The Cat In The Hat Review: New Dr. Seuss Movie Has More Dips Than Delights

Credit: MovieStillsDB Warner Bros. takes on the beloved Dr. Seuss character The Cat in the Hat in a movie that has some brilliantly funny moments but many more faults. Published Nov 3, 2026, 12:00 PM EST Liz Declan is a Lead Writer for ScreenRant, primarily covering movies. She is a massive fan of Star Wars, the MCU, and Supernatural. In addition to writing, Liz loves attending and covering conventions and interviewing actors. Find her on TikTok and Instagram @va.va.vera Dr. Seuss adaptations will seemingly never stop being made, and Warner Bros. went bravely into that previously very tumultuous territory with one fan-favorite character in the new adaptation of The Cat in the Hat. This film's predecessor, 2003's live-action The Cat in the Hat, meant they had a steep hill to climb; in addition to that movie's dismal reputation, it has a painful 11% Rotten Tomatoes score that leaves no question about how critics felt. The studio made various moves to set this new iteration up for success. For one, the movie is animated, which is already a step in the right direction – as an added bonus, the animation style is delightful. Moreover, The Cat in the Hat is heavy on recognizable names, with Bill Hader as the titular lead, Xochitl Gomez starring as older sister Gabby, and names like Quinta Brunson, America Ferrera, Giancarlo Esposito, and Bowen Yang making up the supporting cast. The Cat in the Hat's basic plot sticks to the original story's beats, with siblings Gabby and Sebastian (Tiago Martinez) stuck inside on a dreary day and the Cat coming to 'help' them with his odd manner of entertaining children. Fleshing out this familiar tale, however, is a deeper issue within Gabby and Sebastian's family, as well as a predicament for the Cat himself, complete with a terrifying villain on his heels. Unfortunately, this interwoven narrative turned out to be more than The Cat in the Hat could handle, leading to a jumbled plot that is high on the mess-o-meter. The Grinch Meets Inside Out In A Narrative That Just Doesn't Come Together There are some unquestionable bright spots in The Cat in the Hat, and Bill Hader's portrayal of the Cat is one of them. Of all the iterations of this character that have been brought to the screen, his is the best. He is endlessly charming, and Hader's voice work throughout, particularly when he's throwing his voice or donning an accent, contributed to some of the best laugh lines in the movie. What The Cat in the Hat suffers from is a narrative as chaotic as the objects the Cat constantly pulls out of his hat. Among the movie's greatest strengths is also its ability to be truly funny, even for the adults in the audience. It's rare that I say anything out loud while watching a film, but The Cat in the Hat got an actual, audible, "Oh, my God" out of me, for a joke that unexpectedly took a mature turn. Intermixed with the occasional, more adult humor, however, is also good-natured, kid-oriented Dr. Seuss fun. What The Cat in the Hat suffers from is a narrative as chaotic as the objects the Cat constantly pulls out of his hat. At multiple points, I was left wondering whether there had been anything at all on the cutting room floor, as it felt like room was made for any story idea that was tossed around. The jumbled narrative isn't too glaring a problem at first; it feels befitting of the character. The conclusion toes the line of downright ridiculous, however. Children's movies may frequently be tied up a little too neatly, but The Cat in the Hat's bow is one of absurdist Seussian proportions. Perhaps the greatest offender is the Cat in the Hat's boss, Mr. Hoogeboom (despite being portrayed brilliantly by Giancarlo Esposito). This character's motivations, particularly the extremes to which he takes them, make absolutely no sense. The resolution of this story arc is likewise completely illogical, and there's no real effort to explain how that conclusion was reached. Unfortunately, this is perhaps the most pervasive issue of the entire movie: The Cat in the Hat does not trust children to understand nuance, or make sense of any particular plot detail or deeper meaning on their own. It's wrong not to do so. Children are, as my experience of this very movie made clear, capable of deep and, honestly, really touching understanding. At one point, two hero characters and one villain all take a tumble off a cliff. The little girl seated behind me, who could not have been older than seven, said, "Save all three of them!" – one of the few times I teared up watching this movie. Sadly, The Cat in the Hat didn't consider that kids can think for themselves. It beats every audience member over the head with each message it hopes to impart. In the end, The Cat in the Hat undercuts its own wit, charm, and humor with a narrative that refuses any sort of cleaning up or streamlining, and that's really a shame. It's far from a completely miserable experience – it's actually plenty of fun to watch, and kids will likely love it. Yet, what could have been a playful yet meaningful take on this classic character, with touches of The Grinch and emotional explorations as deep as Inside Out, falls apart with a whiplash-inducing plot and an ending that tells audiences, "Just trust us, it all worked out." The Cat in the Hat releases in theaters nationwide on Friday, November 6. Release Date November 6, 2026 Runtime 91 minutes Director Alessandro Carloni, Erica Rivinoja Writers Erica Rivinoja, Alessandro Carloni Producers Daniela Mazzucato Cast The Cat in the Hat (voice) Xochitl Gomez Gabby (voice)