--- title: "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio" critics_score: 80 critics_reviews: 31 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." --- # Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022): what the critics said Critics' score 80 from 31 reviews: 28 positive, 2 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics like this Pinocchio a good deal, and 28 of 31 reviews are favourable. The praise lands almost entirely on the stop-motion, described again and again as tactile, handmade and jagged in a way that suits the story’s macabre streak. Beyond the craft, critics credit del Toro with reworking the fable rather than retelling it, moving it to fascist-era Italy and giving real weight to mortality, disobedience and the failings of fathers. Gregory Mann’s voice work as Pinocchio earns a mention or two. The reservations are consistent and modest. The songs are the most common complaint, several critics calling them misplaced or unnecessary, and a few find the second half either frantic or slow, with Slant Magazine singling out the fascist training-camp section as a drag. A handful think the busyness blunts the emotion. Deadline is the only outright dissenter, finding the film strangely unmoving and cluttered with visual flourishes, while still admiring the animation. ## Little White Lies — Kambole Campbell Rating 4/5/5. 7 December 2022. Campbell considers the film among Guillermo del Toro’s finest, praising its heartfelt reworking of the story. He especially singles out the tactile, handmade stop-motion craft and production design. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/pinocchio-gdt) ## IndieWire — Rafael Motamayor Rating A. 15 October 2022. Motamayor praises the film as a life-affirming, rebellious reimagining and del Toro’s best movie in a decade. He especially highlights the expressive stop-motion performances and the animation’s remarkable craftsmanship. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/pinocchio-review-guillermo-del-toro-1234772874/) ## Sight and Sound — BFI Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 20 October 2022. The critic considers the film a soaring success, with its stop-motion craft raising the bar. They especially praise the lively animation and its expressive interplay of lighting, camerawork and puppetry. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio-heartfelt-adaptation-that-raises-bar-stop-motion-animation) ## The Guardian — Mark Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 27 November 2022. Kermode gives the film an enthusiastic verdict, praising its peculiar magical strangeness. He especially singles out the tactile stop-motion and the film’s distinctive sensibility for making the fable sing. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/nov/27/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio-review-a-superbly-strange-stop-motion-animation) ## Slant Magazine — Josh Wise Rating 3.5/4. 19 October 2022. The critic finds the film striking and inventive, though its late fascist training-camp section drags. He praises the painstaking craft and the film’s wild visual inventions. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio-review/) ## Radio Times — Patrick Cremona Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 7 December 2022. The review presents the film as a wondrous, charming adaptation with darkness. It praises the intricate design and the sense that the film is a genuine passion project. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/pinocchio-review-netflix/) ## The AV Club — Luke Y. Thompson Rating B+. 5 December 2022. Thompson finds this a worthy, distinctive take on Pinocchio despite some musical and finale missteps. He especially praises its richly designed stop-motion world and del Toro’s visual style. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio-movie-review-netflix-1849757761) ## Empire — Alex Godfrey Fi1m's normalised score 82/100 (inferred from the text). 22 November 2022. Godfrey finds the film a distinctive, soulful and philosophically rich adaptation, though its songs feel misplaced and its emotional impact is uneven. He especially praises the jagged, imaginative stop-motion designs and the touching ending. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio/) ## Time Out — Olly Richards Rating 4/5. 21 November 2022. Richards calls it the best adaptation of Collodi’s fairy tale in 70 years. He praises its stop-motion blend of magic and the macabre. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio-2022) ## Variety — Guy Lodge Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 15 October 2022. Festival review. Lodge finds the film an eccentric, imaginative adaptation that makes the familiar story feel distinctive and worthwhile. He particularly praises its macabre stop-motion textures and vivid visual design. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio-review-1235404540/) ## Los Angeles Times — Robert Abele Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 November 2022. Abele finds the film inventive and heart-conscious, though its second half becomes overly frantic and blunts its emotional force. He praises its Old World stop-motion detail and its thoughtful treatment of imperfect fathers, mortality and family. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-11-08/review-guillermo-del-toro-pinocchio-netflix) ## Screen Daily — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 15 October 2022. Festival review. The review presents the film as impressively distinctive. It singles out its stop-motion animation as a notable feature. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio-london-review/5175204.article) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Leslie Felperin Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 15 October 2022. Festival review. Felperin finds the film imperfect but often beautiful, with its inventive reworking of the story outweighing its indulgences. She especially praises the exquisitely crafted stop-motion animation and its deliberately stuttery movement, while faulting the editing and pacing. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/guillermo-del-toro-pinocchio-netflix-cate-blanchett-christoph-waltz-ewan-mcgregor-tilda-swinton-1235242088/) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 December 2022. Lane finds the film overstuffed but ultimately compelling, with its angular stop-motion giving the retelling a distinctive punch. He singles out Pinocchio mimicking the Crucifixion as an astonishing moment of wonder. