🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Mark Dindal
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
- Release year: 2000
- Runtime (length): 1h 18min
- IMDb rating: 7.4/10 (235K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A llama-transformed emperor learns that friendship is better than building a water park on someone’s ancestral land, all thanks to a villain with the complexion of a sea slug.
🍿 The Emperor’s New Groove: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Emperor Kuzco’s Selfish Reign
Emperor Kuzco is a young, self-centered ruler who plans to build a lavish summer home, Kuzcotopia, by demolishing a local village. He summons Pacha, a village leader, to deliver the devastating news. Meanwhile, Kuzco fires his advisor, Yzma, for overstepping her boundaries, setting in motion a vengeful plot.

Yzma’s Betrayal and Transformation
Yzma, fueled by resentment, plots to poison Kuzco and seize the throne. However, her dim-witted assistant, Kronk, mistakenly gives Kuzco a potion that transforms him into a llama instead of killing him. Kronk is then tasked with disposing of Kuzco, but his conscience gets the better of him.

Journey of Redemption
Kuzco, now a llama, finds himself lost and reliant on Pacha’s help to return to human form. Pacha agrees to assist, but only if Kuzco promises to relocate his summer home. Their journey is fraught with danger and disagreements, but they gradually learn to respect and understand each other.

The Race Back to the Palace
Yzma and Kronk discover Kuzco’s survival and race to the palace to secure the transformation potion. Kuzco and Pacha also make their way back, facing numerous obstacles along the way. Their paths converge at a local diner, leading to a comical but crucial confrontation.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Kuzco (David Spade): A spoiled and self-centered emperor who undergoes a transformation, both literally and figuratively, after being turned into a llama.
- Pacha (John Goodman): A kind and selfless llama herder who helps Kuzco regain his human form and teaches him valuable life lessons.
- Yzma (Eartha Kitt): The power-hungry and vengeful ex-administrator who attempts to usurp the throne by turning Kuzco into a llama.
- Kronk (Patrick Warburton): Yzma’s well-meaning but dim-witted henchman, torn between loyalty to her and his own conscience.
- Chicha (Wendie Malick): Pacha’s supportive and loving wife, who is expecting a child and cares for her family.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Yzma: “Pull the lever, Kronk!” – Yzma repeatedly instructs Kronk to pull the correct lever to activate a trapdoor, leading to humorous mishaps.
- Yzma: “Why do we even HAVE that lever?!” – After Kronk accidentally activates the wrong lever, sending them plummeting down a series of trapdoors, Yzma questions its existence.
- Kronk: “Squeaky squeak squeakin’.” – Kronk communicates with a squirrel, showcasing his ability to understand animals, particularly squirrels.
- Kuzco: “Boom baby!” – Kuzco’s catchphrase, used to punctuate moments of triumph or excitement, emphasizing his self-centered personality.
- Yzma: “It’s brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, I tell you! Genius, I say!” – Yzma exclaims this while plotting ways to kill Kuzco
💰Box Office
- Budget: $100,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $89,636,687
- Worldwide Gross: $169,707,314
💥 The Emperor’s New Groove Reviews
Personal Review
Okay, I’ll admit it: I watched this movie way more times than any grown adult probably should. The jokes STILL get me. Kronk is the BEST Disney sidekick ever, and Eartha Kitt is a total legend as Yzma. I genuinely laughed until my sides hurt. This movie is a blast. It’s short and sweet and makes me feel good.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Families looking for a fun and entertaining movie night”
- “Fans of animated comedies with quirky characters”
- “Viewers who appreciate witty dialogue and slapstick humor”
- “People who enjoy buddy comedies”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Mild cartoon violence”
- “Some scenes may be mildly scary for very young children”
- “No profanity or mature themes”
Professional Reviews
- Variety: “A riotously funny film that zips along at a frenetic pace, rarely pausing for breath. The voice acting is superb, particularly Eartha Kitt’s deliciously wicked Yzma. It’s a refreshing change of pace from Disney’s more formulaic offerings, prioritizing laughs over sappy sentimentality.
