Chicken Run (2000)

Chicken Run (2000) is a spirited stop-motion animated adventure-comedy from Aardman Animations that blends slapstick, suspense and heart. Set on a grim Yorkshire egg farm in the 1950s, it follows Ginger, a determined hen desperate to free her fellow chickens from the Tweedys’ murderous plans, and Rocky, a brash American rooster whose arrival seems to offer a miraculous chance at escape. Together they hatch increasingly inventive plans — and eventually a daring, prisoner-of-war–style breakout — while racing against time as the farmers prepare a pie-making machine that threatens to end them all. Watching the film you’ll experience fast, physical comedy and clever visual gags typical of claymation, plus a steady pulse of tension as escape attempts fail and stakes rise. The romance between Ginger and Rocky adds warmth and comic rivalry, while a cast of quirky supporting birds (the anxious Fowler, the hopeful Babs and the tough Bunty) provide laughs and heartfelt moments about teamwork and resilience. The tone swings between light, family-friendly humor and genuine peril, with emotional payoffs that make the chickens’ struggle feel real and rooting-for-the-underdog satisfying. Visually, Chicken Run delights with richly detailed stop-motion animation and expressive character designs; the film’s inventiveness extends to its escape devices and set pieces. Overall it’s an entertaining, fast-paced family film that combines witty British humor, adventure, and touching themes of freedom and solidarity — expect to laugh, cheer, and occasionally hold your breath.

Actors: Mel Gibson, Julia Sawalha, Phil Daniels

Directors: Peter Lord, Nick Park

Runtime: 84 min

Genres: Adventure, Animation, Comedy

6.5 /10 88 /100 7.1 /10 7.5 /10