---
title: "Soul"
year: 2020
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/soul"
fi1m_id: "soul"
imdb_id: "tt2948372"
tmdb_id: 508442
wikidata_id: "Q64744044"
fi1m_score: 80
critics_score: 76
critics_reviews: 30
published: "2026-09-24T03:29:17.225309+00:00"
updated: "2026-09-24T03:29:17.760784+00:00"
region: "SK"
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."
---

# Soul (2020)

Directed by Pete Docter · 1h 41m · SK 7 · Animation, Family, Drama, Music, Fantasy

## Identity

Soul

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/soul
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** soul
- **IMDb ID:** tt2948372
- **TMDB ID:** 508442
- **Wikidata ID:** Q64744044
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2948372/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/508442, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q64744044

**Fi1m score: 80** · Critics 76 from 30 reviews

*In a sentence:* The jazz is a fine reason to be alive, even if the afterlife comes with too many instructions

> Pete Docter makes a funny, moving animation about the pressure to find a purpose. The rules of its soul world need pruning, but Jamie Foxx and the jazz give *Soul* enough life to earn a warm recommendation.

## Synopsis

Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) puts jazz at the centre of his life in New York. His mother, Libba Gardner (Phylicia Rashad), belongs to the everyday world surrounding that ambition. Beyond it lies the Great Before, a realm of souls where finding a purpose becomes a practical concern. Here Joe encounters 22 (Tina Fey), who struggles to feel the enthusiasm he finds in music. Joe wants his life to count, but 22 has trouble finding anything worth wanting. Their uneasy friendship brings his devotion to jazz up against her reluctance to embrace life, with the city and its music offering a contrast to the unfamiliar soul world.

## Review

*Soul* is good company for anyone who has worried that they are not doing enough with their life. Joe Gardner’s devotion to jazz offers a way into that worry without beginning with a lecture, though lectures do eventually arrive. The screenplay by Pete Docter, Mike Jones and Kemp Powers asks a worthwhile question: how much of living gets missed while we wait for life to become what we planned? We recommend it warmly, with some patience required for the rules governing its world of souls.

Jamie Foxx gives Joe enough warmth to keep his absorption in music from becoming simply self-important. We can hear why it matters to him, and why anything outside it might struggle to hold his attention. Tina Fey makes 22’s resistance to enthusiasm funny without making the character seem incapable of feeling anything. The friendship is familiar family-animation territory, and the script occasionally settles for the expected exchanges between an eager character and a reluctant one. Both performances make those exchanges pleasant, but they cannot always make them surprising.

The music does more than establish that Joe likes jazz. Jon Batiste’s jazz writing has the energy and responsiveness the story needs if we are to understand such devotion. With Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross also contributing music, the score gives the film a coherence its plotting sometimes lacks. We felt a rush of pleasure as the animation let colour and shape follow the jazz. Those passages make the attraction of losing all sense of time while playing understandable without another speech about passion.

The New York passages benefit from Ian Megibben and Matt Aspbury’s cinematography, which gives the city warmth through the lighting rather than simply turning up the colour. The barbershop and the workplace of Joe’s mother feel like places people use each day. Steve Pilcher’s production design makes those places seem worth spending time in, even with the Great Before available to explore. We can believe that Joe has overlooked plenty of interest close to home.

Where it falters is in the amount of explaining it thinks these invented places need. The rules accumulate, and the effort of following them begins to interfere with the questions that brought us here. Kevin Nolting’s editing keeps the comedy moving, but the middle section still feels crowded with complications. The film runs for 101 minutes, and some of that time would be better spent letting its characters talk.

There is another cost to the time spent away from New York. Joe is a Black lead whose surroundings have been imagined with care, yet the fantasy keeps taking him away from those people and places. The city scenes suggest relationships and routines worth exploring at greater length. We wanted more of that life, particularly when the alternative was another complication in the soul world. Jamie Foxx’s performance makes that lost time particularly frustrating.

As a family animation, *Soul* takes an unusual interest in the anxieties of adults who think they ought to have achieved more. Some younger viewers may find the music and visual play easier to follow than the explanations, and the film is better when it allows that response. Watch it on an evening when doing nothing feels like a failure.

