---
title: "Ted"
year: 2012
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/ted"
fi1m_id: "ted"
imdb_id: "tt1637725"
tmdb_id: 72105
wikidata_id: "Q641760"
fi1m_score: 64
critics_score: 65
critics_reviews: 24
published: "2026-10-05T12:44:02.155186+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-05T12:44:20.709693+00:00"
region: "FR"
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."
---

# Ted (2012)

Directed by Seth MacFarlane · 1h 47m · CNC TP · Comedy, Fantasy

## Identity

Ted

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/ted
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** ted
- **IMDb ID:** tt1637725
- **TMDB ID:** 72105
- **Wikidata ID:** Q641760
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1637725/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/72105, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q641760

**Fi1m score: 64** · Critics 65 from 24 reviews

*In a sentence:* Ninety minutes of a teddy bear saying the unsayable, then a car chase nobody asked for

> Seth MacFarlane’s first film is a one-joke comedy, and the joke is a good one: the teddy bear swears, and Mark Wahlberg takes it entirely in his stride. It is often funny for an hour and has no idea how to end.

## Synopsis

Boston, one Christmas in the 1980s. A lonely boy called John Bennett wishes his new teddy bear would come alive, and in the morning it does, chatty and devoted, briefly famous on television. Years on, John (Mark Wahlberg) works a car rental desk and still shares his sofa, his bong and his Flash Gordon reruns with Ted (voiced by Seth MacFarlane), who has grown into a foul-mouthed layabout with a taste for cheap beer. John’s girlfriend of four years, Lori Collins (Mila Kunis), wants a grown man and a flat without a bear in it. Her boss Rex (Joel McHale) would like to take John’s place. And a soft-voiced father called Donny (Giovanni Ribisi) has been watching Ted for a long time, and wants to buy him for his son.

## Review

Seth MacFarlane’s first film as a director has a premise you could put on a beer mat: the teddy bear came to life, and he grew up into a stoner. John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) is a grown man working a car rental desk, still sharing a sofa and a bong with Ted (voiced by MacFarlane), while his girlfriend Lori (Mila Kunis) waits for him to become someone she could marry. That is the whole idea, and MacFarlane, writing with Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild, knows it. *Ted* is a sitcom stretched to 107 minutes, and for about seventy of them it is a good one.

The bear works. He is scuffed and faintly grubby, the fur worn thin at the paws, and he sits on furniture with the weight of something that has been sat on. When Wahlberg wrestles him across a hotel room, hurling him at the walls and being beaten with the furniture in return, the two bodies connect in a way that fooled us completely, and we laughed harder than we have at any fight in a comedy for some time. Part of that is the effects. Most of it is Wahlberg, who plays a man being thrashed by a toy with total conviction and no wink to the camera.

MacFarlane voices Ted in a Boston growl, and the best lines are the throwaway ones: a run of guesses at a woman’s name that gets worse with every attempt, a bedtime song about thunder that the two still sing as adults. We laughed, and then felt slightly ashamed of ourselves, which is the effect the film is after and gets. Patrick Stewart narrates the prologue in the voice of a man reading a Christmas story to children, and the gap between the voice and what it is saying is the film’s best joke, done once, early.

It does not look like a film. Michael Barrett lights every room the same, bright and even and shadowless, so that a flat in Boston and a hotel suite and a car park all seem to share one ceiling. Stephen J. Lineweaver’s flat for John and Ted is a set you could walk onto in a studio, with a sofa facing the camera. Jeff Freeman cuts away to flashbacks and fantasy inserts the way MacFarlane’s cartoons do, and on a cinema screen the habit looks nervous, as if the scene in front of us could not be trusted to hold. Walter Murphy’s score reaches for warm strings whenever John and Ted have a moment, and we noticed the strings before we noticed the moment.

Kunis is given a job, a complaint and nothing else; she spends the film being reasonable at men who are not listening. Joel McHale’s Rex is slick and gets two good scenes. Giovanni Ribisi, as Donny, a father who wants to buy Ted for his son and dances alone to a pop video on his television, is the one supporting player who is properly unsettling, and the film does not have enough for him either. Norah Jones turns up as herself. Patrick Warburton and Matt Walsh share a workplace and a handful of lines between them.

