--- title: "Rango" year: 2011 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/rango" fi1m_score: 77 critics_score: 78 critics_reviews: 18 published: "2026-09-17T06:44:36.621341+00:00" updated: "2026-09-17T06:44:48.729314+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." --- # Rango (2011) Directed by Gore Verbinski · 1h 47m · MPA PG · Animation, Comedy, Family, Western, Adventure **Fi1m score: 77** · Critics 78 from 18 reviews *In a sentence:* A pet lizard with stage fright is made sheriff of a town with no water and too many film references > Gore Verbinski’s animated Western drops a pet chameleon into a desert town dying of thirst, and lights it like a Leone. It looks better than any family film has a right to, and it would rather quote old Westerns than get on with its own. ## Synopsis A pet chameleon (Johnny Depp) lives in a glass tank, staging plays for a plastic palm tree, until the car carrying him swerves and throws him onto a highway in the Mojave desert. An armadillo called Roadkill (Alfred Molina) points him towards the Spirit of the West. Chased by a hawk, he stumbles on Beans (Isla Fisher), a rancher’s daughter, who takes him to Dirt, a frontier town of rodents and reptiles where water is money and the bank holds the last of it in a bottle. In the saloon he names himself Rango and spins a tale about killing seven outlaws with one bullet. The Mayor (Ned Beatty), a tortoise, makes him sheriff. ## Review A chameleon in a glass tank is putting on a play, with a plastic palm tree and a headless doll for a cast, and he is stuck on motivation. Then the car swerves, the tank flies out of the window, and he lands on a highway in the Mojave. Gore Verbinski’s *Rango* is an animated Western about a pet with no name and no character who wanders into a town called Dirt and invents both. It is odd, good-looking and clever, and it cannot stop telling you how clever it is. We liked it and lost patience with it twice. An armadillo called Roadkill (Alfred Molina) points him towards the Spirit of the West. A hawk chases him, and Craig Wood cuts it fast and low, the best action in the film. He meets Beans (Isla Fisher), a rancher’s daughter who freezes mid-sentence, and she takes him into Dirt, a town of thirsty rodents and reptiles where water is currency and the bank keeps the last of it in a bottle. In the saloon he picks the name Rango off a label, tells a tall tale about seven brothers and one bullet, and is made sheriff by the Mayor (Ned Beatty), a tortoise in a wheelchair. Roger Deakins is credited for cinematography, which is odd on a cartoon, and you can tell what he was there for. The desert is white with heat at noon and the shadows run long and violet at dusk. A night scene on the highway is lit by nothing but passing headlights. Mark ‘Crash’ McCreery’s designs are the other half of it. Nobody in Dirt is cute: the townsfolk are scarred, sun-cracked and moulting, and the camera sits close enough to show the grain of a toad’s skin. We have not seen an animated film this dirty, and we mean that as praise. Depp plays Rango as an actor who has finally found an audience, all flourish and no spine, and the joke lands because we have watched him do the flourish for a decade. Fisher gives Beans a temper, and her freezing fits get funnier each time. Bill Nighy, as Rattlesnake Jake, does the voice from the back of the throat and arrives with a Gatling gun for a tail; he is frightening for a PG. Hans Zimmer’s score is twanging guitar and mariachi horns, and a band of owls sings it on screen, predicting the hero’s death. It is the film’s best running joke. The trouble is the script. John Logan, working from a story with Verbinski and James Ward Byrkit, has built the plot from borrowed parts: a town dying of thirst, a mayor with plans, a sheriff who is a fraud. The bones are from [*Chinatown*](https://film.one/film/chinatown) and [*High Noon*](https://film.one/film/high-noon), and the film winks at both, and at a dozen others, until winking becomes the main activity. Between the hawk and the first real gunfight come saloon speeches and civic meetings, and we were bored, then annoyed at being bored in a film this handsome. The gags for adults are good; the gags for children are mostly people falling over. The moment we remember is small and early. The chameleon stands on the tarmac in the dark with his plastic palm tree, watching the lorries go past, and the film holds on him. We felt for him more than we expected to, and it was the light and the drawing that did it, not a line of dialogue. When the film trusts pictures over patter, as it does here and in a canyon chase with bats and a wagon, it is as good as most critics have said. Against Verbinski’s record this is the strangest thing he has made, and the one that looks most as though it came from a person rather than a committee, which is more than can be said for the later *Pirates of the Caribbean* films. At 107 minutes it is not long; it only feels it in the middle. Take a child who likes Westerns, if you can find one, and watch their face during the owls. *Fi1m score 77, published 17 September 2026.