*Fi1m score 80, published 24 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics respond warmly to Soul’s ambition, humour and attention to everyday pleasures, with praise clustering around its animation and music. The detailed New York scenes, abstract soul world and expressive lighting draw repeated approval. The reviews also admire how jazz works with colour and movement to convey musical absorption. Many find the questions about purpose moving, though enthusiasm for the craft is more consistent than emotional involvement.

Reservations centre on crowded plotting, familiar comedy and metaphysical rules that some find muddled. The spread is wide: enthusiastic endorsements sit alongside qualified approval and one sharply negative assessment. Race is a particular point of disagreement. IndieWire praises Joe’s Black identity as central to his humanity, while The New Yorker argues that the handling of race and Black culture undermines the message, despite finding authenticity in the barbershop and workplace scenes.

## Straight answers

**Is Soul worth watching?**

*Soul* is worth watching for its jazz, warm performances and thoughtful look at the pressure to find a purpose; we score it 80 out of 100. We recommend it especially to adults worried about not achieving enough, though the soul world’s elaborate rules slow the middle section and may lose younger viewers.

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

*Soul* runs 1h 41m and is rated 7 by the SK in Slovakia. It is an animation and family film.

**Where can I watch Soul in Slovakia?**

*Soul* is not on any streaming or rental service in Slovakia at the moment. It is available in 49 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily.

**How does Soul compare to A Matter of Life and Death?**

*Soul* shares an elaborate afterlife with [*A Matter of Life and Death*](https://film.one/film/a-matter-of-life-and-death), but centres on music and purpose rather than romance. We find *A Matter of Life and Death* easier to recommend broadly, despite its occasionally laboured speeches; *Soul* particularly suits anyone troubled by the pressure to achieve, though its celestial explanations get in the way more often.

**What should I watch after Soul?**

After *Soul*, try [*A Matter of Life and Death*](https://film.one/film/a-matter-of-life-and-death) (1946, Fi1m 92): Another elaborate afterlife, with earthly affection giving the celestial machinery something worth discussing. Then [*The Red Turtle*](https://film.one/film/the-red-turtle) (2016, Fi1m 84): Wordless animation finds ample feeling in the physical business of being alive; and [*Inside Out*](https://film.one/film/inside-out) (2015, Fi1m 87): Another animated attempt to give invisible feelings rules, places and comic personalities.