- The New York Times: “While the story treads familiar ground, ‘The Emperor’s New Groove’ is elevated by its sharp wit and Looney Tunes-esque energy. David Spade brings a sarcastic edge to Kuzco, while Patrick Warburton steals every scene as the well-meaning but dim-witted Kronk. A delightful family film with a generous helping of humor for adults.
Audience Reactions
Kronk’s ‘shoulder angel’ and ‘shoulder devil’ moments are comedy gold.: Viewers consistently praise the fast-paced humor and the unique character designs.
The restaurant scene is hilarious!: Excellent pacing
Overall Consensus: A highly entertaining and underrated Disney film that favors humor and unique characters over traditional fairy tale tropes.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “The film was originally conceived as a grand musical epic titled ‘Kingdom of the Sun,’ but after several creative clashes and rewrites, it was transformed into the comedic buddy adventure we know today.”
- “Patrick Warburton ad-libbed Kronk humming his own theme song while carrying Kuzco in the bag. Disney’s legal department had Warburton sign all rights to the humming composition over to them.”
🖥️ How to Watch The Emperor’s New Groove?
The Emperor’s New Groove is available to stream on Disney+. You can also purchase or rent it through various platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your preferred digital retailer for pricing and availability.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed The Emperor’s New Groove, you might like these similar films:
- Aladdin (1992): Features a comedic, fast-paced adventure with a selfish protagonist who learns valuable lessons about friendship and humility.
- Shrek (2001): Shares a similar buddy-comedy dynamic and subverts fairy tale tropes with humor and heart.
- The Road to El Dorado (2000): Set in a similar time period and themes of friendship and adventure, it acts like a direct comparison.
- A Goofy Movie (1995): Features themes of understanding and the challenges of interpersonal connection.
🛒 The Emperor’s New Groove Related Products
- The Emperor’s New Groove (Two-Disc Collector’s Edition): This collector’s edition includes behind-the-scenes footage, deleted scenes, and interactive games. It’s the ultimate way to experience the movie, with tons of extras and a new digital restoration.
- The Emperor’s New Groove – Nintendo Switch: An action-adventure game inspired by the movie, where you navigate Kuzco through platforming challenges, solve puzzles, and encounter familiar characters. Experience the movie in an entirely new dimension.
- Funko Pop! Disney: The Emperor’s New Groove – Kronk: A collectible vinyl figure of Kronk, Yzma’s lovable sidekick, complete with his angel and devil.
- The Emperor’s New Groove – ‘No Touchy!’ T-Shirt: A T-shirt featuring the iconic ‘No Touchy!’ line from the movie, perfect for showing off your love for Kuzco’s hilarious moments. Made with high-quality, comfortable fabric, it is a fun piece of fan apparel.
🎧 Soundtrack
The Emperor’s New Groove features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
The Emperor’s New Groove is currently streaming on Disney+. It is also available for rent or purchase on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies.
Yes, The Emperor’s New Groove is generally suitable for children. It’s rated U and contains no strong violence, language, or mature themes. Some younger children might be mildly scared by the villain Yzma.
David Spade voices Emperor Kuzco in The Emperor’s New Groove. His comedic delivery perfectly captures Kuzco’s arrogant and self-centered personality.
🔥 Bonus Content
The Emperor’s New Groove but it’s just the memes
Have you ever wanted to watch The Emperor’s New Groove, but made entirely out of memes? Well, this video has you covered.
The Ultimate ”Emperor’s New Groove” Recap Cartoon
This video is the perfect way to recap the entire movie in under 4 minutes, done in a cute cartoon style.
Binging with Babish: Spinach Puffs from The Emperor’s New Groove
Have you ever wondered how to make the spinach puffs from The Emperor’s New Groove? Now you can learn how in this interesting cooking video.
Disney’s The Emperor’s New Groove Behind The Voices
The Emperor’s New Groove features an all-star voice cast, and this video gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the actors and actresses who brought these characters to life.
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