Critics’ reviews

Arco (2025)

16 reviews from 16 publications. Critics’ score 71: 11 positive, 5 mixed, 0 negative.

Back to our review of Arco

71
Positive
11
Mixed
5
Negative
0

Most critics find Arco a charming, hopeful animated adventure, with praise clustering around its colourful visuals and the warmth of its young leads’ relationship. The detailed backgrounds and imaginative environments draw particular approval, while several reviews find its environmental concerns urgent without making its view of the future despairing. The children’s curiosity and affection give the science-fiction premise an emotional pull, even for critics who find the storytelling familiar.

Reservations centre on a predictable plot, conspicuous influences and underdeveloped time-travel rules. The responses range from enthusiastic to mixed, with none wholly negative, though critics differ over how much the sweetness compensates for thin plotting. The Los Angeles Times questions the character animation and comic adult trio, departing from the broader visual praise. Eye for Film offers the sharpest reservation: its review argues that conservative values and dated visions of the future undermine the film’s hopeful outlook.

Empire
16 March 2026 · John Nugent
80*

The review finds Arco a charming, optimistic film with an urgent environmental message. It especially praises the colourful hand-drawn animation and the warmth of its characters.

Read the full review →
Little White Lies
17 March 2026 · 4/4/4 · Michael Leader
80

The review finds the film charming, sincere, and infectious in its hope for the future. It particularly praises the vibrant visual design and the film’s imaginative, environmentally conscious worldbuilding.

Read the full review →
Variety
5 February 2026 · Carlos Aguilar
80*

Aguilar finds the film wondrous and ultimately hopeful despite its climate-catastrophe premise. He praises its gorgeous, detailed backgrounds and Miyazaki-inspired natural environments.

Read the full review →
The Hollywood Reporter
16 May 2025 · festival review · Lovia Gyarkye
76*

Gyarkye finds the film hopeful and sweet, praising its expressive animation and the bond between its young leads. She notes that the time-travel rules and a thread about cultural preservation feel underdeveloped.

Read the full review →
Slant Magazine
10 November 2025 · ★★★/4 · Justin Clark
75

Clark finds the film’s hopeful message convincing despite its portrait of a world in crisis. He praises its hand-painted animation and the childlike wonder and connection at its heart.

Read the full review →
IndieWire
16 May 2025 · B- · Christian Blauvelt
70

Blauvelt finds the film imaginative, soulful, and emotionally stirring, though its predictable plot and conspicuous influences hold it back. He praises its vivid animation and hopeful vision of the future.

Read the full review →
Screen Daily
12 June 2025 · festival review · Wendy Ide
70*

Ide’s verdict is positive, describing the film as appealing. The review highlights its 2D time-travel animation and the premise of a boy from the far future landing in 2075.

Read the full review →
The AV Club
22 October 2025 · festival review · Jacob Oller
70*

Oller finds Arco an endearing, breezy soft sci-fi story, though its themes and genre details remain underdeveloped. He especially praises the timeless curiosity and central relationship between the two young leads.

Read the full review →
The Guardian
18 March 2026 · Leslie Felperin
70*

Felperin finds the film mostly fresh and emotionally affecting, despite a script that borrows too heavily from earlier science fiction. She particularly praises the bond between the children and their AI-powered nanny robot.

Read the full review →
The Observer
22 March 2026 · Wendy Ide
70*

Ide finds Arco charming despite its familiar plot and limited originality. She praises the richly detailed backgrounds for bringing its contrasting worlds vividly to life.

Read the full review →
Los Angeles Times
23 January 2026 · Robert Abele
65*

A sweet but slight animated adventure, Arco offers heartfelt optimism despite a story that sometimes stalls. Abele praises its beguiling earnestness and childlike imaginative daring, while faulting the lifeless character animation and comic adult trio.

Read the full review →
Time Out
18 March 2026 · ★★★ · Phil de Semlyen
60

The review frames the film as a kid-friendly, hopeful sci-fi adventure. It singles out its kaleidoscopic time-travelling premise, though the article body is unavailable to confirm further details.

Read the full review →
Den of Geek
2 February 2026 · Joe George
85*

The review finds Arco a rich, beautiful family film that stands apart from conventional animation. It praises the film’s imaginative visual style and its humane, thoughtful portrait of children’s lives shaped by technology.

Read the full review →
The Wrap
15 November 2025
68*

The critic finds “Arco” sweet and immersive, though its gentle approach sometimes makes the film dull. They praise its colorful animation and hopeful vision, while faulting the weak antagonists and underwhelming chase.

Read the full review →
Deadline
11 June 2025 · festival review · Pete Hammond
55*

The critic finds Arco worthwhile but says it falls short of Flow and Robot Dreams. He praises its colorful visuals and climate-change message, while noting its young audience focus.

Read the full review →
Eye for Film
29 December 2025 · Jennie Kermode
48*

Kermode finds Arco a sweet, hopeful story whose conservative values and dated futures undercut its promise. She praises its simple, attractive animation, while criticizing the annoying adult characters and lack of depth.

Read the full review →

Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate