Arthur Christmas (2011)

All Critics (138) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (126) | Rotten (12) | DVD (2)

It's as bright and twinkling as a Christmas tree, decked with warmth and humor.

December 5, 2011 Full Review | Comment (1)

Amy Biancolli

San Francisco Chronicle

Top Critic

It's busy but buoyant, and it honors the tradition of giving with wit and style.

December 5, 2011 Full Review | Comment (1)

Bruce Diones

New Yorker

Top Critic

The action is swift and witty, and the 3-D effects are imaginative and not simply tacked on as with so many animated movies these days.

December 2, 2011 Full Review | Comment (1)

Peter Rainer

Christian Science Monitor

Top Critic

The movie fails utterly at coming up with a story that merits all the eye candy.

November 25, 2011 Full Review

Rene Rodriguez

Miami Herald

Top Critic

With a clever script that successfully updates many Christmas myths and dialogue that crackles with sophisticated wit, this movie offers the kind of pre-holiday experience that parents and children alike will appreciate.

November 24, 2011 Full Review

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Top Critic

Everything you see in Arthur Christmas is fashioned in the service of telling a story ... brilliantly

November 23, 2011 Full Review

Kathleen Murphy

MSN Movies

Top Critic

A new Christmas classic.

March 14, 2013 Full Review

Andy Lea

Daily Star

The Aardman animators know a thing or three about sight gags and throw-away lines, and they pile up quickly, here.

December 28, 2012 Full Review

Roger Moore

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Arthur Christmas will snuggle you up into a big, hearty festive cuddle and refuse to put you down until you've hugged it back.

September 28, 2012 Full Review

Ali Gray

TheShiznit.co.uk

There are moments of charm and it is a sweet story which kids might find entertaining enough, but chances are they will become just as restless as my crowd as the film stretches on.

September 18, 2012 Full Review

Jeff Beck

Examiner.com

Arthur Christmas is a smart, funny, heartwarming story that will have you smile from ear-to-ear for the film's duration.

September 15, 2012 Full Review

Kristal Cooper

We Got This Covered

The settings, especially on the North Pole, are deliciously intricate and the characters understatedly quirky.

February 17, 2012 Full Review

Nell Minow

Beliefnet

The movie's idea that Santa and his elves have turned the distribution of presents every Dec. 24 into a major military operation makes me more than a tad uneasy.

January 13, 2012 Full Review

Richard Knight

Knight at the Movies

A plucky, clever animated Xmas tale that has much of Aardman's attention to quirky detail (bulbous noses), wordplay, and unconventional heroes (Arthur's fuelled by worry).

January 12, 2012 Full Review

Brian Gibson

Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)

In a season unexpectedly full of quality family films, Arthur Christmas may have to fight for the attention it deserves, but if there was ever an example of a film that's a crowd-pleaser without talking down to its audience, this is it.

January 3, 2012 Full Review

Mark Deming

TV Guide's Movie Guide

oi pragmatika aksiologes xristoygenniatikes tainies spanizoyn ston 21o aiwna kai einai etsi sobares oi prooptikes na leei mia sobarh prospatheia tameiaka kalanta gia polla xronia sth synexeia

December 26, 2011 Full Review

Joseph Proimakis

Movies for the Masses

There are things you just wouldn't see in a Pixar or Disney movie. For example, one of the main elves has an eyebrow piercing, uncommented on. Even more than that: two of the boy elves kiss... each other. It's progressive.

December 7, 2011 Full Review

CJ Johnson

ABC Radio (Australia)

A thoroughly entertaining movie that deserves to sleigh audiences both young and old this Yuletide.

December 7, 2011 Full Review

James Croot

Flicks.co.nz

Thank goodness that even the Santas have a mom to help them sort out their turmoils.

December 7, 2011 Full Review

Cynthia Fuchs

PopMatters

Quite brilliant.

December 5, 2011 Full Review

Jay Stone

Ottawa Citizen

A witty and beautifully designed animated film.

December 5, 2011 Full Review

David Stratton

The Australian

Arthur Christmas has charm and a breezy confidence that makes it the epitome of a simple pleasure.

December 5, 2011 Full Review

Siobhan Synnot

Scotsman

Aardman films' yuletide offering is both a heartwarmer and a sly dig at the gospel of family togetherness.

December 5, 2011 Full Review

Anthony Quinn

Independent

Arthur may not be perfect, but he cares. The same can be said for the film. 'Arthur Christmas' is full of just enough holiday cheer.

December 5, 2011 Full Review

Jeff Bayer

The Scorecard Review

• 1. Bryony: No one gets an unwrapped present on my watch!
  – Submitted by Peter V (3 months ago)
• 1. Steve: Operation Santa Claus is coming to town!
  – Submitted by Matthew R (6 months ago)
• 1. Bryony: She runs away! Alchoholic by the age of nine! DEAD before she's even... [Grandsanta blocks her mouth to prevent her from going any further]
  – Submitted by Cameron D (6 months ago)
• 1. Grandsanta: I'll never forget the look on your dads face. Couldnt look me in the eye. 'Dad' he says. 'Steve thinks it's best if you don't fly anymore. Were scrapping the old slay'.
  – Submitted by Austin G (17 months ago)
• 1. Arthur: Dad would rather die than spoil it for him.
  – Submitted by Austin G (17 months ago)
• 1. Elf: Straighten that teddy bear soldier.
  – Submitted by Austin G (17 months ago)