The Smurfs have been well-known in the animation world since their first film, The Smurfs and the Magic Flute, debuted in 1975. A Smurfs television series followed in 1981, and they’ve popped up many more times over the years. Unlike other Hanna-Barbera staples, The Smurfs never translated well for adults. They don’t have the same staying power as franchises like Scooby-Doo. And yet, the 2010s were riddled with movies about the tiny blue creatures. Now, Paramount is rebooting the films after Sony’s run, which ended in 2017 with Smurfs: The Lost Village.

Smurfs (2025) is heading to theaters on July 18th, just in time for Lilo & Stitch (2025) to leave most cinemas. With Superman dominating theaters and The Fantastic Four: First Steps coming at the end of the month, Smurfs is going to be the only good choice for small kids. Having just attended a screening riddled with children reacting to every joke, it’s safe to say this movie is going to be a hit with the under-10 crowd. Unfortunately, parents will have to sit through it, too.

The Vocal Talent

While Smurfs isn’t doing anything particularly new, it’s not the worst movie to come out in 2025. It’s a bit abrasive and stuffed with flat bits, but you won’t leave the theater offended by its existence. By leaning hard into the “Rihanna as Smurfette” of it all, the movie manages to produce some fun musical numbers. Say what you will about James Corden, but his character No Name has a very sweet “I Want” song. A lot of the film centers on No Name’s inability to find his “thing.” This initially felt like an interesting existential angle, but quickly became about him trying to control magic powers.

You’ll hear a ton of other famous voices, ranging from John Goodman and Nick Offerman to Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, and more. It was especially nice to hear voice actor JP Karliak as the classic Smurfs villain, Gargamel, and his brother, Razamel. Karliak is best known for playing Morph in X-Men ’97, and he’s proof that more voice actors should be cast in animated films rather than celebrities. Yes, it’s fun to hear Rihanna say words like “Snooterpoot,” but it’s not exactly what she was put on this earth to do.

Speaking of, the Snooterpoots are pretty cute, and stuffed versions will surely be on some Christmas lists this year.

Into the Smurf-Verse

Thanks to Marvel, we’re living in an age that’s pretty crowded with multiverse stories. Alternate realities can be a cool tool, but once Smurfs are traveling the multiverse, Hollywood has taken it too far. While the movie features a neat montage that shows Smurfs in different animation styles, that’s not exactly a new concept.

In fact, Smurfs was directed by Chris Miller, who previously helmed Shrek the Third and Puss in Boots. Coincidentally, Christopher Miller also happens to be the name of the co-writer and producer behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. It’s guaranteed that someone will see “Chris Miller” in the credits and think the Spider-Verse guy is ripping off his own work.

This is nitpicky, but the Smurfs multiverse had some questionable moments. For example, everything outside of Razamel’s castle is live-action, but everything inside is animation. Is the front door a portal? How come the takeout bag was live-action on the outside, but turned into animation on the inside while the Smurfs remained animated inside and out? Kids will not care about this, but the adult mind is bound to wander.

Smurfs is not worth seeing if you don’t have a young child in tow, but some youngins out there will claim it as their new favorite film. At best, you get a new Rihanna track. At worst, you’ll wish you could get sucked into the Tardigrade universe with only Jimmy Kimmel’s voice to keep you company.

What Is Smurfs About?

Papa Smurf (John Goodman), No Name (James Corden), and Smurfette (Rihanna)

You can read the Smurfs synopsis here: “When Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is mysteriously taken by evil wizards, Razamel and Gargamel, Smurfette (Rihanna) leads the Smurfs on a mission into the real world to save him. With the help of new friends, the Smurfs must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe.”

Smurfs stars Rihanna, James Corden, Nick Offerman, JP Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, and Sandra Oh. Jimmy Kimmel and Octavia Spencer join the fun with Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña, Marshmello, Kurt Russell, and John Goodman.

Smurfs hits theaters on July 18th.

For more Reviews, make sure to check back to That Hashtag Show.

Keep Reading: