Meet the Cat in the Hat you don’t know! In the wonderfully whimsical tradition of Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat comes to the big screen in his animated theatrical feature film debut, an all-new, epic adventure with an edge, where mischief, magic and mayhem reign supreme. Doing what he does best, the Cat—voiced by Bill Hader—spreads joy to kids in his hilarious, signature and singularly irreverent way, transporting them and audiences on a fantastical journey through a world they’ve never seen before.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Kennedy P. comments, “This hilarious animated movie brings Dr. Seuss’s beloved character to life in a fresh and exciting way, with imaginative adventures, outrageous comedy, and a heartwarming story that makes it about so much more than just mischief.” Braedyn M. adds, “I absolutely love The Cat in the Hat. With a star-studded cast, a huge hatful of jokes, and a wonderfully wacky and whimsical adventure, this movie offers a good goofy time for kids and families.” Miral G. adds, “This film is a fun, imaginative adventure that reminds us how important it is to embrace joy and never lose our imagination! The movie reimagines Dr. Seuss in a contemporary story featuring a real family in a modern-day setting.” Spencer C. wraps it up with, “This new movie shows us a side of the Cat we’ve never seen before. Based on the original book by Dr. Seuss, the Cat (Bill Hader) brings a whole new kind of magic and mischief to the story.” See their full reviews below.
The Cat in the Hat
By Kennedy P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12
What happens when a mischievous cat with a magical hat turns an ordinary day into an extraordinary adventure? Get ready for a wild ride filled with laughter, colorful surprises, and plenty of mayhem in The Cat in the Hat! This hilarious animated movie brings Dr. Seuss’s beloved character to life in a fresh and exciting way, with imaginative adventures, outrageous comedy, and a heartwarming story that makes it about so much more than just mischief.
In this new animated theatrical adventure, inspired by the wonderfully whimsical world of Dr. Seuss, the Cat (Bill Hader) is ready to spread joy and imagination to kids everywhere. Working for the Institute for the Institution of Imagination and Inspiration, LLC, the Cat takes on his toughest assignment yet: cheering up Gabby (Xochitl Gomez) and Sebastian (Tiago Martinez), a brother and sister who are struggling to adjust after moving to a new town. But when you have a mischievous cat that is known for taking things too far, things can quickly spiral out of control! With his magical hat, unpredictable antics, and a world full of surprises, the Cat must prove he can complete his mission before he loses his hat and everything that makes him special.
I love how the film combines silly humor with a meaningful message about family, friendship, and learning to embrace change. One of my favorite things about this film is its bright, colorful animation and the imaginative world. Every setting feels lively and full of personality, taking audiences on a fantastical journey where almost anything seems possible. The creative visuals, exaggerated expressions, and energetic action make the movie exciting to watch, while the humor keeps the story moving. Bill Hader brings his own playful personality to the iconic Cat, helping make this new version feel fresh while still capturing the Cat’s mischievous spirit. The voice cast brings the characters to life, and the combination of vibrant animation, imaginative settings, and laugh-out-loud moments makes this a fun adventure for kids and adults alike. The storyline reminds us how moving to a new town can be difficult, but Gabby and Sebastian eventually learn that new beginnings can also bring wonderful opportunities. We are reminded that it is okay to feel uncertain, that family and friendship can help us through challenging times, and that sometimes stepping outside our comfort zone might just lead us to the best adventures. It also shows us that a little creativity, laughter, and kindness can make even the toughest days brighter.
The film’s message addresses dealing with change, embracing your imagination, and finding joy in unexpected places.
I give The Cat In The Hat 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults. It releases in theaters November 6, 2026. So put on your imagination hat and get ready for a fantastical adventure!
The Cat in the Hat
By Braedyn M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 18
Even though intended for a younger audience, I absolutely love The Cat in the Hat. With a star-studded cast, a huge hatful of jokes, and a wonderfully wacky and whimsical adventure, this movieoffers a good goofy time for kids and families.
Siblings Gabby (Xochitl Gomez) and Sebastian (Tiago Martinez) struggle after moving away from everything they love. Despite their mom Carmen’s (America Ferrera) efforts, Gabby longs for her old life. Enter the Cat in the Hat (Bill Hader), a chaotic expert at cheering up kids whose messy assignments have nearly gotten him fired. With one last chance, he must help the siblings rediscover their joy while saving his job.
