Kung Fu Panda 4 is almost here, and early reviews show the animated sequel might become the lowest-rated installment in the entire franchise. With a 74% score on Rotten Tomatoes as of this writing, the movie is still considered fresh. The number could also still go up once it premieres worldwide.
As the fourth film aims to revitalize the franchise, it may also face quite a lot of challenges this time. Kung Fu Panda 3 was released in 2016, and with such a long time in between, there’s no surprise if the hype has already died down.
Kung Fu Panda 4 Ranks Lowest In The Entire Animated Franchise
As per Rotten Tomatoes, the first three installments had more stellar scores: Kung Fu Panda with 87%, Kung Fu Panda 2 with 81%, and Kung Fu Panda 3 with 87%. Meanwhile, the 2024 project currently stands at 74%, a not-so-bad score but also not as impressive as the earlier ones.
When asked why it took almost a decade to release a long-overdue sequel, director Mike Mitchell exclusively told Hindustan Times:
“Well, what took so long is that we wanted to make sure we had the story right, and we didn’t want to move forward until we had the greatest story of all time to tell. We really wanted Po to evolve. We wanted to meet new characters. We wanted to visit new worlds. We wanted to expand his world, so that took a while to get right and to design it all.”
Even with established comedians like Jack Black and Awkwafina, the tandem did not seem to impress a lot of the critics. The general audience is still yet to see the film, so there is hope that the rating will improve in the next couple of weeks.
Kung Fu Panda 4 Ending Scene Leaked: Fans Are Not Happy With a Massive Spoiler Days Ahead of Release
In his interview with SlashFilm, Black shared what makes the fourth installment different from the rest:
“This is the first time that Po has had a partner on a journey, so Po and the Fox, Zhen, it’s kind of a buddy comedy action adventure which is a rad new flavor, and it was really exciting to watch, and I think it’s one of the things the distinguishes it from all of the Kung Fu Pandas and takes it to another level.”
The comedian claimed that this is his favorite among all the Kung Fu Panda movies he has done in the past.
What To Expect From The Kung Fu Panda Sequel?
One of the things Kung Fu Panda 4 will offer to fans is its new twist. Apart from the buddy action aspect that Jack Black mentioned, Po will face a female villain for the first time. Played by Viola Davis, the Chameleon poses a great threat with her shapeshifting superpower.
Awkwafina and Davis are joined by franchise newcomers Ke Huy Quan, Lori Tan Chinn, and Ronny Chieng. Returning stars include Dustin Hoffman James Hong, Bryan Cranston, and Ian McShane.
Written by Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, and Darren Lemke, Kung Fu Panda 4 arrives in theaters on March 8, 2024.
