--- title: "Early Man" year: 2018 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/early-man" fi1m_id: "early-man" imdb_id: "tt4701724" tmdb_id: 387592 wikidata_id: "Q25136586" fi1m_score: 68 critics_score: 68 critics_reviews: 26 published: "2026-10-22" updated: "2026-10-22T03:29:39.384744+00:00" region: "DE" 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." --- # Early Man (2018) Directed by Nick Park · 1h 29m · FSK 0 · Family, Comedy, Animation, Adventure, Sport ## Identity Early Man - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/early-man - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** early-man - **IMDb ID:** tt4701724 - **TMDB ID:** 387592 - **Wikidata ID:** Q25136586 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4701724/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/387592, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25136586 **Fi1m score: 68** · Critics 68 from 26 reviews *In a sentence:* The clay footballers are trying harder than the script > Nick Park’s prehistoric football comedy is gently amusing, with handmade animation that deserves a livelier story. It is a decent family diversion, but the predictable sporting plot leaves several gifted voices with too little to do. ## Synopsis The Stone Age and the Bronze Age meet on a football pitch, with an underdog team facing a sporting challenge. Dug (voiced by Eddie Redmayne) needs teamwork to count for more than individual talent. Around him are Chief Bobnar (voiced by Timothy Spall), Goona (voiced by Maisie Williams) and Lord Nooth (voiced by Tom Hiddleston), while Queen Oofeefa (voiced by Miriam Margolyes) brings royalty into the prehistoric proceedings. Ancient civilisation supplies the setting, but the immediate business is football: a team has to find a way to play together. ## Review *Early Man* is an amiable, modestly funny family film whose prehistoric football premise promises more invention than the story delivers. Nick Park brings a patient eye to the awkward clay people, and enough small jokes to keep an adult watching beside a child. But a contest between the Stone Age and the Bronze Age becomes a familiar underdog sports story surprisingly quickly. At 89 minutes it does not demand a large investment, although the slow opening makes us notice the time. Much of the pleasure comes from watching these figures move, with their ungainly bodies and faces that need only a small adjustment to register a thought. Cinematographers Paul Smith, Charles Copping and Dave Alex Riddett preserve the solidity of the models and the appeal of their handmade surfaces. Matt Perry’s production design rewards looking past the main action, where incidental details can be more engaging than the next step of the plot. These people remain funny to look at even when the dialogue gives them little help. Eddie Redmayne gives Dug the sincerity this sort of hero needs, though there is little in the writing to make that sincerity distinctive. Tom Hiddleston has more to do as Lord Nooth, enjoying the voice without making the performance feel detached from the character. Maisie Williams brings a useful directness to Goona. The performers sound engaged, but too many of the characters have barely enough personality to support a joke, let alone sustain our interest between the jokes. The screenplay by Mark Burton and James Higginson relies heavily on the audience’s familiarity with sporting underdogs. That has an obvious practical benefit: the competition needs little explanation, leaving space for comedy. Its emphasis on cooperation is welcome, too, and the film treats its less accomplished characters kindly. Yet the demands of the sports story become restrictive, with too few surprises in the writing to distinguish this team from the many hopeful amateurs who have stumbled through the genre before. We laughed at the duck gag because the animation gives a throwaway absurdity the care and timing that the main story sometimes lacks. That is where the film feels most confident, letting a ridiculous sight earn its laugh without requiring much explanation. Editor Sim Evan-Jones gives the individual visual jokes room to register, though the stretches connecting them can feel overextended. The comic rhythm is uneven: an inventive bit of business arrives, restores our interest, and then the film takes longer than it should to find another. The music by Tom Howe and Harry Gregson-Williams tries to supply the excitement that the storytelling sometimes lacks. Its encouragement feels dutiful beside jokes whose appeal comes from being so small and silly. A quieter, less insistent approach might have left more space for the animation. The cast already gives these characters considerable warmth; additional musical nudging does not make us care more deeply about their sporting prospects. The prehistoric setting leaves us wishing the film would venture further from the standard football comedy. There is room for stranger behaviour and more eccentric people than the script allows, especially with these performers available. Still, the animation supplies enough pleasure to make this a reasonable choice for a family already fond of handmade comedy. Keep it for an evening when gentle silliness is enough. *Fi1m score 68, published 22 October 2026.* ## What the critics say The reviews lean towards qualified approval of Early Man, with praise clustering around Aardman’s handmade stop-motion animation and visual jokes. Critics repeatedly find warmth, silliness and expressive detail in its prehistoric football story, even when the plot feels familiar. Several also welcome the voice performances and the emphasis on teamwork. For the more enthusiastic reviewers, the film’s kindness and comic invention make it a satisfying family comedy. The reservations centre on a routine underdog story, uneven pacing and characters who receive too little development. Many consider it a modest effort by Aardman’s standards, though the spread runs from enthusiastic recommendations to outright disappointment. Comic timing divides opinion: The Hollywood Reporter praises its precision, while Slant Magazine finds it slack. The Wrap is a sharper dissenter, finding the characters flat and the visuals unimpressive, rather than accepting the animation as compensation for the familiar story. ## Straight answers **Is Early Man worth watching?