---
title: "Trolls Band Together"
year: 2023
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/trolls-band-together"
fi1m_id: "trolls-band-together"
imdb_id: "tt14362112"
tmdb_id: 901362
wikidata_id: "Q117323743"
fi1m_score: 58
critics_score: 62
critics_reviews: 11
published: "2026-09-10"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:05.214695+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."
---

# Trolls Band Together (2023)

Directed by Walt Dohrn · 1h 31m · MPA PG · Animation, Family, Music, Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure

## Identity

Trolls Band Together

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/trolls-band-together
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** trolls-band-together
- **IMDb ID:** tt14362112
- **TMDB ID:** 901362
- **Wikidata ID:** Q117323743
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14362112/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/901362, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q117323743

**Fi1m score: 58** · Critics 62 from 11 reviews

*In a sentence:* Five brothers, five haircuts, half a plot, and glitter in the carpet for a week

> The third Trolls film is 91 minutes of boy band jokes for the parents and colour for the children, made with real care in the textures and much less in the story. Small children will be happy; nobody else will remember it by Tuesday.

## Synopsis

Branch (Justin Timberlake), the cautious one among the trolls, has a secret: as a child he was the youngest member of a boy band called BroZone, with four older brothers he has not spoken to since it fell apart. At a wedding, his brother John Dory (Eric André) arrives with news that another brother, Floyd (Troye Sivan), has been taken by Velvet and Veneer (Amy Schumer and Andrew Rannells), a pair of pop-star siblings who cannot sing and are draining his talent instead. Only the brothers singing together can free him, so Branch and Poppy (Anna Kendrick) set out to collect Spruce (Daveed Diggs) and Clay (Kid Cudi). Walt Dohrn directs the third film in the series, which runs 91 minutes and carries a U certificate.

## Review

Walt Dohrn’s third Trolls film opens at a wedding and gets to its business inside ten minutes. Branch (Justin Timberlake), the grumpy one, turns out to have been the baby of a boy band called BroZone, with four older brothers he has not spoken to since it split. One of them, John Dory (Eric André), crashes the ceremony to announce that another, Floyd (Troye Sivan), has been kidnapped by a pair of pop-star siblings who are draining his talent to cover for their own lack of it. The cure is the brothers singing together in perfect harmony, so Branch and Poppy (Anna Kendrick) set off to collect them. That is the film, and Elizabeth Tippet’s script does not pretend it is more.

It is a pleasant 91 minutes and it is thin, and we say both plainly. The good jokes are nearly all about boy bands: the matching outfits, the choreography, the brother who is the heartthrob and the brother who is the sensitive one, the reunion nobody wants to be the first to suggest. Timberlake knows this material from the inside and plays Branch’s embarrassment about his past with a lightness the character has not had before. We laughed, properly and against our better judgement, at the brothers’ first routine together, where the film runs through every nineties boy band move in turn, the slow head turn, the hand pressed to the heart, the drop to one knee. Then it asked us to worry about Floyd in his bottle, and we found we had nothing left over for him.

Ruben Perez’s design is the film’s real asset. Trolls have always looked as if they were made from the contents of a primary school craft cupboard, felt and pipe cleaners and glitter glue, and the new places keep that up, down to a village laid out on a miniature golf course. The villains’ world is the opposite: hard, shiny plastic in the colours of a sports drink, with nothing in it you could pick up. Twice the film changes style altogether, once into flat cut-paper shapes and once into something closer to the inside of a lava lamp, and both times we sat up. They are the passages we remember.

The villains are the weak spot. Velvet and Veneer, voiced by Amy Schumer and Andrew Rannells, are a brother and sister who would rather steal a voice than learn to use their own, and the idea is a decent one for a film about manufactured pop. Rannells gets some nervous, wanting-to-be-liked comedy out of Veneer. Velvet is written loud and only loud, and Schumer has nowhere to take her. Zosia Mamet, as their assistant Crimp, has the best-timed misery in the film. Of the brothers, Daveed Diggs’s Spruce and Kid Cudi’s Clay each arrive with one trait and leave with it. Camila Cabello turns up midway as Viva, whom we will leave you to meet, and Zooey Deschanel’s Bridget has her wedding and not much after it.

Nick Fletcher cuts the whole thing as if the children might leave the cinema. Few shots last longer than a few seconds and a song arrives every few minutes, whether or not the scene needed one. Theodore Shapiro is credited with the music, and we would struggle to hum a bar of his score, because the film hands nearly every moment to a pop song instead. The new song from Timberlake’s old band is placed near the end and it is fine. The reviews so far are split almost evenly between warm and weary, and we are in the middle with them.

