---
title: "The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part"
year: 2019
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part"
fi1m_score: 63
critics_score: 60
critics_reviews: 32
published: "2026-09-18T09:01:31.077336+00:00"
updated: "2026-09-18T09:01:31.636113+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."
---

# The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)

Directed by Mike Mitchell · 1h 47m · MPA PG · Action, Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family

**Fi1m score: 63** · Critics 60 from 32 reviews

*In a sentence:* Batman gets a marriage proposal from a talking heap of bricks and it is the funniest twenty minutes in the film

> Lord and Miller’s sequel is faster and denser than the first film, with better songs and a shape-shifting queen who steals it, but it is the same trick a second time, and it shows. Warm, tiring, and for its last quarter of an hour, moving.

## Synopsis

Five years after the Duplo invaders arrived, Bricksburg is Apocalypseburg, a wasteland of rust and sand where everyone has turned hard and brooding except Emmet Brickowski (Chris Pratt), who is as cheerful as ever. Then General Mayhem (Stephanie Beatriz) arrives from the Systar System and carries off Lucy (Elizabeth Banks), Batman (Will Arnett), Unikitty (Alison Brie), MetalBeard (Nick Offerman) and Benny (Charlie Day), delivering them to Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi (Tiffany Haddish), a shape-shifting ruler who insists in song that she is not evil and would like to marry Batman. Emmet turns his house into a spaceship and goes after them, meeting Rex Dangervest (also Pratt), a galaxy-defending cowboy who is everything Emmet is not. Upstairs, Finn (Jadon Sand) and his sister Bianca (Brooklynn Prince) are not getting on.

## Review

Five years after [*The Lego Movie*](https://film.one/film/the-lego-movie) (2014), Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have kept the script and handed the director’s chair to Mike Mitchell. The first film’s best idea arrived late: the whole thing had been a boy’s game on his father’s table in the basement. The sequel cannot hide that again, so it starts from it. The game is now shared with a younger sister, and the two children do not agree on the rules. That is a good idea for a film. Around it are 107 minutes of jokes, most of them good and nearly all of them familiar.

The opening is the film at its most confident. Patrick Marc Hanenberger and Jack Yu turn Bricksburg into Apocalypseburg, a wasteland of rust, sand and blackened towers, a [*Mad Max*](https://film.one/film/mad-max) for six-year-olds in which everyone has adopted the pose except Emmet (Chris Pratt), who is still cheerful. Lucy (Elizabeth Banks) has taken up brooding. Then the story moves to the Systar System and the design flips to pastels and glitter, a place where nothing has a sharp edge. The two worlds tell the whole story in colour before anyone has to explain it.

Tiffany Haddish’s Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi is the best thing in it. She is a heap of loose bricks that never settles, rebuilding herself into a horse, a throne, a heart, while singing a song that insists she is not evil in lines that make her sound steadily more so. Haddish gives her a warmth that keeps you guessing, and the song is the one sequence we would sit through again tonight. Her courtship of Batman (Will Arnett) gives Arnett his best material since the first film: a Batman who is flattered, appalled and available. We laughed hard at both of them, harder than at anything else here.

Mark Mothersbaugh’s music does a good deal of the lifting. There is a song that announces it will get stuck in your head, and it does, and the film knows how annoying that is and makes the annoyance the joke. The score underneath keeps the first film’s bounce and roughens it for the wasteland. Clare Knight cuts to that beat, a gag every few seconds, a sign in the background, a costume change, a raptor, and for half an hour the rhythm is a pleasure.

Then it is work. Somewhere around the hour we realised we had stopped laughing and started counting, and that the film was still going at the same speed and had not noticed. The script explains its idea, that not everything is awesome and it is all right to say so, and then explains it again in song. Rex Dangervest, Pratt’s second role, is a long joke about Pratt’s own action-hero career, and Pratt plays him well, but the joke is for parents who have seen his other trailers and it runs ten minutes past its point. The first film’s tricks are back, the hand from above especially, and because we know them they no longer surprise.