* ## What the critics say The reviews lean firmly positive: sixteen of the eighteen in are favourable and none is hostile. Almost every critic starts with the animation, described as photoreal to the point of surreal, with sun-bleached landscapes and creature designs that owe more to Looney Tunes than to Pixar. Verbinski’s direction and the script’s dense run of Western and cult film references draw steady praise, as does the voice cast, with Depp’s identity-seeking chameleon singled out more than once. Several note the film plays better to adults than to children. The reservations are about story rather than surface. The two mixed notices, from Screen Daily and Time Out, find the storytelling weak and the film too pleased with its own cleverness. Others mention a slow opening, a third act that runs long, or an uneasy balance between kid-friendly action and adult jokes; The Playlist thinks it lacks an emotional heart. The spread is narrow, and nobody questions the craft. ### Reviews we read (18) - **Los Angeles Times**, Betsy Sharkey (90/100, inferred): The review calls it a groundbreaking, fun mash-up of Old West and newfangled animation that rewrites the playbook with eye-popping critters and a charming hero’s tale; praises Verbinski’s originality and the ensemble cast. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-rango-20110304-story.html) - **Vulture** (90/100, inferred): The review hails Rango as a thrillingly goofy and unabashedly strange Western odyssey that introduces a new animation powerhouse, commending its manic sensory overload, sharp script, superb voice cast, and loose, acid-trip animation style. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2011/03/review_look_out_buzz_lightyear.html) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Todd McCarthy (85/100, inferred): The critic calls Rango a madly clever animated sagebrush saga with style and wit to burn, praising its hyper-realistic visuals bordering on the surreal, witty script full of film references, and inventive Western tropes reconfigured for animation. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/rango-film-review-162566/) - **The New York Times**, A.O. Scott (85/100, inferred): The critic finds the film gratifyingly fresh and eccentric despite its animated Western profile, praising its odd, anarchic tale and inventive animation that stands out from typical fare. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/04/movies/04rango.html) - **Empire**, Kim Newman (80/100, inferred): The critic praises the film's inventive animation, textured visuals, and knowing homages to Westerns and cult movies, noting it appeals more to adults than children and has potential as a lasting cult classic despite its peculiar tone. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/rango-review/) - **The Guardian**, Steve Rose (80/100, inferred): The film is a brave family animation that mixes trippy mysticism and existential reflection with western spoofery. It features expressive characters and beautiful sun-bleached landscapes in a style like Looney Tunes on mescalin. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/mar/03/rango-review) - **Variety**, Peter Debruge (75/100, inferred): The critic hails the astonishingly adult-skewing animated debut as a comedic riff on the Wild West with photoreal visuals and unique narrative sensibility; praises the ensemble voices and design but notes it falters in balancing kid-friendly action with adult humor. [Read](https://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/rango-1117944739/) - **Slant Magazine**, Glenn Heath Jr. (70/100, inferred): The critic finds Rango a thematically relevant western/animated mosaic that turns classic iconography into a fresh genre ecosystem with striking surreal imagery and subtext, while noting it fails to fully merge its chaotic parts and includes some dumbed-down elements. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/rango/) - **Screen Daily** (**): The critic praises the quirky animation, strong voice performances and witty allusions to classic films, noting it should appeal to adults as well as children. They complain that weak storytelling and lack of dramatic momentum ultimately limit its appeal. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/rango/5024336.article) - **Time Out**, Tom Huddleston (3 out of 5 stars): The critic praises the witty dialogue, dizzying animation and stunningly choreographed action, along with the film's astounding detail and in-jokes. They complain that it feels too pleased with itself, with laboured ideas and references that risk alienating the audience. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/rango-1) - **Den of Geek**, Simon Brew (5/5): The critic calls Rango one of the best blockbuster films in years for its ambitious storytelling, visual detail, and clever film references. Minor caveats include pacing that may not suit young viewers or those who dislike westerns. