---
title: "Coco"
year: 2017
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/coco"
fi1m_id: "coco"
imdb_id: "tt2380307"
tmdb_id: 354912
wikidata_id: "Q5815826"
fi1m_score: 84
critics_score: 80
critics_reviews: 19
published: "2026-09-15"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:07.660968+00:00"
region: "US"
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."
---

# Coco (2017)

Directed by Lee Unkrich · 1h 45m · MPA PG · Family, Animation, Music, Adventure

## Identity

Coco

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/coco
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** coco
- **IMDb ID:** tt2380307
- **TMDB ID:** 354912
- **Wikidata ID:** Q5815826
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2380307/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/354912, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5815826

**Fi1m score: 84** · Critics 80 from 19 reviews

*In a sentence:* The skeletons are good company, once everyone has finished explaining the afterlife

> Lee Unkrich’s *Coco* is a warm, funny family musical that takes the fear of being forgotten seriously. Its busy, familiar plotting gets in the way, but the voices and the detailed Land of the Dead earn our recommendation.

## Synopsis

During Mexico’s Day of the Dead, Miguel Rivera (Anthony Gonzalez) makes a journey through the Land of the Dead. Music, family traditions and the wish to be remembered shape an adventure involving the living and the dead. Gael García Bernal voices Héctor, Benjamin Bratt is Ernesto de la Cruz and Alanna Ubach is Mamá Imelda. Renée Victor voices Abuelita, with Ana Ofelia Murguía as Mamá Coco. As Miguel moves through the afterlife, questions about fame and belonging sit alongside the ties between generations, and the difficulty of keeping those ties intact.

## Review

Lee Unkrich’s *Coco* is a warm, funny family musical with a fussy adventure plot, and we recommend it despite the fuss. Set around Mexico’s Day of the Dead, it tries to make death something children can think about without pretending it is harmless. The fear of being forgotten gives the journey through the afterlife a concern that parents may find harder to dismiss than their children do. At its centre is Miguel Rivera, voiced by Anthony Gonzalez.

Gonzalez gives Miguel an appealing directness, keeping the feeling clear without making every line sound like a request for sympathy. Gael García Bernal’s Héctor is particularly good company, his voice carrying enough roughness to avoid the over-polished cheer of some family animation. The performances make the relationships worth following even when the plot becomes too busy. Alanna Ubach gives Mamá Imelda the firmness that those family tensions need, while Benjamin Bratt voices Ernesto de la Cruz.

Harley Jessup’s production design makes the Land of the Dead feel built, with layers that give the place a convincing sense of depth and weight. The surfaces have enough substance to keep the spectacle from becoming an undifferentiated wash of colour. Cinematographers Danielle Feinberg and Matt Aspbury keep those layers distinct, allowing the eye to explore the crowded setting. We laughed at the skeletons, whose nimble movement makes the subject of death briefly less forbidding. They are allowed to be funny without every joke needing to reassure us.

Michael Giacchino’s score helps hold the warmth and unease together without making the whole journey sound mournful. The songs also give the film a good reason to stop hurrying, and these pauses are welcome. Music belongs in a story about what people keep of one another, so the musical scenes seldom feel like breaks imposed on the adventure. We would happily have spent longer with them and less time being told how the next part of the journey must work.

Matthew Aldrich and Adrian Molina’s screenplay is less assured when it has to move Miguel from one complication to the next. The plotting can feel compulsory, with too much business between the audience and an idea that is easy enough to grasp. Editors Lee Unkrich and Steve Bloom keep the adventure brisk, but speed cannot remove the feeling that some passages exist mainly to delay others. The opening also has a fair amount to explain. The film runs 105 minutes.

As a family adventure, it is conventional. The more interesting material concerns the friction within a family, where affection can make an unreasonable tradition harder to challenge. The attention to Mexican customs gives those disagreements some substance, and the film does not treat cultural respect as a reason to approve of everything its characters do. The questions about fame also move it beyond the usual encouragement to follow a dream. These are useful things for a family film to leave open for discussion.

The PG certificate is worth a little thought if death or bereavement is already close to home. The humour makes the subject approachable, though the sadness remains. Watch it with children, and leave time afterwards if they want to talk. There is no need to hurry that conversation.