Then the last half hour arrives and the film stops being a comedy and becomes a chase. We will not describe it. We can say that it is the part of a film like this that exists because somebody insisted on a plot, and that it contains no joke the first hour would have kept. We were bored, which is a strange thing to be at a film that forty minutes earlier had us helpless.

Against the standard of its own first hour it is a letdown. Against the big-screen comedies around it, it is funnier than most and more sincere than many, and the sincerity is the surprise: the film means it about John and the bear, even when it cannot find a way to show it. *Harvey* (1950) got a man and his invisible friend to the end without a car chase, which suggests it can be done.

See it with someone who will laugh at the bear and forgive the rest. It carries a 15, and earns it inside the first ten minutes.

*Fi1m score 64, published 5 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics find Ted funny, and most of those who call it crass or vulgar say so on the way to recommending it. The praise gathers around Mark Wahlberg as the naive straight man, the easy chemistry between him and the bear, and MacFarlane’s voice work. A number also credit the effects for making Ted sit convincingly in the frame, and the friendship at the centre is called sweet more often than not.

The reservations gather at the end. Review after review says the final act trades jokes for a chase and that the emotional payoff feels thin; wasted supporting characters come up more than once. The spread is wide. Slant finds the comedy mostly flat and its defence of immaturity retrograde, NME says the film belongs on television rather than in a cinema, and The New Yorker calls it mediocre despite its intelligence. Variety stands alone in faulting the bear’s animation as bland.

## Straight answers

**Is Ted worth watching?**

*Ted* is worth watching for anyone who wants an hour of a teddy bear swearing and Mark Wahlberg taking it entirely in his stride, and we scored it 64. The first seventy minutes are often very funny; the last half hour turns into a chase nobody asked for. See it with someone who will laugh at the bear and forgive the rest.

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

*Ted* runs 1h 47m and is rated TP by the CNC in France. It is a comedy and fantasy film.

**Where can I watch Ted in France?**

*Ted* is streaming on Netflix in France, and it is also 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 violent or frightening is Ted, and is it suitable for children?**

*Ted* carries a UK 15 certificate and earns it inside the first ten minutes, with constant swearing, drug use and sex jokes from a teddy bear. It is not for children, and it is not frightening in any serious way, though Giovanni Ribisi's soft-voiced father is properly unsettling. The violence is a man being thrashed by a toy, played for laughs.

**How does Ted compare to Withnail & I?**

*Ted* and [*Withnail & I*](https://film.one/film/withnail-and-i) are both comedies about men who refuse to grow up, and the earlier film is much the better of the two. *Withnail & I* is sharply written, beautifully acted and unexpectedly sad; *Ted* is a good sitcom idea stretched to feature length that cannot find an ending. Watch *Ted* for the jokes, *Withnail & I* for the people.

**What should I watch after Ted?**

After *Ted*, try [*Withnail and I*](https://film.one/film/withnail-and-i) (1987, Fi1m 88): Two men who refuse to grow up, one of whom finally does, and it hurts. Then [*Toni Erdmann*](https://film.one/film/toni-erdmann) (2016, Fi1m 86): A father in false teeth embarrasses his daughter for nearly three hours; it earns every minute.

