🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Tony Leondis
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family
- Release year: 2017
- Runtime (length): 1h 26min
- IMDb rating: 3.4/10 (75K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 6%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A defective ‘meh’ emoji accidentally sends a teenager into a crisis because of his inability to control his expressions, prompting a cross-app adventure to fix him before the phone gets wiped, and also maybe find love, because why not?
🍿 The Emoji Movie: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Introduction to Textopolis
The film is set inside the smartphone of a teenager named Alex, within the bustling city of Textopolis. This is where all the emojis live, each with a single, unchanging expression. Gene, however, is a ‘Meh’ emoji born with the ability to express multiple emotions, making him different and somewhat of an outcast.

Gene’s Malfunction and the Quest to Fix It
On his first day at work, Gene’s inability to control his expressions causes a mishap that threatens the entire phone. Branded a malfunction by Smiler, the leader of Textopolis, Gene is slated for deletion. He escapes with the help of Hi-5, a former popular emoji seeking a comeback. Together, they embark on a journey to find Jailbreak, a hacker who can reprogram Gene and fix his ‘problem’.

Journey Through the Apps
Gene, Hi-5, and Jailbreak navigate through various apps within the phone, encountering obstacles and challenges along the way. They travel through Candy Crush, Just Dance, and Spotify, each app presenting unique scenarios and humorous situations. Their journey is fraught with danger as Smiler’s bots relentlessly pursue them, determined to delete Gene.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Gene (T.J. Miller): A multi-expressional ‘Meh’ emoji who embarks on a journey to become normal but ultimately learns to embrace his unique abilities.
- Hi-5 (James Corden): A once-popular emoji seeking to regain his fame by helping Gene on his quest.
- Jailbreak (Anna Faris): A skilled hacker emoji who dreams of escaping the phone and living in the cloud.
- Smiler (Maya Rudolph): The leader of Textopolis and the primary antagonist, determined to delete Gene for being a malfunction.
- Mel Meh (Steven Wright): Gene’s father, a ‘Meh’ emoji who struggles to accept Gene’s multi-expressional nature but ultimately reveals his own hidden emotions.
- Alex (Jake T. Austin): The human teenager whose phone houses Textopolis, and who is trying to connect with his crush.
- Poop (Patrick Stewart): A sophisticated Poop emoji residing in Textopolis.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Jailbreak: “Men are always taking credit for women’s ideas!” – Jailbreak says this to Gene, highlighting a feminist perspective when he accidentally finishes her sentence.
- Smiler: “Time to die!” – Said by Smiler with exaggerated enthusiasm to unwanted emojis, showcasing her villainous nature.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $50,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $86,089,513
- Worldwide Gross: $217,776,646
💥 The Emoji Movie Reviews
Personal Review
Okay, let’s be real – I went in expecting the worst, and I was… mostly right. The plot feels like a mashup of every other animated movie, but with emojis. The animation is bright, but the story felt uninspired. However, the kids seemed to enjoy it, and Sir Patrick Stewart as Poop was bizarrely hilarious. I wouldn’t watch it again, but it was a decent distraction for an afternoon.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Young children who enjoy colorful animation”
- “Families looking for a light-hearted, undemanding movie experience”
- “Viewers interested in a modern story based on technology”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Some mild thematic elements”
- “Occasional crude humor”
- “Product placement may be distracting”
Professional Reviews
- Rotten Tomatoes: “The Emoji Movie squanders a talented voice cast and some genuinely inspired visuals on a story that’s less than expressive.
- Common Sense Media: “Overly commercial and unoriginal, The Emoji Movie isn’t creative or engaging enough to justify its existence.
- IMDB: “The movie had a lot of product placement and was more advertising than a movie. The story felt uninspired, predictable, and not funny. While the animation was colorful, it couldn’t save the film from its weak plot.
Audience Reactions
Some viewers found the animation colorful and engaging.: Despite the overwhelmingly negative reviews, a small segment of the audience found the movie entertaining for children.
Patrick Stewart’s voice acting as the Poop emoji was a strange highlight.: Sir Patrick Stewart’s performance as Poop added a surreal element.
Overall Consensus: The Emoji Movie is widely considered a critical failure, criticized for its unoriginal plot, blatant product placement, and weak humor. While some found it mildly entertaining for young children, it is generally not recommended for older audiences.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “Sir Patrick Stewart voiced the Poop emoji, a casting choice that was both surprising and heavily publicized.”
- “The film features a significant amount of product placement, showcasing popular apps like Spotify, Instagram, and Dropbox.”
- “Sony had to remove some mild language for the UK release to get a U rating, showing the effort to appeal to a younger audience.”
🖥️ How to Watch The Emoji Movie?
The Emoji Movie is available for streaming on various platforms. You can rent or buy it on Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for availability on cable on-demand services. Physical copies (DVD, Blu-ray) can also be purchased from major retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed The Emoji Movie, you might like these similar films:
- Wreck-It Ralph (2012): Both explore a world inside technology where characters defy their intended roles.
- Inside Out (2015): Features characters representing emotions who navigate a complex internal world.
- The Lego Movie (2014): Shares a similar theme of embracing individuality and creativity within a structured world.
🛒 The Emoji Movie Related Products
- The Emoji Movie DVD: Own the physical copy of The Emoji Movie. Perfect for collectors or for those who want to watch it offline. Features extra content like behind-the-scenes footage.
- The Emoji Movie: Bring the World of Emojis to Life! (Read-Along): A colorful children’s book adaptation, perfect for young readers.
- Just Dance 2018 (Featuring Dance from The Emoji Movie): Dance along to the emoji movie song with the just dance game that your kids will love.
- Emoji Poop Plush: A cuddly plush version of Poop, voiced by Sir Patrick Stewart. A quirky and humorous collectible for fans of the movie or emoji enthusiasts.
🎧 Soundtrack
The Emoji Movie 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 Emoji Movie is available for rent or purchase on various streaming platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local cable on-demand options as well. You can also purchase physical copies (DVD, Blu-ray) from major retailers.
The Emoji Movie is an animated film that takes place inside a smartphone. It follows Gene, a multi-expressional emoji, who embarks on a journey to become ‘normal’ like the other emojis but ultimately learns to embrace his unique self.
The main characters are Gene (a multi-expressional emoji), Hi-5 (a once-popular emoji), Jailbreak (a hacker emoji), and Smiler (the leader of Textopolis).
The Emoji Movie is generally considered suitable for kids, with a G rating. However, parents should be aware of some mild thematic elements and occasional crude humor.
🔥 Bonus Content
Film Theory: Is The Emoji Movie ILLEGAL? (feat. Jacksfilms)
Ever wonder if The Emoji Movie was more than just a bad movie? This Film Theory dives deep into whether it’s actually an illegal commercial aimed at kids! Honestly, I never thought about it this way, but it’s pretty convincing.
THE EMOJI MOVIE REVIEW
Looking for a laugh? Jacksfilms doesn’t hold back in his review of The Emoji Movie! His humor makes it bearable to relive this cinematic experience.
The Emoji Movie Recap and Review
Want a quick rundown of The Emoji Movie before diving into other videos? This recap and review covers all the key points, and then gives a reasoned review.
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