** *Early Man* is worth considering for families fond of handmade animation and gentle silliness; we score it 68 out of 100. The clay characters and small visual jokes provide more pleasure than the predictable underdog football story, while a slow opening and uneven comic rhythm keep it from being an easy recommendation. **How long is Early Man, and what is it rated?** *Early Man* runs 1h 29m and is rated 0 by the FSK in Germany. It is a family and comedy film. **Where can I watch Early Man in Germany?** *Early Man* is available to rent from Apple TV from €3.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How does Early Man compare to Shaun the Sheep Movie?** *Early Man* is the gentler, more predictable choice beside [*Shaun the Sheep Movie*](https://film.one/film/shaun-the-sheep-movie), which we recommend for its sharper visual storytelling. Both offer handmade comedy, but *Shaun the Sheep Movie* gets more from largely wordless mischief, despite a middle stretch short of ideas; *Early Man* leans on dialogue and a familiar football plot. **What should I watch after Early Man?** After *Early Man*, try [*Shaun the Sheep Movie*](https://film.one/film/shaun-the-sheep-movie) (2015, Fi1m 80): Handmade mischief with sharper visual storytelling and almost no need for dialogue. Then [*Ernest & Celestine*](https://film.one/film/ernest-and-celestine) (2012, Fi1m 84): Gentle animated comedy whose outsiders have more room to become people. ### Reviews we read (26) - **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (90/100, inferred): Turan finds the film thoroughly amusing, praising Nick Park’s delicate comic imagination and reliable instinct for laughter. He also enjoys its parade of playful jokes and stop-motion touches, including a closing tribute to Ray Harryhausen. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-early-man-review-20180215-story.html) - **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (90/100, inferred): Bradshaw calls the film an outstanding, good-natured family comedy and a treat. He praises its witty writing and charming blend of childlike silliness with adult humor. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jan/26/early-man-review-nick-park-aardman-animation-eddie-redmayne) - **Radio Times**, Andrew Collins (80/100, inferred): The review presents the film as a lively, funny success. It singles out its pun-filled plasticine adventure and send-up of the Stone Age. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/early-man-review-at-the-top-of-aardmans-evolutionary-tree/) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Leslie Felperin (80/100, inferred): Felperin finds the film a warm, old-school delight. She especially praises its precise comic timing and nostalgic stop-motion world. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/early-man-review-1074629/) - **IndieWire**, Michael Nordine (B): Nordine finds the film a joyous, worthy successor to Park’s best-known work, though its familiar narrative could have been more ambitious. He praises Aardman’s clever stop-motion gags and the film’s team-over-individuals theme. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/early-man-review-eddie-redmayne-maisie-williams-1201916587/) - **Variety**, Peter Debruge (75/100, inferred): Debruge finds the film charming and endearingly silly, though its championship match offers few surprises. He praises the handcrafted stop-motion style and the abundance of visual gags. [Read](https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/early-man-review-aardman-animations-1202664176/) - **The AV Club**, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky (B-): Vishnevetsky finds the film’s premise and straightforward sports-comedy structure limit its humor, despite its charm. He praises Aardman’s delightful stop-motion animation, while noting that digitally animated extras look cheap. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/aardman-takes-sports-comedies-back-to-the-stone-age-in-1822918740) - **Empire**, Jonathan Pile (65/100, inferred): Pile finds the film entertaining and often amusing, but says it falls short of Aardman’s best. He singles out its occasional moments of comic genius, including a standout duck gag. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/early-man-review/) - **Sight and Sound**, Kate Stables (65/100, inferred): Stables finds the film charming and well crafted, though short of vintage Aardman ingenuity. She especially praises the tactile, handmade claymation, while noting the slow pacing and underused characters. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/early-man-review-deliciously-tactile-nostalgic-feat-clay) - **RogerEbert.com** (64/100, inferred): The review’s verdict and specific praise or criticism cannot be verified from the blocked page. The page shows only a browser-check message, not the review text. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/early-man-2018) - **Screen Daily**, Wendy Ide (64/100, inferred): The accessible text does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It highlights Park’s return to directing but gives no further praise or complaint. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/early-man-review/5125365.article) - **The New York Times** (64/100, inferred): The page appears to be a review of the specified film, but its contents are inaccessible. The critic’s verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be determined. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/movies/early-man-review-aardman-animations.html) - **Slant Magazine**, Keith Watson (2.5/4): Watson finds the film charming but ultimately bland and uninspired. He praises the handmade stop-motion craft, while faulting the formulaic story and slack comic timing. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/early-man/) - **Evening Standard**, Charlotte O'Sullivan (3/5): O’Sullivan finds the film charming but dishearteningly risk-averse. She praises the cast and handcrafted visual sequences, while criticizing the recycled jokes, soundtrack and familiar ground. