---
title: "Kung Fu Panda 3"
year: 2016
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/kung-fu-panda-3"
fi1m_id: "kung-fu-panda-3"
imdb_id: "tt2267968"
tmdb_id: 140300
wikidata_id: "Q15055043"
fi1m_score: 73
critics_score: 70
critics_reviews: 18
published: "2026-10-05T14:02:39.723785+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-05T14:02:39.965992+00:00"
region: "IE"
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."
---

# Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)

Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Alessandro Carloni · 1h 35m · IFCO 12 · Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family

## Identity

Kung Fu Panda 3

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/kung-fu-panda-3
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** kung-fu-panda-3
- **IMDb ID:** tt2267968
- **TMDB ID:** 140300
- **Wikidata ID:** Q15055043
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2267968/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/140300, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15055043

**Fi1m score: 73** · Critics 70 from 18 reviews

*In a sentence:* The panda’s two dads are worth more of our time than the villain

> A cheerful, handsomely animated family film whose fights are more inventive than its story. Jack Black keeps Po good company, though the crowded supporting cast and an unthreatening villain leave this third outing feeling familiar.

## Synopsis

Po (Jack Black), the Dragon Warrior, meets his father, Li (Bryan Cranston), bringing a new parent into the life he already knows. The reunion leaves Po with two fathers to consider and a place in his family to understand. He wants to make room for this new relationship without losing what he already has. There is also Kai (J.K. Simmons) to contend with, a threat beyond the family that means Po has more to deal with than getting to know his dad.

## Review

*Kung Fu Panda 3* is good family entertainment, with more imagination in its action than in its plot. Directors Alessandro Carloni and Jennifer Yuh Nelson keep the tone cheerful, allowing Po to remain an eager, slightly overwhelmed presence rather than treating his importance as a reason to become solemn. There is pleasure in watching a hero who still seems pleased to be taking part. The familiar story is a limitation, but it does not spoil the evening.

Jack Black is crucial to that. His vocal performance makes Po’s enthusiasm infectious without making the character exhausting, and the humour works because he sounds involved rather than stationed outside the story commenting on it. Bryan Cranston gives Li enough warmth to make the arrival of Po’s father matter. We were unexpectedly touched by the scenes between Po and his fathers; Jack Black lets the uncertainty show through the eagerness, giving the family exchanges room for something beyond another joke.

That domestic material also helps the screenplay by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger avoid becoming a string of fights with instructions between them. The laughs are reliable, and the film makes room for affection without demanding that every tender moment become a lesson. It is less persuasive whenever familiar story business takes over. We can enjoy Po’s company and still wish that his next difficulty were harder to anticipate.

Raymond Zibach’s production design supplies some welcome invention. The backgrounds draw on Chinese painting, and their colour and sense of space make the setting worth noticing even when the plot is doing something routine. Damon O’Beirne’s cinematography serves the fight choreography well, keeping our attention on movement rather than merely on the amount happening in the image. We can follow the physical jokes, which is essential when so much of the comedy depends on them.

Clare Knight’s editing is strongest during those action passages, where the movement feels graceful and the energy does not turn into confusion. The middle is less brisk, and the film takes longer than it needs to before finding its way back to the next useful scene. At 95 minutes, this is hardly an ordeal, but the slackness is noticeable. Hans Zimmer’s music gives the action weight, though it cannot supply the danger missing from the villain.

Kai, voiced by J.K. Simmons, is the clearest weakness. He fulfils the requirement for opposition without making us particularly anxious about what might happen, so the fights have to keep finding interesting movement when their outcome scarcely worries us. The crowded supporting cast suffers too, and we would have welcomed more time with Angelina Jolie’s Tigress. There are enough appealing performers here to make the thin portions handed to some of them frustrating.

By the standards of family adventure animation, this is an agreeable sequel with unusually attentive work in its backgrounds and movement. It does not find much new to do with the familiar hero-and-villain business, and anyone hoping for that should lower their expectations. The family scenes and Jack Black’s unforced charm are enough to keep us on its side. Choose it for a cheerful evening, with a little patience for the middle.

*Fi1m score 73, published 5 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics find Kung Fu Panda 3 a cheerful, appealing sequel, with praise clustering around the animation rather than the story. The reviews repeatedly admire its inventive visual design, colourful settings and fluid fight choreography. Several also welcome the lighter humour and family warmth, while Jack Black’s vocal charm draws praise even from less persuaded critics. The more enthusiastic notices find Po’s story satisfying and the film’s appeal broad enough to include adults as well as children.