### Reviews we read (30)

- **Evening Standard**, Charlotte O'Sullivan (5/5): O’Sullivan finds the film unusually bold and nourishing, placing it in a league above Pixar’s other 2020 release. She especially praises its daring integration of jazz and the experience of musical immersion. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/soul-review-pixars-breath-takingly-bold-film-is-like-nothing-weve-seen-before-a4568486.html)
- **Total Film**, Kevin Harley (5/5): Harley praises the film as deeply witty and emotionally affecting, calling it peak Pixar. He singles out its layered world-building, jazz score, and delicate emotional finale. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/soul-pixar-review/)
- **IndieWire**, Kaleem Aftab (A-): Aftab calls the film one of Pixar’s very best, despite finding its ending more predictable than its early inventiveness suggests. He praises how its surreal humor and socially conscious story treat Joe’s Black identity as central to his humanity. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/soul-review-pixar-disney-plus-1234592101/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Leslie Felperin (90/100, inferred): Felperin calls the film peak Pixar and places it among the studio’s finest, while noting some possible shortcomings in its theology and treatment of jazz as a stand-in for Black experience. She especially praises the animation’s integration of music with color and shape, along with the jazz soundtrack and lighting. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/soul-film-review-london-2020-4075051/)
- **Sight and Sound** (85/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a sparkling, emotionally moving success despite its familiar body-swap device. They single out the story’s exploration of 22’s struggle to feel passion as especially profound. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/soul-pixar-disney-pete-docter-kemp-powers-jamie-foxx-jazz-musician-fantasy)
- **Variety**, Peter Debruge (Critics Pick): Debruge praises the film as a dazzling, big-hearted meditation on life and purpose. He especially singles out its jazz music, which beautifully blends with Pixar’s animation and metaphysical world. [Read](https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/soul-review-pixar-disney-1234843312/)
- **Little White Lies**, Hannah Strong (3/4/4): Strong calls the film Pixar’s best original work in years and a welcome return to form. She praises its animation, score and Jamie Foxx’s voice work, while criticizing how often its Black lead becomes a blue blob or a cat. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/soul)
- **Radio Times**, Patrick Cremona (80/100, inferred): The review calls the film one of Pixar’s best in years. It singles out the studio’s original ideas as the reason for its success. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/soul-review-pixar-disney-plus-comment/)
- **Screen Daily**, Wendy Ide (80/100, inferred): Ide’s standfirst gives the film a positive verdict, saying it does not disappoint. She singles out Pixar’s stunning animation for praise. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/soul-london-review/5153932.article)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (78/100, inferred): Bradshaw finds the film bewildering but charming, sweet and deeply moving. He singles out its final visual montage, which turns an image of nighttime New York into a powerful emotional epiphany. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/oct/13/soul-review-pixars-rapturous-tale-of-a-jazz-nut-on-a-surreal-out-of-body-journey)
- **Empire**, Alex Godfrey (70/100, inferred): Godfrey finds Soul a rewarding, tender existential trip, though its big ideas do not fully cohere and its emotional journey feels slight. He praises the richly realized animation and especially its exquisite lighting and visual detail. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/soul-review/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Justin Chang (70/100, inferred): Chang finds the film lovely but imperfect, with its familiar buddy-comedy formula keeping its metaphysical ambitions from fully taking flight. He praises its careful musical detail and its warm, richly imagined portrait of New York life. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-12-22/soul-review-pixar-disney-plus)
- **The New York Times**, A.O. Scott (70/100, inferred): Scott gives the film a favorable verdict, while noting that its many ideas can make it feel overstuffed. He praises its heart and its thoughtful exploration of life’s meaning. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/24/movies/soul-review-pixar.html)
- **Slant Magazine**, Dan Rubins (2.5/4): Rubins finds the film uneven, praising its sublime tribute to jazz while criticizing its muddled afterlife mythology. He also faults the central friendship and says the film asks too much of young viewers. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/soul-review-pixar/)
- **Time Out**, Whelan Barzey (3/5): The review calls the film a half-triumph, praising its celebration of Black lives and culture. It says the jazzy odyssey gets lost in its own intricacy. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/soul)
- **Vulture**, Alison Willmore (60/100, inferred): Willmore finds the film bold and visually striking, but easier to admire than to feel deeply invested in. She singles out its warm, richly detailed real-world imagery and a late montage that becomes quietly devastating. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-soul-from-pixar-and-starring-jamie-foxx.html)
- **The New Yorker**, Namwali Serpell (30/100, inferred): Serpell argues that the film’s handling of race and Black culture undermines its well-meaning message about finding meaning in everyday life. She praises the authenticity of some scenes of Black life, especially the barbershop and Joe’s mother’s workplace, while criticizing the film’s racialized humor and its use of a white character to teach Joe a lesson. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/pixars-troubled-soul)
- **Den of Geek**, David Crow (5/5): Crow gives Soul a highly enthusiastic review, finding its existential ideas moving and accessible despite some imperfections. He especially praises the imaginative visual world and the film’s ability to convey the joy of living. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/soul-review-pixar-is-bringing-you-some-christmas-magic/)
- **Film Stories**, Simon Brew (95/100, inferred): The critic calls Soul an outstanding, thoughtful family film whose ambition puts it near Pixar’s highest achievements. They especially praise its striking visuals and the way it explores weighty ideas accessibly, while noting a few conventional stretches slow its momentum. [Read](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/soul-review-pixars-new-movie-comes-with-very-big-ideas/)
- **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (A-): Goldberg calls Soul a mature, emotionally powerful meditation on what makes life meaningful. He especially praises the striking visuals of the soul world and the score blending Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross with Jon Batiste’s jazz. [Read](https://collider.com/soul-movie-review-pixar-disney-plus/)
- **Polygon**, Tasha Robinson (90/100, inferred): Robinson calls Soul a triumphant return to Pixar’s most ambitious storytelling, praising its humanity and life-affirming outlook. She particularly singles out the film’s inventive visual world and its quiet, emotionally resonant moments. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/disney-plus/22197520/soul-review-pixar/)
- **/Film**, Hoai-Tran Bui (8.5/10): Bui finds the ambitious film compelling and soulful, though its many ideas nearly make it feel overcrowded. She praises its beautiful animation and the emotional heart that anchors its existential, shape-shifting story. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/578394/soul-review/)
- **Deadline**, Joe Utichi (83/100, inferred): Utichi finds Soul an ambitious, emotionally rich return to Pixar’s inventive best, though its Earthbound slapstick sometimes dulls its larger ideas. He especially praises the abstract Great Before sequences and the film’s distinctive visual and musical craft. [Read](https://deadline.com/2020/10/film-review-pixar-soul-pete-docter-jamie-foxx-1234595436/)
- **Paste**, Jacob Oller (9.0): Oller finds the film playful, moving, and visually dazzling, with an ultimately resonant message about valuing everyday life. He especially praises its animation and a montage of mundane pleasures, while criticizing the body-swap storyline. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/disney-plus/soul-review)
- **HeyUGuys** (Five stars.): The critic finds Soul ambitious and emotionally powerful despite messy plotting and tonal imbalance. They especially praise its rich animation, contrasting visual styles, and expressive voice performances. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/soul-review/)
- **Consequence**, Josh Spiegel (70/100, inferred): The review finds Soul uplifting and visually groundbreaking, though somewhat formulaic. It particularly praises the imaginative animation depicting the realms beyond human existence. [Read](https://consequence.net/2020/12/soul-review-pixar/)
- **Digital Spy**, Ian Sandwell (70/100, inferred): The review finds Soul profound and inventive, though it falls short of Pete Docter’s earlier Pixar films. It praises the imaginative world-building, visuals and score, while criticizing the story’s less cohesive second act. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a34342538/soul-review-disney-plus-pixar/)
- **The Playlist** (64/100, inferred): The page is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. No specific praise or complaint can be verified from the available text. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/review-soul-kitchens-feel-goodery-20100819/)
- **The Wrap** (60/100, inferred): The critic finds the film imaginative and enjoyable, but ultimately less satisfying than its ambitions promise. They praise its colorful animation and fine music, while noting that the plot’s complexity and unresolved ideas weaken the ending. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/soul-film-review-pixar-gets-existential-in-dizzying-animated-film/)
- **Eye for Film**, Amber Wilkinson (45/100, inferred): Wilkinson finds the film ambitious and often lovely, but ultimately overcomplicated and disjointed. She singles out the luminous New York animation for praise, while criticizing the fragmented narrative and jokes that may not travel well. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/soul-2020-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson)

