Pixar's 'Hoppers' scores 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, Matching Studio's Best Rating in 9 Years

The new animated film about a girl who transforms into a beaver to lead an animal rebellion opens in theaters this Friday.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 11:07pm by Ben Kaplan

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Pixar's latest animated film 'Hoppers' has debuted with a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score on 73 critics reviews, the best for the Emeryville animation studio in nine years. Directed by Berkeley resident Daniel Chong, the movie follows a teenager's quest to foil a corrupt mayor's plan to build a freeway overpass that will disrupt an animal habitat. Industry observers expect 'Hoppers' to take in $40 million to $50 million at the box office, easily surpassing the $20 million start of Pixar's previous film 'Elio' in 2024.

Why it matters

The strong critical reception for 'Hoppers' is a positive sign for Pixar, whose previous film 'Elio' underperformed at the box office. The 97% Rotten Tomatoes score matches the rating for Pixar's 2017 hit 'Coco', indicating the studio has returned to producing highly acclaimed animated features that could resonate with audiences.

The details

Directed by Daniel Chong, a Berkeley resident, 'Hoppers' follows a teenager's desperate quest to foil a corrupt mayor's plan to build a freeway overpass that will disrupt an animal habitat. The official trailer on YouTube is nearing 10 million views, indicating strong interest in the film.

  • The movie opens in theaters on Friday, March 6, 2026.
  • Pixar's previous film 'Elio' was released in 2024.

The players

Daniel Chong

The director of 'Hoppers' and a resident of Berkeley, California.

Bobby Moynihan

The voice actor for the character King George in 'Hoppers'.

Piper Curda

The voice actor for the character Mabel in 'Hoppers'.

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What’s next

Pixar's highly anticipated 'Toy Story 5' is set to hit theaters on June 19, 2026, shortly after the release of 'Hoppers'.

The takeaway

The strong critical reception for 'Hoppers' suggests Pixar has returned to producing acclaimed animated films that could resonate with audiences, a positive sign for the studio after the underperformance of its previous release 'Elio'.