🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Phil Lord
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
- Release year: 2009
- Runtime (length): 1h 30min
- IMDb rating: 6.9/10 (269K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A nerdy inventor accidentally makes it rain food, then the town gets fat, and they have to stop the giant meatball in the sky before everyone dies of deliciousness.
🍿 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Introduction to Flint Lockwood
Flint Lockwood is an aspiring inventor in the town of Swallow Falls, a small island community that is economically dependent on sardines. Flint’s inventions are often eccentric and impractical, leading to humorous mishaps. His father, Tim, a widower, struggles to understand or support Flint’s passion, preferring him to join the family’s fishing tackle shop.

The FLDSMDFR and the First Food Rain
Determined to solve the town’s economic woes and prove himself, Flint creates the FLDSMDFR (Flint Lockwood Diatomic Super Mutating Dynamic Food Replicator), a machine that turns water into food. During a test, the machine malfunctions and launches into the atmosphere. Soon after, cheeseburgers begin to rain from the sky, marking the successful, albeit chaotic, beginning of Flint’s invention.

Chewandswallow and the Mayor’s Greed
Swallow Falls is renamed Chewandswallow, and Flint becomes a local hero. He collaborates with Sam Sparks, a weather intern, to control the food weather. However, the town’s mayor, Shelbourne, becomes increasingly greedy, demanding larger and more elaborate meals. This excess leads to the FLDSMDFR becoming unstable, creating giant food and dangerous weather patterns.

The Food Storm and the Threat to the World
As the food portions grow exponentially, a massive food storm threatens to engulf the world. Flint realizes the danger and attempts to shut down the FLDSMDFR, but the mayor’s gluttony and interference cause further complications. The town is destroyed, and Flint, Sam, and a small group of allies embark on a mission to reach and disable the machine.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader): An eccentric and determined inventor who creates a machine that makes food fall from the sky, initially solving his town’s problems but ultimately causing chaos.
- Sam Sparks (Anna Faris): A weather intern who hides her intelligence and forms a bond with Flint while reporting on the unusual weather phenomena.
- Tim Lockwood (James Caan): Flint’s stoic and technophobic father, a fisherman who struggles to understand and support his son’s inventive pursuits.
- Mayor Shelbourne (Bruce Campbell): The greedy and opportunistic mayor of Swallow Falls who exploits Flint’s invention for personal gain, leading to disastrous consequences.
- Earl Devereaux (Mr. T): The town’s police officer and a devoted father who initially distrusts Flint but later recognizes the town’s shared responsibility.
- ‘Baby’ Brent (Andy Samberg): A former child star and the town’s sardine mascot who initially bullies Flint but later becomes a reluctant ally.
- Steve (Neil Patrick Harris): Flint’s pet monkey equipped with a thought translator, providing comedic relief and occasional helpful insights.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Flint Lockwood: “I want to invent something that makes people happy.” – Expresses Flint’s core motivation and desire to contribute positively to the world.
- Steve: “Hungry! Hungry!” – Steve’s repeatedly expressed thought, highlighting his simple desire for food, which became a popular catchphrase.
- Earl Devereaux: “I’ve got my eye on you!” – Said with a contact lens on, creating a memorable visual gag and a threatening expression.
- Mayor Shelbourne: “The bigger the better! ” – Mayor Shelbourne’s motto which highlights the theme of greed, a theme which defines the core story of the movie.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $100,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $124,870,275
- Worldwide Gross: $243,006,136
💥 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Reviews
Personal Review
I absolutely loved this movie! The sheer absurdity of it all had me laughing from start to finish. The characters were so quirky and endearing, especially Flint and his monkey, Steve. The scene where the town is bombarded with ice cream and the snow fight ensues was pure joy. The animation is so vibrant and creative, it made me feel like a kid again! Definitely a feel-good movie that I’ll watch again and again.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Families with young children”
- “Fans of animated comedies”
- “Viewers who enjoy creative and imaginative stories”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Mild cartoon violence”
- “Some scenes of peril and destruction”
- “Brief moments of gross-out humor”
Professional Reviews
- Variety: “A visually dazzling and genuinely funny animated romp that will appeal to kids and adults alike. The film’s energy and inventiveness are infectious.
- The Hollywood Reporter: “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a sweet and silly movie that’s light on plot but heavy on laughs. The voice acting is superb.
- Empire Magazine: “A brilliantly bonkers animated movie that delivers visual spectacle and plenty of laughs. It’s imaginative and entertaining.
Audience Reactions
The non-stop visual gags and clever humor kept both kids and adults entertained.: Viewers consistently praised the movie’s unique premise and how well it translated into a visually stunning and hilarious film.
Mr. T’s performance as Earl was a standout, bringing unexpected comedic gold.: The voice acting was spot-on, with each actor perfectly embodying their character, making the interactions even more enjoyable.
Overall Consensus: A fun, imaginative, and visually impressive animated film that offers plenty of laughs for the whole family. It’s a lighthearted and entertaining experience.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “The film is based on the 1978 children’s book of the same name by Judi and Ron Barrett, but the movie significantly expands the story and characters.”
- “Earl Devereaux’s hairstyle is the opposite of his voice actor, Mr. T’s, with Earl having a T-shaped bald spot instead of a T-shaped mohawk.”
- “Several visual gags and references are included as homages to classic science fiction films.”
🖥️ How to Watch Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs?
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is available to rent or buy on various platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable on-demand options. Physical copies of the movie on Blu-ray and DVD can also be purchased from major retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, you might like these similar films:
- Ratatouille (2007): Both films feature a character with unique talents overcoming societal expectations to achieve their dreams, with food playing a central role.
- The Mitchells vs. The Machines (2021): Both films have a quirky family dynamic with an element of technology gone awry, with unique animation styles.
- Chicken Run (2000): Both movies have a community facing an absurd crisis and having to work together to overcome impossible odds using out-of-the-box thinking.
- Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005): Both movies center on wacky inventions and a community facing a food-related crisis.
🛒 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Related Products
- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Blu-ray): Own the visually stunning movie in high definition! Relive the food-filled adventures with behind-the-scenes extras.
- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: The Junior Novel: Relive the story of the movie through this beautifully written junior novel. A perfect gift for young readers and fans of the film.
- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs [Blu-ray 3D]: Watch it in 3D. The food looks real enough to eat!
- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 Movie Poster: A colorful and fun poster featuring your favorite characters from the movie. Perfect for decorating a child’s bedroom or playroom.
🎧 Soundtrack
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 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
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is available for streaming purchase or rental on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play. It can also be found on physical media like Blu-ray and DVD.
The movie centers on Flint Lockwood, an inventor who creates a machine that makes food fall from the sky. While initially celebrated, the situation quickly spirals out of control as the machine becomes unstable and creates dangerous food storms.
Yes, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is based on the children’s book of the same name by Judi and Ron Barrett. While the movie expands on the book’s premise, the core idea of food falling from the sky remains the same.
🔥 Bonus Content
If Sony Animation Villains Were Charged For Their Crimes
What do you get when you mix Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Spiderman, and a court of law? This hilarious video that analyzes potential crimes of all your favorite Sony Animation villains.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was weird…
If you’re a fan of ‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs’ and enjoy a bit of friendly debate, this video does a thorough analysis of the film from a critical perspective, giving you a new lens to view it through!
WOOD ADVENTURES
Get ready for a laugh-out-loud compilation of the best Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs memes. This video is a perfect watch for any fan of the movie.
No way this is Unbelievable😱😱😱
Have you ever wondered if the animated universes of Spider-Man and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs are somehow connected? This mind-boggling video reveals a surprising cameo that suggests… maybe they are!
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