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/12/12/brendan-frasers-soft-quizzicality-in-the-whale) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). The page is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. The text also provides no information about what the critic praised or criticized. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio-2022) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). The URL identifies this as a review, but the page content is unavailable. I can’t verify the critic’s verdict or what the review singles out for praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/07/movies/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio-review-puppets-and-power.html) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 8 December 2022. The critic calls the film a soulful, life-affirming pleasure and a stop-motion masterpiece. They especially praise the natural-looking animation and its sympathetic, rebellious take on Pinocchio. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio-review-2022-netflix/) ## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 9 December 2022. The review strongly praises the film as an affecting, visually distinctive adaptation with real substance. It singles out the stop-motion craftsmanship and emotional finale as especially effective. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a42177528/guillermo-del-toro-pinocchio-review-netflix/) ## HeyUGuys Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. The critic calls it an instant classic and praises del Toro’s fully realised vision. The stop-motion animation is singled out as visually stunning, while the original songs are the main weakness. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio-review/) ## Paste — Kathy Michelle Chacón Rating 9.4. 9 December 2022. Chacón calls the film an artistic triumph and a fresh, moving retelling. She especially praises its stop-motion beauty and its thoughtful treatment of mortality. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/guillermo-del-toro/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio-review) ## Polygon — Oli Welsh Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 9 December 2022. Festival review. Welsh finds the film unruly and occasionally messy, but ultimately wild, tender, and deeply moving. He especially praises the tactile stop-motion animation and its intimate visual details. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23406878/pinocchio-review-guillermo-del-toro-netflix/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 2022. Festival review. The headline presents the film as a heartrending reimagining and a classic in the making. It singles out the reimagining’s emotional impact for praise. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio-heartrending-reimagining-is-a-classic-in-the-making-lff-20221016/) ## /Film — Hannah Shaw-Williams Rating 9 out of 10. 15 October 2022. Festival review. The critic praises the film as a challenging, joyful retelling that embraces dark themes rather than smoothing them over. She singles out Gregory Mann’s energetic, endearing voice performance as Pinocchio. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1055614/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio-review-a-classic-childrens-tale-meets-frankenstein-and-fascist-italy/) ## Collider — Ross Bonaime Rating B+. 8 December 2022. Bonaime calls it the best adaptation since Disney’s 1940 version, despite some new ideas that do not fully work. He especially praises the stop-motion animation and the fuller exploration of Geppetto and Pinocchio’s relationship. [Read the review](https://collider.com/guillermo-del-toro-pinocchio-review/) ## Consequence — Clint Worthington Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 7 December 2022. Worthington finds this version assured, personal, and a welcome renewal of the fable. He singles out its dark-fantasy sensibility and fascist-era setting as especially effective. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2022/12/guillermo-del-toro-pinocchio-review-netflix/) ## Den of Geek — Don Kaye Rating 4/5. 9 December 2022. Kaye finds the film a visually beautiful, heartfelt achievement that stands proudly alongside Disney’s classic. He especially praises the stop-motion animation and sumptuous imagery, while noting that the film sometimes drags and its songs feel unnecessary. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio-make-you-forget-disney/) ## NME — Alex Flood Rating 4/5. 9 November 2022. The critic calls it a grown-up fairy tale and says it was worth the long wait. They particularly praise the gorgeous stop-motion animation and hand-painted backdrops. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/pinocchio-review-guillermo-del-toro-netflix-3330960) ## The Skinny — Carmen Paddock Rating ★★★★. 24 October 2022. Paddock finds the film a fantastical, heartfelt reimagining, though its breakneck pace and broad humour diminish some of the original’s poignancy. She praises its early-20th-century setting and its celebration of rebellious, non-conformist humanity. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/guillermo-del-toro-pinocchio) ## Film Stories — Lauren Miles Fi1m's normalised score 76/100 (inferred from the text). 25 November 2022. Miles finds the adaptation a dark, emotional, and distinctive success, though Pinocchio’s passive nature and the episodic structure sometimes weaken it. She especially praises its richly textured stop-motion animation and bittersweet finale. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio-review-a-unique-adaptation/) ## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 27 November 2022. The critic finds the film imaginative and inclusive, though its plot can feel thin and slow. She praises the animation and its rethinking of what makes someone a real boy. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio-2022-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) ## Deadline — Damon Wise Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 15 October 2022. Festival review. Wise finds the film strangely unmoving despite its heartfelt themes, leaving it short on charm and wonder. He praises the stop-motion animation, while criticizing the film’s excess of visual flourishes and lack of emotional impact. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2022/10/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio-review-london-film-festival-1235145870/) --- © 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/guillermo-del-toros-pinocchio.md