### Reviews we read (24)

- **Evening Standard** (90/100, inferred): The critic finds Ted irresistibly funny and hugely enjoyable, despite a weak late-stage adventure. They single out the talking bear’s cynical, foul-mouthed lines and MacFarlane’s voice performance for praise. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/ted-review-8004733.html)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Todd McCarthy (90/100, inferred): The critic finds the comedy raucously funny and consistently entertaining, while noting that its premise may put off some viewers. He praises the natural banter between John and Ted and the film’s steady stream of unexpected jokes. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/ted-film-review-340685/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Andy Klein (85/100, inferred): Klein gives the film a strongly positive verdict, saying it made him laugh as much as any film that year. He particularly praises the Blu-ray extras, especially the gag reel, deleted scenes, and alternate takes. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/socal/glendale-news-press/entertainment/tn-gnp-xpm-2012-12-25-tn-gnp-1226-dvd-review-ted-is-a-vulgar-display-of-good-humor-story.html)
- **Empire**, Phil de Semlyen (80/100, inferred): The critic calls Ted a crass, supremely silly comedy and a standout of the summer. They praise Mark Wahlberg’s comic performance and the convincing effects that bring Ted to life, while noting that the climax trades laughs for a chase sequence. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/ted-review/)
- **Radio Times**, Stella Papamichael (4/5): Papamichael finds the film vulgar but hilarious, with an endearing emotional core. She praises Ted’s devotion to John and notes the familiar battle over John’s refusal to grow up. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-mffcgw/ted/)
- **The AV Club**, Nathan Rabin (B): Rabin finds the film charming and funny, though it falters when thriller elements take over near the end. He especially praises the easy, lived-in chemistry between Mark Wahlberg and the talking bear. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/ted-1798173306)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (70/100, inferred): Bradshaw finds the comedy unsubtle and crass but very funny. He particularly praises the bizarre exchange about white-trash names and the brutal hotel-room fight. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/aug/02/ted-review)
- **Vulture**, David Edelstein (70/100, inferred): Edelstein finds Ted a fun, appealingly irreverent comedy, despite its rote shock humor and an uninventive final act. He especially praises Mark Wahlberg as a dopey, innocent straight man and the charm of the bear’s friendship with him. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2012/06/movie-review-ted.html)
- **Screen Daily**, Tim Grierson (64/100, inferred): The accessible page identifies this as Screen’s review of Ted, but its verdict is hidden. No specific praise or complaint is visible in the accessible text. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/ted/5043620.article)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Roger Ebert (2.5/4): Ebert gives the film a mixed verdict. He finds its central comic premise wears thin, though the review recognizes its moments of humor. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/ted-2012)
- **Film Comment**, Violet Lucca (60/100, inferred): The review offers a mildly favorable verdict, saying the film is better than The Beaver. The visible text singles out only that comparison, not a specific aspect of the film. [Read](https://www.filmcomment.com/review-ted/)
- **Little White Lies**, Adam Woodward (2/3/3): The critic finds Ted consistently funny and unexpectedly sweet, though not a resounding triumph. He praises the likeable buddy dynamic and running gags, while faulting wasted supporting characters and overused emotional music cues. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/ted)
- **Time Out**, Ben Walters (3/5): The review gives the film a three-star rating. The article text is unavailable, so it does not reveal what the critic singled out for praise or complaint. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/ted-1)
- **Variety**, Peter Debruge (45/100, inferred): Debruge finds the film irreverent and sweet but less funny than expected, with an emotional ending that feels hollow. He praises Wahlberg’s work as the naive straight man, while criticizing the bear’s visually bland animation. [Read](https://variety.com/2012/film/reviews/ted-1117947793/)
- **The New Yorker**, Richard Brody (35/100, inferred): Brody finds the film surprisingly mediocre despite its intelligence and sees its ending as a disappointment. He praises the pop-culture subplot, where Ted’s brief fame and later yearning for attention give the absurd premise genuine pathos. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/one-good-thing-about-seth-macfarlanes-ted)
- **Slant Magazine**, Nick Schager (1/4): Schager argues that the film’s crude, reference-heavy comedy mostly falls flat and offers little insight into friendship or growing up. He gives some credit to Wahlberg and MacFarlane’s chemistry, but finds the film’s sincere defense of immaturity retrograde. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/ted/)
- **Digital Spy**, Stella Papamichael (4/5): The review finds the film predictable beneath its racy humour, but calls its storytelling funky and fresh. It especially praises Ted’s twisted comedy and Mark Wahlberg’s charming performance. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a395039/ted-review-seth-macfarlane-makes-wild-and-crazy-directorial-debut/)
- **Paste**, Niki Cruz (7.1): Cruz finds the film’s crude comedy refreshes a familiar coming-of-age formula, though its ending is predictable. She especially praises the charm of Ted and the easy chemistry between MacFarlane and Wahlberg. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/ted)
- **/Film**, Germain Lussier (7.5/10): The critic finds the familiar story easy to forgive because the film is hilarious and heartfelt. He praises the steady, surprising jokes and singles out Joel McHale and Giovanni Ribisi as standouts. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/521804/ted-review-nonstop-raunchy-laughs-mask-obvious-plot/)
- **The Wrap** (75/100, inferred): The critic finds the film’s outrageous humor ultimately outweighs its uneven pacing and weaker moments. They praise Mark Wahlberg’s comic performance and the film’s clever, frequently hilarious gross-out humor. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/ted-review-thats-one-funny-filthy-talking-bear-45826/)
- **The Playlist**, The Playlist Staff (B-): The review finds the film frequently hilarious but weakened by a messy, emotionally thin story. It praises Ted’s phenomenal design and animation for making the bear feel fully integrated into the movie. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/review-seth-macfarlanes-foul-mouthed-hilarious-ted-cant-hide-its-narrative-problems-20120628/)
- **Den of Geek**, Ron Hogan (2 out of 5): Hogan finds the film starts well but becomes unfocused and falls apart as it goes on. He praises its manic energy and a few early laughs, while criticizing the thin concept, abrupt tonal shifts, and wasted supporting cast. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/ted-review/)
- **Eye for Film**, David Graham (40/100, inferred): Graham finds the film mildly enjoyable but ultimately unmemorable, with weak plotting and overused, crude humour. He praises the imaginative premise, the bear’s realization and MacFarlane’s vocal performance, while noting that the comedy too often feels derivative. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/ted-2012-film-review-by-david-graham)
- **NME**, Owen Nicholls (25/100, inferred): The critic finds the film underdeveloped and says it is better suited to television than a cinema trip. They praise the cast, especially Giovanni Ribisi’s unsettling comic performance, but fault the film’s stagey presentation and inconsistent jokes. [Read](https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/ted-is-understuffed-dont-waste-your-time-on-it-765377)