Against the series’ own record this is the slightest. The first film had one rescue and one real thought about where happiness comes from. The second had an argument about music that it did not finish. This one has a joke where a story should be, and the joke is aimed a good twenty years above the heads of the audience the certificate is for. We were never annoyed, exactly. We were waiting, and the film kept handing us something shiny to wait with.

Take children under eight and they will have a lovely time; the felt and the glitter and the songs are made for them with real skill. If you are older than that, the boy band gags will carry you for about half the running time, and then it is down to how much you like the colour orange. It is over quickly, which for a film this busy is a kindness.

*Fi1m score 58, published 10 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews split roughly down the middle, and the disagreement is about whether a thin story matters when the film around it is this busy. Most critics agree on what works: the animation, which several describe as textured with everyday childhood materials and which shifts style from sequence to sequence; the voice cast; and the soundtrack, with the new NSYNC songs mentioned approvingly even by those who dislike the rest.

The reservations cluster around the plot, which the less impressed call perfunctory and padded with musical breaks, and around a hectic pace and relentless cheeriness that leave some reviewers unable to care about the characters. The spread is wide for a family sequel: RogerEbert.com calls it the best of the three Trolls films, while Radio Times calls it the least engaging, and Collider suggests the franchise has run its course. The middle ground treats it as harmless entertainment for young children and slim pickings for anyone older.

## Straight answers

**Is Trolls Band Together worth watching?**

*Trolls Band Together* is worth watching for children under eight, who will love the felt, glitter and songs, and we scored it 58. For anyone older, the boy band jokes carry about half of the 91 minutes and the story never arrives to fill the rest. It is pleasant, thin and quickly forgotten.

**How long is Trolls Band Together, and what is it rated?**

*Trolls Band Together* runs 1h 31m and is rated PG by the MPA in the US. It is an animation and family film.

**Where can I watch Trolls Band Together in the US?**

*Trolls Band Together* is streaming on Amazon Prime Video in the US, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from $3.99. It leaves Amazon Prime Video on 15 September. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does Trolls Band Together compare to Yellow Submarine?**

*Trolls Band Together* and [*Yellow Submarine*](https://film.one/film/yellow-submarine) both send a pop band to rescue a colourful world, but the older film is the bolder and better of the two. Its song sequences are worth the trip on their own; the Trolls film changes style only twice and spends the rest on a boy band joke. Small children will prefer the Trolls; adults should take the Beatles.

**What should I watch after Trolls Band Together?**

After *Trolls Band Together*, try [*Yellow Submarine*](https://film.one/film/yellow-submarine) (1968, Fi1m 74): A pop band saves a colourful world in animation that changes its mind every ten minutes. Then [*Spice World*](https://film.one/film/spice-world) (1997, Fi1m 62): A real group sends itself up with a plot even thinner than this one, cheerfully; and [*The Muppets*](https://film.one/film/the-muppets) (2011, Fi1m 80): Getting the band back together, done with felt and with something at stake.