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/rango-review/) - **Collider** (B+): The critic praises the film's blend of slapstick, smart references, gorgeous visuals, and strong voice work, calling it a delightful and rare animated success outside Pixar. Minor complaints about the third act feeling slightly drawn out are outweighed by the overall inventive world and performances. [Read](https://collider.com/rango-review/) - **The Playlist**, The Playlist Staff (B+): The critic lauds the film's visual richness, surrealism, tactile animation and bold Western genre play, calling it the weirdest and most gorgeously realised animated film in recent memory. It is cerebral and visually ravishing but lacks deep emotional heart. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/review-rango-is-a-sweetly-surreal-animated-western-20110302/) - **Digital Spy**, Simon Reynolds (80/100, inferred): The review describes Rango as a quirky, wildly entertaining animated Western with laser-like visual detail and an adventurous plot, deeming it the most satisfying non-Pixar animated movie in some time. It notes a slow initial setup but praises the strong pacing and dynamism once in the main setting. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a305446/rango/) - **Eye for Film**, David Graham (80/100, inferred): The review highlights Verbinski's assured direction, stunning animation, witty adult humour and strong voice cast in this anthropomorphic Western parody. It notes some overabundance of characters and plotting but ultimately calls it a charming, lovingly crafted original. [Read](http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/rango-film-review-by-david-graham) - **HeyUGuys**, Lisa Giles-Keddie (4/5): The critic praises the film's near photo-realistic animation, dry Western humour and environmental themes while noting it may be too mature and slow-paced for young children. It is recommended as an energetic, original animated Western that stands out from formulaic fare. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/rango-review/) - **/Film**, Russ Fischer (7.5/10): The review celebrates the film's quirky, movie-loving sensibility, inventive 2D-style animation and re-teaming of Verbinski and Depp as a refreshing, endearingly odd animated Western. It is positioned as a smart, weird treat for fans of cinema. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/514320/rango-movie-review/) - **Paste**, Josh Jackson (75/100, inferred): The review highlights how Depp disappears into the role of the identity-seeking chameleon and notes the film's loving tribute to classic Westerns with strong visuals aided by Roger Deakins. It commends the gritty tone and appeal to both adults and children despite not matching Pixar in laughs-per-minute. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/rango-review) ## Details - **Director:** Gore Verbinski - **Director:** Gore Verbinski - **Writer:** John Logan - **Story:** James Ward Byrkit, Gore Verbinski, John Logan - **Cinematography:** Roger Deakins - **Editor:** Craig Wood - **Music:** Hans Zimmer - **Production design:** Mark 'Crash' McCreery - **Producer:** Graham King, Gore Verbinski, John Carls - **Cast:** Johnny Depp as Rango / Lars (voice); Isla Fisher as Beans (voice); Ned Beatty as Mayor (voice); Bill Nighy as Rattlesnake Jake (voice); Abigail Breslin as Priscilla (voice); Alfred Molina as Roadkill (voice); Stephen Root as Doc / Merrimack / Mr. Snuggles (voice); Harry Dean Stanton as Balthazar (voice) - **Runtime:** 1h 47m - **Certificate (MPA):** PG - **Release (the US):** 3 March 2011 - **Genres:** Animation, Comedy, Family, Western, Adventure - **Budget:** $135 million - **Box office:** $246 million ## Where to watch in the US - Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd - Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd - Apple TV: buy $6.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $14.99, uhd *Checked 2026-09-17.* 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, 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 - Academy Awards 2012: Best Animated Feature (won) - Annie Award for Best Animated Feature 2011: Annie Award for Best Animated Feature (won) - Critics' Choice Awards 2011: Best Animated Feature (won) ## If you liked this - *High Noon* (1952), Fi1m 88: The sheriff-alone-against-the-town template Rango borrows, played entirely straight and in real time. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/high-noon.md) - *Chinatown* (1974), Fi1m 93: Where the water plot comes from; a city, a drought and a man who knows too much. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/chinatown.md) - *Fantastic Mr. Fox* (2009), Fi1m 84: Another animal picture with fur you can feel and jokes pitched over the children’s heads. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/fantastic-mr-fox.md) - *A Fistful of Dollars* (1964): Leone’s stranger rides into a dusty town; the light Deakins was chasing starts here. - *Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas* (1998): Depp in the same desert, more bats, considerably fewer children in the audience. --- © 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/rango