And yet the ending got us. The live-action scenes with Finn (Jadon Sand), Bianca (Brooklynn Prince) and their mother (Maya Rudolph) are brief and plainly shot, a carpet, a table, a doorway, and they carry more feeling than the whole Systar System. There is a moment late on between the two children that we will not describe, and it moved us more than a film with this many raptors had any right to. It works because the thing under it, a boy deciding he is too old to play with his sister, is true, and the film for once lets it sit.

Lord and Miller produced [*Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse*](https://film.one/film/spider-man-into-the-spider-verse) (2018), which found a way to be this fast and this dense without wearing us out. This one does not. It is a clever, good-natured, tiring sequel, funnier than most and less than the first, and it is at its best when it stops shouting. Adults will laugh more than they expect and reach for the pause button by the hour mark. It carries a U certificate and runs 107 minutes.

*Fi1m score 63, published 18 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics like it, and almost all of them measure it against the first film and find it a little shorter. The praise clusters on the jokes and the songs: the pop-culture riffs arrive at speed, the musical numbers are catchier than before, and Will Arnett’s Batman is named again and again as the comic high point. The animation is admired throughout, and a few reviews single out the opening set piece in Apocalypseburg and the new Queen character as the best of the fresh material.

The reservations are about repetition. Many reviews say the creators are rearranging the same bricks, that the pace drags in the middle and that the message is muddled. The spread is wide. The Guardian thinks it better than the original; Sight and Sound finds the constant irony wearing; The New York Times and Slant read it as a commercial first and a film second. About a fifth of the reviews are outright negative, mostly tired of the self-awareness.

