‘The Cat in the Hat’ review: A hilarious, heartfelt surprise
Bill Hader brings Dr. Seuss’ mischievous Cat in the Hat to life in a hilarious, heartfelt animated adventure from Warner Bros. Pictures. Packed with clever humor, colorful animation and a few unexpected emotional moments, “The Cat in the Hat” is a delightful surprise.
I’ll admit, I was a little nervous sitting down for this screening. The disastrous 2003 live-action adaptation starring Mike Myers remains firmly planted in my memory, and I wasn’t sure what to expect from another big-screen interpretation of the beloved Dr. Seuss character.
Thankfully, this Cat lands on his feet.
A Cat with plenty of laughs and heart
“The Cat in the Hat” is genuinely funny, with jokes that appeal to both kids and adults. My screening audience laughed throughout the movie, and there were even moments when people clapped along.
Photo by Dani Meyering
Hader’s performance is a highlight, bringing an infectious energy to the Cat. A few early jokes had me wondering whether the humor might veer too far into “Saturday Night Live” territory, but the movie quickly finds a good balance.
The animation style is similar to that of Disney’s Oscar-winning short “Feast,” while the storytelling has touches of “Inside Out,” “Soul,” “Shrek” and “Minions.”
Is ‘The Cat in the Hat’ appropriate for young kids?
Although the original Dr. Seuss book is a favorite among kindergarten and early elementary school readers, this movie feels better suited to slightly older children, perhaps second through fifth grade.
There are multiple antagonists, including a surprisingly ferocious monster with a jump scare and some extended scenes of peril during the third act. The monster eventually gets a redemptive storyline, but younger or more sensitive viewers may find some moments frightening.
Another antagonist, the Cat’s boss, is unnecessarily mean-spirited without much explanation for his behavior. A third, a neighbor, fares better and delivers some visual jokes about homes decorated with inspirational sayings such as “Live, Laugh, Love.”
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Animation
Although I consider myself and my son to be a sensitive pair, I would take him to see “The Cat in the Hat.” Its humor and heart make up for the moments that gave me pause.
Don’t leave when the credits roll
The movie is preceded by a Daffy Duck animated short inspired by the classic duck-season antics. Although funny, a couple of its more intense moments might be too much for particularly sensitive young viewers.
And once “The Cat in the Hat” ends, stay seated. Hader delivers some amusing voiceover work during the credits, and there’s both a mid-credits scene and a post-credits scene.
“The Cat in the Hat” opens in theaters Nov. 6, 2026, and is rated PG for action, some peril, mild language and rude humor, with a runtime of 1 hour and 54 minutes,
The Cat’s mischief extends beyond the movie theater, too. Cold Stone Creamery has introduced a Cotton Candy Catastrophe ice cream creation, while Wetzel’s Pretzels is serving a colorful Blue Lemonade Freeze inspired by the Things.
Photo by Dani Meyering
Kraft has also released special-edition string cheese packaging. See our guide to “The Cat in the Hat” movie-themed food and drinks for more details.
Final thoughts
“The Cat in the Hat” exceeded my expectations. It’s funny, imaginative and surprisingly touching, with enough clever humor to keep adults entertained alongside older kids.
Despite a few overly intense moments and some underdeveloped villains, this is a Cat I happily welcome back to the big screen.
More Attractions Magazine stories
Follow us:
No matter where you want to go, our trusted partner MEI-Travel will handle the planning so you can focus on the memories. They offer free vacation-planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating memorable vacations. Visit MEI-Travel for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today.