### Reviews we read (13)

- **RogerEbert.com**, Nell Minow (85/100, inferred): The critic calls it the best of the three Trolls films, praising its irresistible charm, sweet tone without excess sugar, terrific voice talent, music, and varied animation styles that enhance the story and sense of adventure. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/trolls-band-together-movie-review-2023)
- **Variety**, Peter Debruge (80/100, inferred): The critic praises the film's embrace of silliness, trippy and creative animation sequences, self-deprecating humor, and fun party-like structure as a step up from the previous sequel. [Read](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/trolls-band-together-review-justin-timberlake-nsync-1235764293)
- **The New York Times**, Brandon Yu (75/100, inferred): The review describes it as an entertaining boy band fever dream that reunites 'N Sync, noting strong animation and clever, funny moments despite frenetic pacing and visual stimuli. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/16/movies/trolls-band-together-review.html)
- **The Guardian** (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the third Trolls film loopier than before, with a plot serving mainly as an excuse for boyband gags and glittery oddness. They single out the surreal wedding scene with helium-balloon dress and roller skates as a highlight of its candyfloss-coloured weirdness. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/oct/18/trolls-band-together-review-anna-kendrick-justin-timberlake)
- **Little White Lies**, David Jenkins (3/3/2): The critic views the film as a standard-issue sequel that pads a thin storyline with garish animated interludes and musical breaks, making it hard to invest in the characters or plot. It serves as a bright-eyed time-passer for young children but offers slim pickings in laughs, emotion or memorable images for anyone older. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/trolls-band-together-nsync-fandom-rise-up)
- **The Telegraph** (3/5): The review notes that while the plot trudges, the animation remains inventive and textured with everyday childhood materials. It positions the film as middle-of-the-road compared to more ambitious 2023 animation releases. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2023/10/19/trolls-band-together-review/)
- **Empire**, Helen O'Hara (40/100, inferred): The critic finds the film annoying and one-note due to its relentless cheeriness and stale, safe approach despite some fun gags and great voice performances. They single out the gorgeously textured animation and design experimentation for praise amid the overall weightless and predictable plot. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/trolls-band-together/)
- **Radio Times**, James Mottram (2/5): The multicoloured musical maestros return for this third – and sadly least engaging – film in the franchise. The script has some amusing lines and musical numbers entertain, but the glitter-covered narrative is all sparkle and no substance. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-zllay2/trolls-band-together/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Frank Scheck: The critic finds the third installment an unnecessary threequel overloaded with groan-worthy boy-band puns and one-liners. The pop soundtrack and vibrant animation receive some acknowledgment, but the perfunctory story and high-pitched musical numbers fail to recapture the charm of the first film. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/trolls-band-together-review-justin-timberlake-1235646941/)
- **Deadline**, Damon Wise (75/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a cute psychedelic pop satire that successfully explores boy-band nostalgia through its story and soundtrack. They single out the film's anarchic playfulness and robust ensemble cast as its winning formula. [Read](https://deadline.com/2023/11/trolls-band-together-review-justin-timberlake-sends-up-his-boy-band-past-anna-kendrick-nsync-1235616850/)
- **Collider**, Ross Bonaime (C): The review concludes that the animated franchise has run its course, feeling like a retread of previous entries with less humor and quality. It singles out the unique animation styles and the charming 90s boy band medley for praise. [Read](https://collider.com/trolls-band-together-review/)
- **HeyUGuys**, Emily Breen (2/5): The critic finds the film merely fine and inoffensive family fare, with a flimsy story and hectic tone that makes it hard to care about the characters. They single out the new NSYNC songs for mild praise while criticizing the unappealing villains and lackluster execution overall. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/trolls-band-together-review/)
- **Paste**, Amy Amatangelo (6.0): The critic finds the self-effacing boy band nonsense fun enough, providing enjoyable moments for repeat viewers. The soundtrack, especially the new NSYNC song, and the playful references to boy band tropes are highlighted positively. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/justin-timberlake/trolls-band-together-review)

## Details

- **Director:** Walt Dohrn
- **Director:** Walt Dohrn
- **Writer:** Elizabeth Tippet
- **Editor:** Nick Fletcher
- **Music:** Theodore Shapiro
- **Production design:** Ruben Perez
- **Producer:** Gina Shay
- **Cast:** Anna Kendrick as Poppy (voice); Justin Timberlake as Branch (voice); Camila Cabello as Viva (voice); Eric André as John Dory (voice); Amy Schumer as Velvet (voice); Andrew Rannells as Veneer (voice); Daveed Diggs as Spruce (voice); Troye Sivan as Floyd (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 31m
- **Certificate (MPA):** PG
- **Release (the US):** 17 November 2023
- **Genres:** Animation, Family, Music, Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure
- **Budget:** $95 million
- **Box office:** $210 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftUpFjGKuY0

## Where to watch in the US

- Amazon Prime Video: streaming, uhd, leaving 2026-09-15
- Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $7.99, uhd

*Checked 2026-09-10.*

Also available in: AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, ES, FI, FR, GB, HK, HU, ID, IE, IN, IT, JP, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, TH, TR, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie 2024: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *Yellow Submarine* (1968), Fi1m 74: A pop band saves a colourful world in animation that changes its mind every ten minutes. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/yellow-submarine.md)
- *Spice World* (1997), Fi1m 62: A real group sends itself up with a plot even thinner than this one, cheerfully. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/spice-world.md)
- *Josie and the Pussycats* (2001): Manufactured pop and the people who manufacture it, taken apart with more bite.
- *The Muppets* (2011), Fi1m 80: Getting the band back together, done with felt and with something at stake. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-muppets.md)
- *Ernest & Celestine* (2012), Fi1m 84: Hand-drawn French animation that looks made by hand, for children and their parents alike. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/ernest-and-celestine.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/trolls-band-together