Reservations centre on familiarity, thin drama and supporting characters left with too little to do. Some critics find the storytelling confident and well balanced; others see repetition or a middle section that needs tightening. Den of Geek offers a sharper dissent, finding the plot overcomplicated and the emotion lacking despite Black’s efforts. The spread runs from enthusiasm to mixed approval, with the visuals earning more consistent support than the writing.

## Straight answers

**Is Kung Fu Panda 3 worth watching?**

*Kung Fu Panda 3* is worth watching for a cheerful family evening, and we score it 73 out of 100. We find Po’s scenes with his two fathers touching, and the inventive, clearly staged fights keep the comedy moving. The familiar plot, weak villain and slower middle make it less rewarding for anyone seeking surprises.

**How long is Kung Fu Panda 3, and what is it rated?**

*Kung Fu Panda 3* runs 1h 35m and is rated 12 by the IFCO in Ireland. It is an animation and action film.

**Where can I watch Kung Fu Panda 3 in Ireland?**

*Kung Fu Panda 3* is available to rent from Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV from €2.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does Kung Fu Panda 3 compare to The Iron Giant?**

*Kung Fu Panda 3* offers cheerful fights and warm family comedy, but we recommend [*The Iron Giant*](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant) more strongly for an adventure whose central relationship makes the danger matter. Po’s two fathers give his film its most touching scenes, while its villain supplies little tension. The boy-and-robot friendship in *The Iron Giant* gives us more reason to worry.

**What should I watch after Kung Fu Panda 3?**

After *Kung Fu Panda 3*, try [*The Iron Giant*](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant) (1999, Fi1m 88): An unlikely friendship gives the large-scale action a reason to matter. Then [*My Neighbour Totoro*](https://film.one/film/my-neighbor-totoro) (1988, Fi1m 89): A gentler family evening, with creatures whose appeal needs little explanation; and [*Ernest & Celestine*](https://film.one/film/ernest-and-celestine) (2012, Fi1m 84): For the painterly backgrounds, comic movement and affection between unlikely companions.