There are so many things that I love in this movie. No really, so many “Things.” From Thing 1, 3, 4, and 5 to 8, 23, 38 and 47, these little helpers with the bushy blue hair add so much to the adventure, a new layer previously not seen in the works of Dr. Seuss. I really appreciate how they contribute to the overall story in ways I didn’t expect. Seriously, where’s Thing 2? Bill Hader lends his talent from the world of comedy to the Cat, bringing our furry feline friend to life with laughter. Likewise, Xochil Gomez and Tiago Martinez perfectly encapsulate that classic brother and sister bond, showcasing the moments of humor, conflict, and love all wrapped together in their messy, but amazing friendship. The actors in this film truly pull through to transform a rainy day when the sun is not sunny, to a day with lots of fun that is funny. Another element that makes this movie unique is its creative spin on everyday objects of child and parenthood, like hand turkeys, finance receipts, and trumpets. This contributes to the idea that things aren’t always as they seem; that when you look deeper, you’ll find wonders you couldn’t have imagined.
This film’s message is to never judge a book by its cover. At first, Sebastian, and especially Gabby, think their new home and their mom are just plain boring, and they only moved here for her new job. But with a little creativity and as the Cat spreads his cheer, they see just how amazing their life can be here, and that their mom is much more fun than they thought.
I give The Cat in the Hat 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It releases in cinemas on November 6, 2026.
The Cat in the Hat
By Miral G., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12
I really love the new animated movie The Cat in the Hat and I am really surprised by its comeback! The movie is funny and full of surprises. It is very relatable, and it made me nostalgic about my childhood while reflecting on important concepts such as family, belonging, and friendship. The Cat in the Hat is a movie not to be missed!
The storyline follows the Cat in the Hat (Bill Hader), who is about to get fired from his job of bringing happiness to children at the Institution of Imagination and Inspiration, the organization dedicated to helping children rediscover joy, wonder, and creativity when life becomes difficult. His boss, Mr. Hoogeboom (Giancarlo Esposito), assigns him the task of helping Gabby feel happy. But things don’t go as planned! The Cat loses the “Go-Backer” in one of his three cardboard boxes and embarks on an adventure to defeat The Something and get it back, with the help of a myriad of colorful characters.
This film is a fun, imaginative adventure that reminds us how important it is to embrace joy and never lose our imagination! Two of my favorite parts are the storyline and the character design. The movie reimagines Dr. Seuss in a contemporary story featuring a real family in a modern-day setting. We see a single mom, Carmen (America Ferrera), who moves to a new city and a new apartment and faces real-life struggles. Her two children, Gabby (Xochitl Gomez), her brother Sebastian (Tiago Martinez) and their pet goldfish Waffles (Matt Berry), struggle to adjust to the move. Bill Hader’s portrayal of the Cat in the Hat and how he mixes fantasy and joy, sometimes with a little bit of mayhem, is very amusing. My favorite character is the Psychic Narwhal (Tituss Burgess). The depiction of this mythical animal as a funny character who dances and talks is genius! He made me laugh with his hilarious quotes and facial expressions. Not to mention the “Things,” which are all unique in their designs, voices, and special language.
The film’s key message is that life can be difficult and is always changing, but you need to hold on to what makes you happy. It reminds us that you need to be flexible and find happiness in the things you love.
The Cat in the Hat
By Spencer C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12
I really like The Cat in the Hat! It is so funny, full of hilarious jokes, and has a great message. I love how colorful and crazy everything is, and there is never a boring moment!
This new movie shows us a side of the Cat we’ve never seen before. Based on the original book by Dr. Seuss, the Cat (Bill Hader) brings a whole new kind of magic and mischief to the story. The Cat is given one last chance to prove himself and he finds a magical object called the Go Backer that can turn back time. He then meets Gabby (Xochitl Gomez) and her little brother Sebastian (Tiago Martinez), who have to move to a new town because of their mom’s job, which Gabby is NOT happy about. That’s when things start to get crazy!
My favorite scene is definitely at the Pig in the Wig’s (Ryan Gaffney) birthday. It is so funny! Something that really stands out to me is the colorful animation and all the mayhem. This is definitely not the same Cat in the Hat we’ve seen in other TV shows or movies. This version shows even more of his mischievous and messy side, which makes him so much fun to watch. I also love how much music is in the movie! Between Gabby’s amazing singing and the Cat in the Hat’s theme song, music is a really fun part of the story. Another thing I find hilarious is how the Things have their own language based on rhythm. Watching them communicate is so funny!
The film’s message is to embrace change and give new things a chance. At first, Gabby is really upset about moving, but by the end, she learns that things aren’t always as scary as they seem. Be aware that there is some adult humor, lots of action and a monster that could frighten younger viewers.
I give The Cat in the Hat 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters and IMAX on November 6, 2026.