*Fi1m score 84, published 15 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics respond warmly to Coco, with praise clustering around its animation, music and respectful treatment of Mexican traditions. The detailed Land of the Dead setting draws particular admiration, while the songs and family story make its treatment of memory and bereavement moving for many reviewers. The voice performances also earn praise, with The i Paper singling out Gael García Bernal as Hector. Several reviews value how the film gives children a way to think about death without losing its humour.

The reservations concern familiar plotting, busy exposition and how insistently the film seeks tears. Responses range from enthusiastic approval to qualified appreciation, with even less persuaded critics finding merit in the images and cultural detail. Screen Daily offers the sharpest dissent, finding the characters perfunctory and the storytelling insufficiently engaging. The broader disagreement is over whether the emotional force compensates for the familiar Pixar machinery.

## Straight answers

**Is Coco worth watching?**

*Coco* is worth watching for families who want a warm, funny musical that treats death seriously, and we scored it 84. Lee Unkrich’s film has a fussy, over-explained adventure plot, but Gael García Bernal’s Héctor, the skeletons and the built, layered Land of the Dead carry it. Leave time to talk afterwards if bereavement is close to home.

**How long is Coco, and what is it rated?**

*Coco* runs 1h 45m and is rated PG by the MPA in the US. It is a family and animation film.

**Where can I watch Coco in the US?**

*Coco* is streaming on Disney+ in the US, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV from $3.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does Coco compare to Spirited Away?**

*Coco* is the warmer and more conventional of the two; [*Spirited Away*](https://film.one/film/spirited-away) is the stranger and more frightening. Both follow a child among spirits, but Miyazaki explains far less and wanders where Unkrich hurries and over-explains. Younger or more nervous children will find *Coco* the easier watch; anyone who wants to be unsettled as well as moved should choose *Spirited Away*.

**What should I watch after Coco?**

After *Coco*, try [*Spirited Away*](https://film.one/film/spirited-away) (2001, Fi1m 92): Another child’s journey among spirits, with stranger rules and less explanation. Then [*Song of the Sea*](https://film.one/film/song-of-the-sea) (2014, Fi1m 82): Family grief and folklore meet in animation that knows when to be quiet; and [*After Life*](https://film.one/film/after-life) (1998, Fi1m 85): For adults, an afterlife where choosing a memory becomes the central task.

