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Paddington 2

Paddington 2

Magic. Mystery. Marmalade.

2017103 minPGMidcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
Director
Paul King
Starring
Ben Whishaw, Sally Hawkins, Hugh Bonneville, Madeleine Harris

Paddington, now happily settled with the Browns, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy, but it is stolen.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Paddington 2?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Paddington 2 streaming on HBO Max and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Highlights

What stands out about Paddington 2?

Paddington 2 earns 12 badges, led by Top 5% of films and Universally Loved.

Show 4 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Content
  • Cast

Reception

Is Paddington 2 worth watching?

Paddington 2's Midcredits score is the 98th percentile of all films, from 862K ratings across 6 sources. 88% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

98th percentile

Better received than 98% of films

98th percentile among Adventure98th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)96th
Approval (how many liked it)97th

80 /100

96th percentile of all films

98th percentile among Adventure97th percentile among 2010s

Critics 88 · Audience 79

Critics liked it more than audiences did.

Rating distribution

A tight consensus around 7.9 — people broadly agree on this one.

88% liked it

97th percentile of all films

97th percentile among Adventure97th percentile among 2010s
88% rated it 7–1012% rated it 1–6

Critics 99% · Audience 89%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 14 wins / 50 noms overall

  • NominatedBAFTA Awards· Best Screenplay (Adapted)
  • NominatedBAFTA Awards· Best Supporting Actor

92nd percentile

862K ratings across platforms

88th percentile among Adventure92nd percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 14% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$40M
Opening weekend$11M
Domestic gross$41M
Worldwide gross$290M

Returned 7.3× its budget — 94th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A sweet, charming, and well-intentioned family film with a strong comedic core, even if some find it too simple or saccharine.

Fans praised

  • warmth and charm that's rare in any film
  • brilliant comedic energy, especially from Hugh Grant
  • rich story, world-building and emotional depth

Detractors panned

  • unrealistic and cheesy
  • lackluster plot and character arcs
  • overlong runtime and pacing issues

What stands out

HumorDivisive85

plenty of genuine laughs, with a mix of slapstick and clever wit, though not for everyone

ActingDivisive85

strong cast, especially Hugh Grant's comedic performance and Ben Whishaw's vocal work

AtmosphereDivisive85

warm, immersive, and brimming with whimsy, creating a cohesive world

CharactersDivisive80

more depth and realism than the first film, though some secondary characters are underdeveloped

Emotional impactDivisive80

a genuinely moving experience with a big heart, but some find it emotionally manipulative

Plot and storyDivisive75

less simple and bland than the first, with a grander emotional payoff, though some find it predictable

EndingDivisive75

satisfying and touching, providing a fulfilling conclusion

OriginalityDivisive70

inventive and creative, even if the premise is familiar

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men even
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 2 points apart
  • Critics vs users 1 point apart
  • US vs non-US 1 point apart

Watch experience

What is Paddington 2 like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Feel-good: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something warm that leaves you smiling.

It has a few laughs and leaves you feeling good. Skip it when you want something with weight.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Very little.

What it feels like

Feel-good.

Moods
JoyfulWarmCathartic
Heaviest: throughout
Warm humor
Register
WarmAdventurous · 11% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its heartfelt story of kindness and community completely straight, with warmth and gentle humour that never mocks its own sentiment.
The rideThe film sustains a joyful and warm tone throughout, with a cathartic resolution, and never becomes intense or volatile.
StructureThe story unfolds in a straightforward chronological order, with setup in Windsor Gardens, complications in prison and pursuit, and a climactic train chase.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Feeling good.

The answer rests on this: Feel-goodHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you with a warm, joyful glow and a belief that kindness and community can overcome any obstacle.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterTyrant
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% (this title) · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Tyrant: A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).

21% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypePaddington is wrongly convicted of theft and must clear his name while the real villain, a scheming actor, pursues a hidden fortune. The story is driven by exposing the true culprit and recovering the stolen book.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% (this title) · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsCommunity · 14% of films: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Justice · 13% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on the strong familial and community bonds that rally around Paddington when he is wrongfully imprisoned, and culminates in a joyful reunion.
StanceThe film celebrates the power of family and community bonds, presenting kindness and togetherness as triumphant.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalStylized realism
Orchestral classicalSupportive music · original score
SettingWindsor Gardens, London, and a local prison
MusicThe score accompanies the film's whimsical and warm tone, with playful orchestration during chase sequences and tender melodies for emotional moments.

Content guide

Is Paddington 2 okay for kids?

PG

Paddington 2 is rated PG: “Rated PG for some action and mild rude humor” (MPAA). As of August 19, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (13/100), sexual content at minimal (7/100), language at minimal (3/100), drug and alcohol content at minimal (5/100) and frightening material at mild (24/100). Overall it is heavier than 2% of PG-rated films.

Ratings in 25 other countries
  • UKPG
  • AustraliaG
  • Germany0
  • FranceTP
  • IrelandG
  • JapanG
  • South KoreaALL
  • BrazilL
  • AustriaAA
  • BGB
  • CzechiaU
  • Denmark7
  • FinlandK-7
  • GreeceK
  • IDSU
  • IndiaU
  • LTV
  • MexicoA
  • Netherlands6
  • Poland12
  • Russia6+
  • SpainA
  • Sweden7
  • Switzerland0
  • Taiwan普遍級
Overall
None / Minimal · all five categories
Heavier than 1% of all filmsHeavier than 2% of PG-rated films
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
light for a PG-rated film
heavier than 12%
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
light for a PG-rated film
heavier than 9%
Profanity
None / Minimal
light for a PG-rated film
heavier than 4%
Alcohol & Drugs
None / Minimal
light for a PG-rated film
heavier than 6%
Frightening / Intense
Mild
light for a PG-rated film
heavier than 22%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is frightening material, heavier than 22% of PG-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Paddington 2 have?

MovieCove's classifier found 1 depicted content warning in Paddington 2, withheld here because it would spoil the plot. Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

Cast and crew

Who is in Paddington 2?

Cast

7 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Ben Whishaw
as Paddington
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Sally Hawkins
as Mary Brown
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Hugh Bonneville
as Henry Brown
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Madeleine Harris
as Judy Brown
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Samuel Joslin
as Jonathan Brown
Julie Walters
as Mrs Bird
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Hugh Grant
as Phoenix Buchanan
BAFTA nominee: BAFTA Award nomination — Best Supporting ActorTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Imelda Staunton
as Aunt Lucy
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Brendan Gleeson
as Knuckles McGinty
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Jim Broadbent
as Mr Gruber
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Paddington 2?

Movies like Paddington 2 include Paddington (2014), Paddington in Peru (2024) and Barnyard (2006). Of the 12 closest matches, several are films written by Paul King, and all are family adventures.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

10 of these 12 share its subject: family bonds. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Paddington 2?

57 other films share the rarest tag below, up against: artist. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.