Sophie Bennett
Chicken Run is a stop-motion animated comedy film produced by Aardman Animations in partnership with DreamWorks Animation and Pathé. It was released in 2000 and is the first feature-length film by Aardman Animations. The plot centres on a group of British chickens who see a Rhode Island Red rooster named Rocky as their only hope to escape from certain death when the owners of their farm decide to move from selling eggs to chicken pies. The film was directed by Nick Park and Peter Lord and written by Karey Kirkpatrick.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of release | 2000 |
| Genre | Animation, Adventure, Comedy |
| Directors | Peter Lord and Nick Park |
| Screenplay writer | Karey Kirkpatrick |
| Story by | Peter Lord and Nick Park |
| Production companies | Pathé, Aardman Features, DreamWorks Animation |
| Voice cast | Julia Sawalha, Mel Gibson, Tony Haygarth, Miranda Richardson, Phil Daniels, Lynn Ferguson, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton, Benjamin Whitrow |
| Rating | 7.1/10 |
| Release date in the US | 23 June 2000 |
| Release date in the UK | 30 June 2000 |
| Sequel | Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023) |
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What You'll Learn
Chicken Run's release date
The stop-motion animated film Chicken Run was released in 2000. It premiered in the United States on June 23, 2000, and in the United Kingdom on June 30, 2000. The film was directed by Nick Park and Peter Lord, and written by Karey Kirkpatrick. Chicken Run was produced by Pathé and Aardman Features in partnership with DreamWorks Animation.
Chicken Run is an animated adventure comedy film set in the countryside of Yorkshire. The plot centres on a group of British anthropomorphic chickens who see an American rooster named Rocky Rhodes as their only hope to escape the farm when their owners, Mr. and Mrs. Tweedy, decide to turn them into chicken pies. The film stars the voices of Julia Sawalha, Mel Gibson, Tony Haygarth, Miranda Richardson, and others.
Chicken Run received positive reviews for its humour, great animation, and engaging story. It was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $220 million and becoming the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film in history. The film has a rating of 7.1 out of 10 on IMDb and 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.
In addition to the film, a video game based on Chicken Run was released in November 2000. The game is a loose parody of the film The Great Escape, which is set during World War II.
Following the success of Chicken Run, there have been discussions about a potential sequel. In 2018, it was reported that Aardman Animations, StudioCanal, and Pathé would produce a sequel, with Sam Fell directing and Paul Kewley producing. Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the sequel, was released in 2023, premiering at the BFI London Film Festival on October 14, 2023, and later on Netflix on December 15, 2023.
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The plot of Chicken Run
Chicken Run is a 2000 animated comedy film directed by Peter Lord and Nick Park. The plot centres on a group of British chickens who reside on a sinister Yorkshire chicken farm in 1960's England. The farm is run by the cruel Mrs Tweedy and her submissive husband, Mr Tweedy. The chickens are caged in the style of a World War II prison camp with a high fence and barbed wire, and two dogs patrol the grounds. Chickens that fail to produce enough eggs are slaughtered for food.
Led by the rebellious Ginger, the chickens constantly devise new ways to try to escape but are always caught. One night, Ginger sees an American rooster named Rocky Rhodes glide over the farm's fences and crash-land. The chickens put his sprained wing in a cast and hide him from the Tweedys, who have been promised a handsome reward by Rocky's owner for his return. Inspired by Rocky's apparent flying abilities, Ginger begs him to help teach her and the other chickens to fly so they can escape, threatening to turn him in if he refuses.
Rocky reluctantly gives them training lessons. One evening, a load of equipment is delivered to the farm, containing the parts for a chicken pie machine that Mrs Tweedy has ordered as part of a plan to convert the farm into a profitable pie-making factory. When the Tweedys increase the chickens' food rations and ignore the decline in egg production, Ginger deduces that the couple's new plan is to fatten the chickens for slaughter. After Ginger and Rocky get into an argument, Rocky holds a morale-boosting dance party during which it is revealed that his wing is healed. Ginger talks Rocky into agreeing to give a flying demonstration the next day.
The next day, Ginger finds Rocky has escaped overnight, leaving behind part of a poster that reveals he is in fact part of a "chicken cannonball" act with no ability to fly on his own. Just when all hope is lost, Ginger is then inspired by elderly rooster Fowler’s stories of his time in the Royal Air Force (RAF) to assemble an aircraft to flee the farm. All the chickens, with help from the rats, secretly assemble the required parts for the plane from their coops while racing against Mr. Tweedy's repairs. While travelling the countryside, Rocky sees a billboard for Mrs. Tweedy's Chicken Pies and is inspired to go back to help.