### Reviews we read (25)

- **Radio Times**, Alan Jones (5/5): This is a rich tapestry of Mexican folklore and family heritage that finds Pixar at the top of its animation game and a quality magical must-see family attraction. It singles out the vibrant visuals, clever skeletal dexterity and tribute to Latino cinema. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-e9yzi8/coco/)
- **The Telegraph** (5/5): Coco is a zingy, sunny family adventure about what it means to be dead that makes sense of bereavement in a healing and hopeful way. It could help children better understand grief. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/coco-review-pixar-makes-sense-bereavement-hopeful-healing-celebration/)
- **Empire**, Helen O'Hara (90/100, inferred): The critic praises Pixar for raising the animation bar with its most musical and arguably most magical film yet, noting the breathtaking visuals and moving story about family connections. She singles out the absolute commitment to Mexican culture and the spectacular musical numbers leading to a touching finale. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/coco-review/)
- **Evening Standard**, Charlotte O'Sullivan (85/100, inferred): The critic describes the film as a funny, irreverent and eye-popping CGI epic set around Mexico’s Day of the Dead that will make viewers cry. She singles out the subtle subversion of stereotypes through its focus on a hairy monster as hero and the emotional ode to memory and family. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/coco-review-an-eye-popping-day-of-the-dead-adventure-a3744216.html)
- **The AV Club**, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky (B+): The review highlights the breathtakingly stratified land of the dead and Pixar's polished craftsmanship as a homage to Mexican culture, but notes the film is somewhat formulaic with a relentlessly tearjerking finale. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/the-winning-coco-sends-pixar-to-the-great-beyond-1820524733)
- **The i Paper**, Matthew Turner (★★★★): The critic calls the film a spirit-raising fantasy that atones for years of Mexican cartoon stereotypes through its celebration of Day of the Dead traditions and strong representation. He singles out the breathtaking animation of the Land of the Dead and the exceptional voice work, especially Gael García Bernal as Hector. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/coco-review-pixar-118249)
- **Time Out**, Phil de Semlyen (4/5): Coco is a goofy joy that bubbles with wit and daring, gliding between kid-friendly spectacle and heart-tugging emotion. It singles out the full commitment to the Mexican Day of the Dead setting and the handling of tough themes like immigration and dementia. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/coco)
- **Total Film** (80/100, inferred): The critic calls it Pixar’s best film in ages, visually splendid, frequently emotional and culturally nourishing, even if it lacks the ingenuity of their finest outings. She singles out the exquisitely rendered musical fantasy in the Land of the Dead and the addictive songs as delivering rich rewards. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/coco-review/)
- **Vulture** (70/100, inferred): The critic finds it a charming if belabored adventure indebted to other Pixar and Ghibli films, with delightful musical sequences and strong messages about family, though the setup feels homework-y and reliant on emotional manipulation. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2017/11/coco-review.html)
- **Little White Lies**, David Jenkins (4/3/3): It is almost lovely as a shaggy dog ride into the afterlife that never kicks into top gear and is not top-tier Pixar but decent enough. It singles out the pristine design and tactile textures for praise while noting lazy contrivances in the story. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/coco/)
- **The Times**, Tom Shone (★★★): Coco has all the Pixar virtues except simplicity, with a powerful idea about being forgotten and an emotionally effective climax. Its busy plot takes time to reach its strongest points. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/article/film-review-steven-spielberg-tom-hanks-meryl-streep-the-post-and-coco-djx0gr96n)
- **Screen Daily** (50/100, inferred): Coco is sweet and sentimental without being particularly engaging, reverent rather than inspired due to perfunctory characters and mediocre plotting. It singles out the filmmakers' appreciation of Mexican traditions and the vibrant soundtrack and visuals for commendation. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/coco-review/5123436.article)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Justin Chang: Coco is a high-spirited romp through the underworld that honors family and roots while rebuking stifling traditions, but its breathless velocity and formulaic constraints keep it from feeling truly great. The visuals are rich and the cultural elements are handled with respect, yet it feels governed by timid, responsible spirits. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-coco-review-20171121-story.html)
- **Sight and Sound**, Violet Lucca: Coco is a beautiful testament to the power and pains of family that deconstructs myths around fame while celebrating Mexican culture. It singles out the tender and accurate depiction of Mexican traditions and the Day of the Dead. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/film-week-coco-pixars-vital-dance-with-los-muertos)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw: Coco is an engaging and touching quest narrative with great spectacle, sweet musical numbers and insightful points about family and memory. It has a real third act and an interesting ending that leaves a lump in the throat. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jan/18/coco-review-pixar-land-of-the-dead-animation)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Michael Rechtshaffen: The critic calls it one of Disney-Pixar's most engaging efforts, steeped in Mexican culture and folklore with emotional resonance and vibrant visuals. It features a peerless voice cast of Mexican and Latino actors and delivers a universal message about family bonds. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/coco-review-1050825/)
- **Variety**, Peter Debruge: The film is a vibrant celebration of Mexican culture and the first Pixar feature with a non-white protagonist, but it colors comfortably within the studio's lines on most other fronts. The sincere emotional resolution earns the sobs it inspires despite some drags and gags. [Read](https://variety.com/2017/film/reviews/coco-review-pixar-1202595605/)
- **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (A-): The film is a moving, beautiful look at family, music, and legacy realized through a journey in the Land of the Dead. It surpasses recent Pixar efforts with its visuals, characters, and emotional resolution. [Read](https://collider.com/coco-review-pixar/)
- **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (90/100, inferred): The critic calls it another dazzling Pixar success, a colorful, musical and fun adventure that tops itself visually. He singles out the imaginative Land of the Dead setting, humor derived from the skeletal characters, and the flavorful score and songs. [Read](https://deadline.com/2017/11/coco-review-pixar-lee-unkrich-gael-garcia-bernal-benjamin-bratt-video-1202212768/)
- **The Playlist**, Kevin Jagernauth (90/100, inferred): The critic finds the film magical, rebellious and subversive, one of Pixar's very best that truly transports the viewer. They single out the heartfelt emotional core and the way it feels profoundly personal yet universal in the current political climate. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/coco-review-20171108/)
- **The Wrap**, Robert Abele (90/100, inferred): The critic hails it as a spirited, touching and breezily entertaining animated film that offers children a way to process death through Mexico’s Día de los Muertos. He singles out the rich music, spirited performances and swirling, vibrantly hued artistic achievement in its design and animation. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/coco-review-pixar-disney-day-of-the-dead-dia-de-los-muertos/)
- **/Film**, Josh Spiegel (8/10): The critic says Pixar is back on track with one of their most beautiful movies. They single out the reliance on music and the vibrant, lush depiction of Mexican culture that makes it visually wondrous. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/554623/coco-review/)
- **HeyUGuys**, Linda Marric (4/5): The critic calls it a wonderful return to form for Pixar that delivers emotional and creative goods while exploring other cultures with genuine respect. They single out the vibrant, stereotype-free love letter to Mexico and its Day of the Dead traditions along with the heartfelt family themes. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/coco-review/)
- **Polygon**, Susana Polo (80/100, inferred): It is a tidy, endearing story with a beautiful, well-realized aesthetic that gives prominent billing to Mexican culture. The rich Land of the Dead world and a powerful emotional scene stand out for praise. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/2017/11/8/16621900/coco-disney-pixar-review)
- **Den of Geek**, Don Kaye (4 out of 5): The critic calls it a delightful return to form for Pixar with a poignant family story and rich homage to Mexican culture, plus rousing musical numbers. They single out the eye-popping world-building and colorful design of the Land of the Dead as a highlight. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/coco-review/)