### Reviews we read (32)

- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (85/100, inferred): The critic finds the sequel even better than the first, with a sophisticated take on gender in the Lego universe. It is praised for its hilarious voice work, ceaselessly inventive pop-culture riffs and nonstop gag-storm screenplay. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jan/28/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-review-chris-pratt)
- **Empire**, John Nugent (80/100, inferred): A hugely fun sequel that repeats the first film's formula but delivers giddy, subversive humour and stunning animation. The critic highlights its self-referential shrewdness and surreal jokes as the main appeal. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/lego-movie-2-second-part-review/)
- **Radio Times**, Terry Staunton (4/5): It's an ultra-slick retread that enchants younger viewers and puts a smile on grown-ups' faces with countless one-liners and an inventive colorful backdrop, though it doesn't offer anything different from the predecessor. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-r0cqpd/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part/)
- **The AV Club**, Jesse Hassenger (B): The film offers more songs, laughs, and craft than some spin-offs but less resonance and streamlined magic than the first, opting for a cute but prescriptive worldview. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/the-lego-movie-2-offers-a-second-part-with-more-songs-1832025237)
- **Evening Standard**, Charlotte O'Sullivan (70/100, inferred): A semi-brilliant family movie that doesn't quite match the original or Toy Story sequels, with sophisticated gags and visuals undermined by familiar territory and faltering pace in places. The critic singles out the complex Queen Watevra Wa-Nabi character and the end-credits song for praise. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-review-this-block-party-doesnt-quite-click-into-place-a4061256.html)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Christy Lemire (70/100, inferred): The sequel is a lot of fun but lacks the consistent cleverness and thrill of the original. It offers catchy songs, meta gags, and a welcome feminist streak, though pacing drags at times. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-2019)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Justin Chang (65/100, inferred): It is funny but falls short of the first, with a busy, bouncy and fitfully inspired approach. The puns, one-liners, and blend of sincerity and snark are amusing, and it saves the best for last. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-review-20190205-story.html)
- **Total Film** (65/100, inferred): The toys are starting to look worn but this is hardly the playdate from hell, acknowledging some fatigue in the sequel while affirming it remains enjoyable. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-lego-movie-2-review/)
- **The Telegraph**, Robbie Collin (3/5): The film has lost some of the original's awesomeness and feels like it works too hard, but still delivers effortful entertainment. The critic singles out the rip-roaring Mad Max-style opening set piece in Apocalypseburg for praise. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2019/01/26/lego-movie-2-second-part-review-no-longer-awesome-still-dash/)
- **The Times**, Edward Porter (★★★): The wit and silliness of the jokes hold up well enough to please children and parents alike, with some fun at Chris Pratt's expense. It lacks the original's effervescent novelty, however, as the creators are now just rearranging the same bricks. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-robert-rodriguez-james-cameron-alita-battle-angel-kenneth-branagh-all-is-true-3t9wpnnrq)
- **Time Out**, Hanna Flint (3/5): This sequel lacks the original’s breathless inspiration and feels convoluted, but remains a funny and warm-hearted watch with hilarious songs and meta jokes, especially from Batman. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part)
- **Variety**, Peter Debruge (55/100, inferred): Mile-a-minute jokes aside, the sequel seems a bit confused about its message. It is faster and denser with catchy songs, but the energy covers for a wobblier foundation and dissipated novelty. [Read](https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-review-1203116453/)
- **Screen Daily** (50/100, inferred): The songs are catchier but the jokes aren’t as consistent in this energised but only sporadically engaging follow-up; it explores intriguing ideas about children shedding sweetness to seem cool, yet most pleasures come from familiarity with the characters and world, which aren’t as delightful as in the first film. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-review/5136069.article)
- **The New Yorker** (50/100, inferred): For those new to the series it is enjoyably hectic and daft, but for others the novelty has faded and it feels formless and stale. It features itchy songs, in-jokes, and live-action scraps about sibling play. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part)
- **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis (40/100, inferred): The film is pretty much like the first but less distractingly fun and shiny. It functions more obviously as a commercial, with the mind drifting to thoughts of studio exploitation. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/06/movies/the-lego-movie-two-the-second-part-review.html)
- **IndieWire**, Jude Dry (30/100, inferred): The follow-up is a flat re-mix that tells kids sometimes everything's not awesome, delivering a post-Trump LEGO world without the original's spark. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/lego-movie-2-review-everything-not-awesome-trump-1202038451/)
- **Sight and Sound**, Alex Dudok de Wit (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the sequel's hyper-ironic tone increasingly annoying despite some great gags, while noting it mines the premise for new themes about human relationships and gender norms. The animation and cultural references provide humor, but the self-awareness undermines its serious points. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/lego-movie-2-review-this-hyper-aware-sequel-builds-wall-irony)
- **Slant Magazine**, Chris Barsanti (30/100, inferred): The deconstruction of corporatized play gets run through the sequelizer with acrid results; the original fizziness is gone and the film feels forced and commercially motivated. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review-the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-is-so-not-awesome/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, THR Staff (30/100, inferred): The sequel has lost much of the original's snap and feels like a repetitive, uninspired knockoff coasting on reused gags and heart-tugging devices. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/lego-movie-2-second-part-1179448/)
- **Vulture** (30/100, inferred): The sequel grows up with its characters and meta story but becomes more cynical, stuffed with self-aware adult-targeted jokes that weigh down the silliness. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2019/02/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-review.html)
- **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (85/100, inferred): The critic says the sequel fulfills and in some ways exceeds high expectations, particularly with its inventive musical numbers. Director Mike Mitchell and the team keep the film humming with character development and heart amid the grittier take. [Read](https://deadline.com/video/lego-movie-2-the-second-part-chris-pratt-elizabeth-banks-tiffany-haddish-will-arnett/)
- **Digital Spy**, Hugh Armitage (80/100, inferred): The sequel captures the magic of the first film and builds on it with sharp references and emotional depth. It singles out the real-world framing device for adding genuine emotional resonance beyond the original. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a26039168/lego-movie-2-review/)
- **NME**, Nick Reilly (4/5): The film is inventive and funny though never quite matching the first. It singles out Will Arnett's Batman and his romance with the Queen for comic high points and meta-humour. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/the-lego-movie-2-film-review-everything-is-still-awesome-2443736)
- **The Wrap**, Yolanda Machado (80/100, inferred): The critic calls it a delightful all-ages adventure that expands the Lego universe with new worlds, characters, timely messages about heroism and childhood, and catchy tunes. It has the potential to reach even the most cynical viewers through its vivid imagery and themes of connection. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/the-lego-movie-2-film-review-2019-chris-pratt-tiffany-haddish-sequel/)
- **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (B): The sequel suffers from some sequelitis and haphazard storytelling that makes it pale next to the original, but the critic still had a blast thanks to razor-sharp humor, stunning animation, and thoughtful themes around toxic masculinity and maturity. [Read](https://collider.com/the-lego-movie-2-review/)
- **Consequence**, Clint Worthington (70/100, inferred): The film coasts on series goodwill for much of its runtime with side gags lacking prior snap, but it is almost wholly redeemed by its climax, unexpected plot threads, and surprisingly sweet character development that updates the themes for a darker world. [Read](https://consequence.net/2019/02/film-review-lego-movie-2-the-second-part/)
- **Den of Geek**, Don Kaye (3.5/5): The film is witty and fun but labors to stretch the premise and lacks the original's freshness. It singles out the fast and furious pop culture jokes for praise while noting the sequel's inherent lack of novelty. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-lego-movie-2-review/)
- **Paste**, Dom Sinacola (7.5): Less revelatory than the first film, it still thoughtfully explores growing up, toxic masculinity, and the value of trying over perfection, delivering a lovely message that everything isn’t awesome but isn’t so bad either. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/article/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part)
- **The Playlist**, Kimber Myers (B-): The film is all over the place with fast jokes and enviable energy but is exhausting and not as successful or memorable as the first. It still offers a heartwarming message about there being no one right way to play. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/lego-movie-2-second-part-review-20190126/)
- **/Film**, Josh Spiegel (6/10): The sequel is familiar and treads ground already covered by other animated films, though it has charm, wit and catchy music. The story fails to reach the heights of the original. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/564013/lego-movie-2-review/)
- **Polygon**, Karen Han (60/100, inferred): It doesn’t quite clear the high bar set by the original and lacks some cohesion, but it makes up for that with idiosyncratic ideas, self-referential humor, and moments of brilliance while juggling too many concepts at once. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/2019/2/7/18214813/lego-movie-2-review-sequel-chris-pratt)
- **Eye for Film**, Donald Munro (50/100, inferred): The film is fun but relies on too many throwaway jokes and references that are repeated ad nauseum and interfere with pacing. It feels thin compared to the original, with a heavy-handed message and less subtlety. [Read](http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part-2019-film-review-by-donald-munro)