## Details

- **Director:** Pete Docter
- **Director:** Pete Docter
- **Screenplay:** Pete Docter, Mike Jones, Kemp Powers
- **Story:** Kemp Powers, Pete Docter, Mike Jones
- **Cinematography:** Ian Megibben, Matt Aspbury
- **Editor:** Kevin Nolting
- **Music:** Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
- **Production design:** Steve Pilcher
- **Producer:** Dana Murray
- **Cast:** Jamie Foxx as Joe Gardner (voice); Tina Fey as 22 (voice); Graham Norton as Moonwind (voice); Rachel House as Terry (voice); Alice Braga as Counselor Jerry (voice); Richard Ayoade as Counselor Jerry (voice); Phylicia Rashad as Libba Gardner (voice); Donnell Rawlings as Dez (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 41m
- **Certificate (SK):** 7
- **Release (Slovakia):** 3 June 2021
- **Genres:** Animation, Family, Drama, Music, Fantasy
- **Budget:** $150 million
- **Box office:** $122 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs--6c7Hn_A

## Where to watch in Slovakia

Not streaming, renting or buying in Slovakia at the last check.

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, IN, 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 2021: Best Animated Feature (won)
- Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie 2021: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie (won)
- Annie Award for Best Animated Feature 2020: Annie Award for Best Animated Feature (won)
- Critics' Choice Awards 2020: Best Animated Feature (won)

## If you liked this

- *A Matter of Life and Death* (1946), Fi1m 92: Another elaborate afterlife, with earthly affection giving the celestial machinery something worth discussing. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/a-matter-of-life-and-death.md)
- *After Life* (1998): Quiet conversations about ordinary memories make its vision of eternity unexpectedly moving.
- *The Red Turtle* (2016), Fi1m 84: Wordless animation finds ample feeling in the physical business of being alive. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-red-turtle.md)
- *Inside Out* (2015), Fi1m 87: Another animated attempt to give invisible feelings rules, places and comic personalities. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/inside-out.md)
- *The Band's Visit* (2007): Music draws strangers together, with room for disappointment, awkwardness and small pleasures.

---
© 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/soul