### Reviews we read (18)

- **Empire**, Olly Richards (90/100, inferred): Richards finds it a grand farewell and says it may be the series’ best entry. He praises the confident, cheerful storytelling, its steady laughs and gorgeous production design. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/kung-fu-panda-3-review/)
- **Variety**, Justin Chang (85/100, inferred): Chang finds the third installment delightful, saying it restores the franchise’s lightness while bringing Po’s story to a satisfying finish. He especially praises its buoyant humor and visually adventurous animation. [Read](https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/kung-fu-panda-3-review-1201680767/)
- **IndieWire**, Charles Solomon (80/100, inferred): Solomon finds the film a satisfying conclusion to Po’s story and a welcome showcase for DreamWorks’ artists. He particularly praises the imaginative animation, visual design, and Chinese-painting-inspired backgrounds. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-kung-fu-panda-3-122414/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Gary Goldstein (80/100, inferred): Goldstein finds the sequel charming, funny and well-constructed, with plenty to please children and adults. He particularly praises the vivid animation and colorful settings, while noting that the pacing could be tighter in the middle. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-kung-fu-panda-review-20160129-story.html)
- **Evening Standard**, Charlotte O'Sullivan (75/100, inferred): O’Sullivan finds the film sweet, savvy and emotionally warming, though not as strong as Toy Story’s conclusion. She especially praises its gorgeous, imaginative action sequences and female characters who avoid simpering. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/kung-fu-panda-3-film-review-the-bear-scores-another-knockout-a3201211.html)
- **Slant Magazine**, Sam C. Mac (3/4): The review finds the film familiar but well balanced and charming. It praises the fluidly animated fight choreography and the way action is distributed throughout. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/kung-fu-panda-3/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Michael Rechtshaffen (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the film generally pleasing, though its storyline falls short dramatically. The luminous visuals and the voice cast are singled out for praise. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/kung-fu-panda-3-film-856347/)
- **Screen Daily**, Tim Grierson (64/100, inferred): The page identifies this as a review, but its verdict is inaccessible. No specific praise or complaint is visible in the available text. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/kung-fu-panda-3-review/5098911.article)
- **The New York Times** (64/100, inferred): The supplied page is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. No praise or complaint can be reliably identified from the available text. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/29/movies/bryan-cranston-jack-black-kung-fu-panda-3-review.html)
- **Little White Lies**, Joel Philpott (3/3/3): The critic finds it decent, generic fun that follows the franchise’s established formula. They praise the precise, graceful animation of its energetic fight scenes. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/kung-fu-panda-3)
- **Radio Times**, Alan Jones (3/5): Jones finds the third chapter affable but repetitive, with too many familiar characters sidelined. He praises its inventive, dazzling visuals. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-q1l36c/kung-fu-panda-3/)
- **The Guardian**, Alex Needham (3/5): Needham finds the sequel impressive and likely to charm both children and adults. He praises its intimate family moments alongside its spectacular set pieces and sumptuous visuals. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/mar/10/kung-fu-panda-3-review)
- **Time Out**, Anna King (3/5): The critic describes this as a lighter entry in the successful series. They praise its good looks. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/kung-fu-panda-3)
- **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (90/100, inferred): Hammond calls it the best film in the franchise so far, praising its heart and broad family appeal. He singles out Jack Black’s vocal performance and Bryan Cranston’s dimensional turn as Po’s father. [Read](https://deadline.com/2016/01/kung-fu-panda-3-review-sequel-jack-black-dreamworks-animation-1201692415/)
- **The Wrap** (75/100, inferred): The critic finds the film charming and effervescent, though not groundbreaking. They single out its witty screenplay, colorful visuals, and satisfying reconciliation between Po’s fathers. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/kung-fu-panda-3-review-jack-black-bryan-cranston-angelina-jolie/)
- **HeyUGuys** (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the sequel worthwhile and says it retains Po’s appealing underdog quality. They praise its vibrant visuals and atmosphere, but fault Kai for lacking menace. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/kung-fu-panda-3-review/)
- **Den of Geek**, Don Kaye (2.5 out of 5): Kaye finds the film visually gorgeous but a rote, overcomplicated installment that lacks emotional resonance. He praises Jack Black’s charm and inventive line delivery, while noting that the supporting cast gets little to do. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/kung-fu-panda-3-review/)
- **Eye for Film**, Angus Wolfe Murray (50/100, inferred): The critic finds the film sentimental and visually imaginative, but feels its star-studded vocal cast is given too little to say. The 3-D and slow-motion sequences are singled out for praise. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/kung-fu-panda-3-2016-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray)

## Details

- **Director:** Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Alessandro Carloni
- **Director:** Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Alessandro Carloni
- **Writer:** Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger
- **Cinematography:** Damon O'Beirne
- **Editor:** Clare Knight
- **Music:** Hans Zimmer
- **Production design:** Raymond Zibach
- **Producer:** Melissa Cobb
- **Cast:** Jack Black as Po (voice); Bryan Cranston as Li (voice); Dustin Hoffman as Shifu (voice); Angelina Jolie as Tigress (voice); J.K. Simmons as Kai (voice); Jackie Chan as Monkey (voice); Seth Rogen as Mantis (voice); Lucy Liu as Viper (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 35m
- **Certificate (IFCO):** 12
- **Release (Ireland):** 11 March 2016
- **Genres:** Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family
- **Budget:** $145 million
- **Box office:** $521 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqN7nHM1YTA

## Where to watch in Ireland

- Amazon Prime Video: rent €2.99, hd
- Apple TV: rent €3.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy €2.99, hd
- Apple TV: buy €2.99, hd

*Checked 2026-10-05.*

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, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Annie Award for Best Animated Feature 2016: Annie Award for Best Animated Feature (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *The Iron Giant* (1999), Fi1m 88: An unlikely friendship gives the large-scale action a reason to matter. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant.md)
- *My Neighbour Totoro* (1988), Fi1m 89: A gentler family evening, with creatures whose appeal needs little explanation. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/my-neighbor-totoro.md)
- *Ernest & Celestine* (2012), Fi1m 84: For the painterly backgrounds, comic movement and affection between unlikely companions. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/ernest-and-celestine.md)
- *The Mitchells vs. the Machines* (2021), Fi1m 76: Another family learns to cooperate amid action that stays busy and inventive. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-mitchells-vs-the-machines.md)
- *Shaolin Soccer* (2001): For martial-arts comedy that treats impossible movement as an excellent starting point.

---
© 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/kung-fu-panda-3