## Details

- **Director:** Mike Mitchell
- **Director:** Mike Mitchell
- **Screenplay:** Christopher Miller, Phil Lord
- **Story:** Matthew Fogel, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
- **Editor:** Clare Knight
- **Music:** Mark Mothersbaugh
- **Production design:** Patrick Marc Hanenberger, Jack Yu
- **Costume design:** Joe Kucharski, Caroline Cranstoun
- **Producer:** Jinko Gotoh, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
- **Cast:** Chris Pratt as Emmet Brickowski / Rex Dangervest (voice); Elizabeth Banks as Wyldstyle / Lucy (voice); Will Arnett as Batman (voice); Tiffany Haddish as Queen Watevra Wa'Nabi (voice); Stephanie Beatriz as General Mayhem / Sweet Mayhem (voice); Alison Brie as Unikitty / Ultrakatty (voice); Nick Offerman as MetalBeard (voice); Charlie Day as Benny (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 47m
- **Certificate (MPA):** PG
- **Release (the US):** 8 February 2019
- **Genres:** Action, Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family
- **Budget:** $99 million
- **Box office:** $200 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cksYkEzUa7k

## Where to watch in the US

- Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd
- Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd
- Apple TV: buy $9.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $14.99, uhd

*Checked 2026-09-18.*

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

- Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie 2020: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *The Lego Movie* (2014), Fi1m 83: The original, where the trick was still hidden and the awe still arrived on time. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-lego-movie.md)
- *Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse* (2018), Fi1m 87: Lord and Miller at full speed without the fatigue; every frame is a decision. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-into-the-spider-verse.md)
- *A Town Called Panic* (2009): Belgian stop-motion toys behaving very badly; the same anarchy at a fraction of the volume.
- *Toy Story 3* (2010), Fi1m 87: Another sequel about a child outgrowing the toys, and it hurts more. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/toy-story-3.md)
- *My Neighbour Totoro* (1988), Fi1m 89: Two sisters, a house and a world of play; the quiet version of this film. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/my-neighbor-totoro.md)

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© 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/the-lego-movie-2-the-second-part