## Details

- **Director:** Seth MacFarlane
- **Director:** Seth MacFarlane
- **Screenplay:** Seth MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin, Wellesley Wild
- **Story:** Seth MacFarlane
- **Cinematography:** Michael Barrett
- **Editor:** Jeff Freeman
- **Music:** Walter Murphy
- **Production design:** Stephen J. Lineweaver
- **Costume design:** Debra McGuire
- **Producer:** John Jacobs, Jason Clark, Seth MacFarlane
- **Cast:** Mark Wahlberg as John Bennett; Mila Kunis as Lori Collins; Seth MacFarlane as Ted (voice); Joel McHale as Rex; Giovanni Ribisi as Donny; Patrick Warburton as Guy; Matt Walsh as Thomas; Jessica Barth as Tami-Lynn
- **Runtime:** 1h 47m
- **Certificate (CNC):** TP
- **Release (France):** 10 October 2012
- **Genres:** Comedy, Fantasy
- **Budget:** $50 million
- **Box office:** $549 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXDAs23aSQc

## Where to watch in France

- Netflix: streaming
- Amazon Prime Video: rent €2.99, sd
- Apple TV: rent €3.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy €8.99, hd
- Apple TV: buy €8.99, hd

*Checked 2026-10-05.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, AZ, 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.

## If you liked this

- *Harvey* (1950): A man and his six-foot invisible rabbit, and nobody needed a chase to finish it
- *Withnail and I* (1987), Fi1m 88: Two men who refuse to grow up, one of whom finally does, and it hurts — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/withnail-and-i.md)
- *Step Brothers* (2008): Arrested development played without any sentiment at all, which is the braver choice
- *Brigsby Bear* (2017): Another grown man and a bear from childhood, this time taken seriously and gently
- *Toni Erdmann* (2016), Fi1m 86: A father in false teeth embarrasses his daughter for nearly three hours; it earns every minute — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/toni-erdmann.md)

---
© 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/ted