## Details

- **Director:** Lee Unkrich
- **Director:** Lee Unkrich
- **Screenplay:** Adrian Molina, Matthew Aldrich
- **Cinematography:** Matt Aspbury, Danielle Feinberg
- **Editor:** Lee Unkrich, Steve Bloom
- **Music:** Michael Giacchino
- **Production design:** Harley Jessup
- **Producer:** Darla K. Anderson
- **Cast:** Anthony Gonzalez as Miguel Rivera (voice); Gael García Bernal as Héctor (voice); Benjamin Bratt as Ernesto de la Cruz (voice); Alanna Ubach as Mamá Imelda (voice); Renée Victor as Abuelita (voice); Jaime Camil as Papá (voice); Alfonso Arau as Papá Julio (voice); Herbert Siguenza as Tío Oscar / Tío Felipe (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 45m
- **Certificate (MPA):** PG
- **Release (the US):** 22 November 2017
- **Genres:** Family, Animation, Music, Adventure
- **Budget:** $175 million
- **Box office:** $815 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvr68u6k5sI

## Where to watch in the US

- Disney+: streaming, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd
- Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $19.99, hd
- Apple TV: buy $19.99, hd

*Checked 2026-09-15.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IL, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Academy Awards 2018: Best Animated Feature (won); Best Original Song (won)
- Annie Award for Best Animated Feature 2018: Annie Award for Best Animated Feature (won)
- Annie Award for Best Production Design in an Animated Feature Production 2018: Annie Award for Best Production Design in an Animated Feature Production (won)
- Annie Award for Character Animation in a Feature Production 2018: Annie Award for Character Animation in a Feature Production (won)
- Annie Award for Character Design in a Feature Production 2018: Annie Award for Character Design in a Feature Production (won)
- Annie Award for Directing in a Feature Production 2018: Annie Award for Directing in a Feature Production (won)
- Annie Award for Music in a Feature Production 2018: Annie Award for Music in a Feature Production (won)
- Annie Award for Storyboarding in a Feature Production 2018: Annie Award for Storyboarding in a Feature Production (won)
- Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production 2018: Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production (won)
- Annie Award for Writing in a Feature Production 2018: Annie Award for Writing in a Feature Production (won)
- BAFTA Film Awards 2018: BAFTA's Children & Young People Award - Feature Film (nominated); Best Animated Film (won)
- Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Song 2018: Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Song (won)
- Critics' Choice Awards 2018: Best Animated Feature (won)
- Golden Globes 2018: Best Animated Feature Film (won)
- Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie 2018: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie (won)
- Satellite Award for Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature 2018: Satellite Award for Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature (won)
- Saturn Awards 2018: Best Animated Film (won); Best Music (won)

## If you liked this

- *Spirited Away* (2001), Fi1m 92: Another child’s journey among spirits, with stranger rules and less explanation. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/spirited-away.md)
- *Song of the Sea* (2014), Fi1m 82: Family grief and folklore meet in animation that knows when to be quiet. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/song-of-the-sea.md)
- *After Life* (1998), Fi1m 85: For adults, an afterlife where choosing a memory becomes the central task. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/after-life.md)
- *A Matter of Life and Death* (1946), Fi1m 92: An afterlife with its own procedures, and earthly affection worth arguing for. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/a-matter-of-life-and-death.md)
- *The Book of Life* (2014): Another musical trip through Mexican remembrance traditions, with a different handmade look.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/coco