--- title: "Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget" critics_score: 69 critics_reviews: 12 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023): what the critics said Critics' score 69 from 12 reviews: 9 positive, 2 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics like Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget without loving it. The praise clusters almost entirely on Aardman’s stop-motion craft: the expressive chickens, the detailed sets and the heist set-pieces built on a Mission: Impossible template are singled out again and again, and several reviews find the action bolder in scope than the original’s. The reservations cluster just as clearly. Many find the story repeats the first film’s beats, the jokes land less often, and the whole thing lacks the original’s spark, with the voice recasts a recurring complaint. The spread is fairly wide. The Telegraph calls it brilliant and uproarious and The AV Club reckons it more fun than the first film, while The Guardian finds it undercooked and short of fresh ideas. Slant Magazine is the notable dissenter on craft, seeing a flat look and bland design where nearly everyone else sees a case for the handmade approach. ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 15 December 2023. The critic calls it a brilliant, uproarious sequel that moves the story on with thrilling infiltration missions and mind-control schemes, drawing on the golden age of British comics and spy capers. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget-review/) ## The AV Club — Luke Y. Thompson Rating B+. 13 December 2023. A rollicking animated followup that's even more fun than the original, using a Mission: Impossible template with strong teamwork and gadgets. The emotional hook is stronger in the finale grudge match with Mrs. Tweedy. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget-movie-review-1851060029) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 October 2023. Festival review. The film delivers a delightful return to Aardman’s stop-motion style with an inventive Mission: Impossible-style plot. The critic praises the seamless animation, cheeky humor and detailed craftsmanship. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget-review-aardman-1235754745/) ## The New York Times — Alissa Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 December 2023. The sequel largely repeats the beats and characters of the original film. The critic highlights the expressive stop-motion chickens as the source of its comic appeal. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/14/movies/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget-review.html) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 15 December 2023. Might not fully capture the magic of the original but is still fun, with visual comedy and daffy engineering as highlights. It is baggier, not as funny, and drags in parts but achieves its goal of entertaining kids and adults. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-netflixs-chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget.html) ## Slant Magazine — David Robb Rating 2/4. 4 December 2023. The film mostly fails to make a convincing case for Aardman’s old-school artisanal approach, with bland design and a flat look. It plods along as a functional joke vehicle fueled mostly by fond memories of the original. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget-review/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 10 December 2023. The critic finds the sequel disappointingly undercooked and lacking fresh ideas compared to the original, though not entirely bad. The synthetic color palette and lack of new jokes are singled out for complaint. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/10/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget-review-sequel-aardman-animations) ## Empire — John Nugent 5 December 2023. It is a gorgeously realised, resolutely British little adventure that retains Aardman's artisanal craft while adding bolder scope and Mission: Impossible-style set-pieces, delivering silly, witty family fun. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget/) ## Screen Daily 14 October 2023. Festival review. Aardman’s long-awaited sequel looks set to become a family favourite by sticking with the successful formula and trading on family-friendly humour. It is a familiar, well-executed coming-of-age narrative with impressive stop-motion craft. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget-london-review/5186903.article) ## Sight and Sound 17 October 2023. Festival review. The long-awaited sequel is at its best when it lets Aardman’s handcrafted charm shine through sprightly action, silly puns and visual gags. Connoisseurs may crave a more intricate story, but most family audiences will be sated. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/chicken-run-dawn-nugget-endearing-second-helping-fowl-play) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Leslie Felperin 16 October 2023. Festival review. The critic finds it a worthy but not especially meaty sequel, better suited to little kids and grandparents than savvier viewers. It sticks closely to the Aardman look with situational humor but lacks cackle-worthy one-liners and has a predictable last act. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget-review-1235618375/) ## The i Paper — Francesca Steele 15 December 2023. The sequel lacks the original's spark and belly laughs, feeling more like genial chuckling and film-by-committee, though it remains decent festive entertainment with a lively voice cast and British charm. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/chicken-run-dawn-of-nugget-review-cgi-spoils-charm-2802092) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★★★☆☆. 6 December 2023. The review notes the film is technically impressive and witty in places but ultimately falls short of recapturing the original's magic after the long wait. Voice recasts and narrative choices are highlighted. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget-review-aardman-sequel-is-witty-but-falls-short-59z50f0g2) ## Total Film 14 October 2023. This charming, weird and enjoyable sequel is another feather in Aardman's cap, rallying the flock against fast food in a filmic riff-filled adventure that shines once it leaves the island sanctuary. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget-review-netflix/) ## NME — Paul Bradshaw Rating 4/5. 14 December 2023. The critic finds the sequel a fun, warm Aardman family film with inventive set pieces and cosy charm that still delivers essential holiday viewing. They note it has too much Netflix polish and lacks some of the original's spark. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/chicken-run-2-dawn-of-the-nugget-review-3558901) ## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 15 December 2023. The critic calls it a worthy, funny and brilliantly crafted follow-up that captures quintessential Aardman spirit and scales up the action effectively. They single out the controversial voice cast changes as the main element that prevents it from being perfect. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a45507483/chicken-run-2-review-dawn-of-the-nugget/) ## /Film — Josh Spiegel Rating 7.5/10. 13 December 2023. The review finds it an enjoyable but slightly reheated sequel, praising the stop-motion animation and action sequences while noting the script feels less clever and the setup familiar. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1469091/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget-review/) ## Film Stories — James Harvey Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 October 2023. Festival review. The critic praises the heist premise and Aardman's animation and humor, but notes it lacks the original's narrative tightness and emotional depth. It honors the legacy well as a fun, imaginative sequel. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget-review/) ## Collider — Emma Kiely Rating 5/10. 12 December 2023. The critic finds the sequel disappointing with a dull, unoriginal plot and less charming characters than the original, though the Aardman animation remains spectacular. [Read the review](https://collider.com/chicken-run-2-dawn-of-the-nugget-review/) ## Deadline — Damon Wise 14 October 2023. Festival review. The critic finds the sequel refreshing and cleverly modern family entertainment that works to a formula without feeling committee-written. They single out the playful Mission: Impossible vibe bolstered by the score. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2023/10/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget-review-aardman-sequel-thandiwe-newton-zachary-levi-bella-ramsey-1235573022/) ## The Wrap 13 December 2023. The critic finds it an uninspired sequel that's disappointing and serviceable but lacking wit and originality. They single out the borrowed ideas and uninspired giggles. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget.md