter or a brand cash-in second. It's a real film, rooted in character arcs and narrative twists with just enough raw emotion and personal stakes to make the significant special effects moments matter beyond spectacle.”
Scott Mendelson·Forbes
“What's clever is the way this live-action spinoff exploits nostalgia for the family-friendly blockbusters of the late 1980s and the 1990s... rather than the Japanese "Pocket Monsters" themselves.”
Simran Hans·The Observer
“Although the script ... tends to compartmentalize the comedy, action and emotional bits rather than organically blending them all together, Letterman's energetic direction manages to hold everything aloft.”
Michael Rechtshaffen·The Hollywood Reporter
“no amount of technical polish can detract from a thin narrative that confuses far more than it amuses”
Kate Erbland·IndieWire
“Though consistent with the games ... the story of Detective Pikachu doesn't allow nearly enough Pokémon-related action, while the quality of the computer animation ... falls far short of the basic level of competency audiences have come to expect from effects movies.”
Peter Debruge·Variety
Parents guide
- Violence
- mild
- Sex
- none
- Profanity
- mild
- Substances
- mild
- Intensity
- mild
Genres
Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Cast & Crew
Rob LettermanDirectorRyan ReynoldsDetective Pikachu (voice)Justice SmithTim GoodmanKathryn NewtonLucy StevensBill NighyHoward CliffordKen WatanabeLieutenant Hide YoshidaChris GeereRoger CliffordSuki WaterhouseMs. NormanJosette SimonGramsAlejandro De MesaBartenderRita OraDr. Ann LaurentKaran SoniJackMax FinchamYoung Tim GoodmanHenry JackmanComposerNicole PerlmanWriterBenji SamitWriterDan HernandezWriterDerek ConnollyWriterJohn MathiesonCinematographyFrom the studio
Rent & Buy