With the machine now fixed, Mrs. Tweedy insists that Mr. Tweedy gathers all the chickens, but the chickens are ready to escape. They knock Mr. Tweedy out and tie him up long enough to complete the assembly of their plane. As the plane approaches the take-off ramp, Mr Tweedy manages to knock over the ramp before being knocked out; Ginger races to reset the ramp, but a now-alerted Mrs Tweedy attacks her. Before Mrs Tweedy can hurt Ginger, Rocky returns and subdues her, before helping Ginger re-raise the ramp, allowing the plane to take flight. Rocky and Ginger grab onto the runway lights, which have been snagged by the departing plane. An axe-wielding Mrs Tweedy follows them by climbing up the lights, but Ginger tricks Mrs Tweedy into cutting the line, sending her falling into the pie machine, blocking the safety valve and causing the machine to explode in a mushroom cloud of gravy. The chickens celebrate their victory after defeating the Tweedys while Ginger and Rocky kiss, and they fly to an island bird sanctuary where they make their home.
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Production companies
Chicken Run, the 2000 animated comedy film, was produced by Pathé and Aardman Features in partnership with DreamWorks Animation. Pathé agreed to finance the film in 1996, putting their finances into script development and model design. DreamWorks officially came on board in 1997. The film was directed by Nick Park and Peter Lord, and written by Karey Kirkpatrick.
Chicken Run was Aardman's first feature-length film. The production company is well-known for its other creations, including Wallace & Gromit. Chicken Run was also the fourth feature film released by DreamWorks.
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the sequel to Chicken Run, was released in 2023. The film was produced by Aardman Animations for Netflix. DreamWorks did not have any involvement in the sequel due to ending their partnership with Aardman in 2006.
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget was directed by Sam Fell, with Paul Kewley producing. The screenplay was written by Karey Kirkpatrick, John O'Farrell, and Rachel Tunnard, based on a story conceived by Kirkpatrick and O'Farrell.
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Chicken Run's cast
Chicken Run, the 2000 animated adventure comedy film, features an impressive voice cast that brings the story to life. The film is directed by Peter Lord and Nick Park, and written by Karey Kirkpatrick.
The lead character of Ginger, a rebellious chicken determined to escape the farm, is voiced by Julia Sawalha. Ginger is supported by her hen friends, each with their unique personalities and skills. These include Mac, the intelligent and bespectacled chicken, voiced by Lynn Ferguson; Bunty, the pragmatic and productive chicken, voiced by Imelda Staunton; and Babs, the dim-witted but endearing knitter, voiced by Jane Horrocks. The elderly rooster Fowler, who regales the group with stories of his time in the Royal Air Force, is voiced by Benjamin Whitrow.
The American rooster Rocky Rhodes, who becomes an integral part of the chickens' escape plan, is voiced by Mel Gibson. The villainous Mr. and Mrs. Tweedy, owners of the farm, are voiced by Tony Haygarth and Miranda Richardson, respectively. Two black-marketer rats, Nick and Fetcher, who aid the chickens in their escape attempts, are voiced by Phil Daniels and Timothy Spall.
The talented voice cast of "Chicken Run" brings depth and humour to their characters, contributing to the film's critical and commercial success.
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The sequel to Chicken Run
Chicken Run, the 2000 animated comedy film, received a sequel in 2023, titled Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. The sequel was produced by Aardman Animations for Netflix and directed by Sam Fell. The screenplay was written by Karey Kirkpatrick, John O'Farrell, and Rachel Tunnard, based on a story conceived by Kirkpatrick and O'Farrell.
The story of Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget takes place after the events of the first film, where the chickens have found a peaceful island sanctuary away from the Tweedys' farm. Ginger and Rocky, who were central characters in the first film, start a family with a hatchling named Molly. As Molly grows up, she becomes curious about the outside world and sneaks away to the mainland, where she encounters another young chicken named Frizzle.
On the mainland, Molly and Frizzle discover a highly advanced poultry farm run by Mrs. Tweedy, Ginger's nemesis from the first film. Mrs. Tweedy has partnered with Dr. Fry, a scientist who has created special collars that suppress the chickens' fear, making them tastier for chicken nuggets. When Ginger and the others learn of Molly's abduction, they embark on a rescue mission to save her and the other chickens.
The voice cast of Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget includes a mix of returning and new actors. Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey, and Romesh Ranganathan are among the new voices, while Jane Horrocks, Imelda Staunton, Lynn Ferguson, and Miranda Richardson reprise their roles from the original film.
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Frequently asked questions
The movie Chicken Run came out in 2000.
Yes, it was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $220 million and becoming the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film in history.
Yes, Chicken Run was Aardman Animations' first feature-length film.