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/early-man-review-a-charming-blast-from-the-past-a3750296.html) - **Little White Lies**, David Jenkins (4/3/3): The critic finds the film charming and often funny, but says its undercooked story keeps it from competing with stronger animated films. The tactile, colourful animation and the film’s eccentric humour stand out, though the plot feels slight. [Read](https://www.lwlies.com/reviews/early-man) - **Time Out**, Phil de Semlyen (3/5): The critic says this prehistoric footballing caper has a big heart but falls short of Aardman’s usual genius. They single out its heart as a strength. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/early-man) - **The New Yorker**, Anthony Lane (55/100, inferred): Lane welcomes the film but finds it below Aardman’s highest standards. He praises its witty visual details while faulting its length and shortage of memorable animal characters. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/02/26/black-panther-and-early-man) - **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (90/100, inferred): Hammond gives the film an enthusiastic recommendation as delightful, family-friendly fun. He especially praises Aardman’s stop-motion animation and the film’s lively characters and gags. [Read](https://deadline.com/2018/02/early-man-review-aardman-eddie-redmayne-tom-hiddleston-animated-movie-video-1202286780/) - **/Film**, Karen Han (8/10): Han calls the film a wholehearted delight, praising its kindness and cleverness despite a familiar plot. She particularly singles out Aardman’s inventive visual gags and the voice cast’s sincere performances. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/556339/early-man-review/) - **Den of Geek**, Simon Brew (4 out of 5): Brew calls the film a joyous, intelligent family movie and a real treat, despite a slow warm-up and some dutiful sports-movie conventions. He especially praises Aardman’s hand-crafted animation, cinematic direction, and the film’s abundance of visual gags. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/early-man-review/) - **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (B): Goldberg calls the film a funny, charming delight despite its predictable sports-comedy plot. He praises Aardman’s playful humor and lovable characters, especially Hognob’s silly antics. [Read](https://collider.com/early-man-review-aardman-animation/) - **Paste**, Tim Grierson (6.5): Grierson finds the film charming and gently funny, but less inventive and emotionally engaging than Park’s earlier work. He especially praises the awkward, expressive stop-motion characters, while faulting the story’s limited character development. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/early-man/early-man) - **The Playlist**, Will Ashton (B-): The critic finds the film charming but underwhelming by Aardman’s usual standards. They praise its richly detailed animation and Tom Hiddleston’s voice performance, while noting that the comedy is hit-or-miss and the story routine. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/early-man-review-20180216/) - **HeyUGuys** (65/100, inferred): The critic finds it a cheerful, competent underdog story, though less distinctive than Nick Park’s earlier work. The detailed stop-motion animation and the eccentric Queen Oofeefa stand out for praise. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/early-man-review/) - **The Wrap** (25/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a disappointing, overly familiar misfire. They single out the shortage of Aardman’s trademark humor, along with flat characters and unspectacular visuals. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/early-man-film-review-aardman-eddie-redmayne/) - **Eye for Film**, Angus Wolfe Murray (20/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a big disappointment, lacking the comic invention to make its underdog story memorable. They single out Goona as an exception in an otherwise unfunny cast of characters. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/early-man-2018-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) ## Details - **Director:** Nick Park - **Director:** Nick Park - **Screenplay:** Mark Burton, James Higginson - **Story:** Nick Park, Mark Burton - **Cinematography:** Charles Copping, Paul Smith, Dave Alex Riddett - **Editor:** Sim Evan-Jones - **Music:** Harry Gregson-Williams, Tom Howe - **Production design:** Matt Perry - **Producer:** Richard Beek, Peter Lord, Carla Shelley - **Cast:** Eddie Redmayne as Dug (voice); Tom Hiddleston as Lord Nooth (voice); Maisie Williams as Goona (voice); Timothy Spall as Chief Bobnar (voice); Miriam Margolyes as Queen Oofeefa (voice); Rob Brydon as Message Bird / Brian / Bryan / Gonad the Gaul (voice); Kayvan Novak as Dino / Jurgend (voice); Richard Ayoade as Treebor (voice) - **Runtime:** 1h 29m - **Certificate (FSK):** 0 - **Release (Germany):** 22 April 2018 - **Genres:** Family, Comedy, Animation, Adventure, Sport - **Budget:** $50 million - **Box office:** $53 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC5FIWUFfUY ## Where to watch in Germany - Apple TV: rent €3.99, hd - Apple TV: buy €7.99, sd *Checked 2026-10-22.* Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, HK, IE, IT, JP, MX, NO, NZ, PA, PL, SE, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - Annie Award for Best Animated Feature 2018: Annie Award for Best Animated Feature (nominated) - European Film Award for Best Animated Feature Film 2018: European Film Award for Best Animated Feature Film (nominated) ## If you liked this - *Shaun the Sheep Movie* (2015), Fi1m 80: Handmade mischief with sharper visual storytelling and almost no need for dialogue. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/shaun-the-sheep-movie.md) - *A Town Called Panic* (2009): Small animated figures cause enormous trouble, with considerably less respect for sensible plotting. - *Lagaan* (2001): Another underdog team makes sport matter, with richer characters and much greater patience. - *Ernest & Celestine* (2012), Fi1m 84: Gentle animated comedy whose outsiders have more room to become people. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/ernest-and-celestine.md) - *The Bad News Bears* (1976): For adults drawn to sporting underdogs, a scruffier comedy with sharper elbows. --- © 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/early-man