Animal Farm

On paper, spinning George Orwell’s cautionary tale of power and tyranny into a commentary on modern capitalism isn’t a bad idea. Transforming the novel’s version of Pilkington from a neighbouring farmer into a billionaire CEO played by Glenn Close is a clever tweak that reinforces how relevant the book’s core themes still are. However, by simplifying its authoritarian allegories into an easily digestible, family-friendly animation, director Andy Serkis’s Animal Farm strips away what made the source material work so well.

Although Nicholas Stoller’s script makes some substantial alterations to the plot (Old Major, for example, is nowhere to be seen), the film follows the same premise, opening with the animals rebelling and taking control of Manor Farm. With Snowball (Laverne Cox) and Napoleon (Seth Rogen) acting as leaders, the newly named Animal Farm becomes a barnyard utopia that’s guided by a list of simple rules where, above all else, “all animals are equal”. It doesn’t take long for Napoleon to seize power for himself, ousting Snowball and becoming a de facto dictator.

The feature’s events are told through the perspective of piglet Lucky, a new addition voiced by Stranger Things’ Gaten Matarazzo. He’s joined by Woody Harrelson, who plays reliable workhorse Boxer, Kieran Culkin as Napoleon’s loyal lackey Squealer, and Steve Buscemi as weaselly banker Mr Whymper. While each actor gives a solid performance, with Rogen relishing every second as a power-hungry pig, Harrelson is the main highlight. There’s a soft sadness to his Boxer, which greatly lends itself to the character’s tragedy. The animal models and environments are animated with a great level of detail and visual flair, but the human characters have an off-putting uncanniness to them.

It’s when this picture pivots to its child-friendly interpretation that this adaptation falls apart. Although the script still contains the same broad moral lessons about the dangers of greed, its importance is undercut by Napoleon being called “the Notorious PIG” to the soundtrack of 2 Unlimited’s Get Ready for This. A tacked-on final act, complete with an obligatory happy ending, likewise goes against the sombre conclusion of the original text.

Carried by an admirable ensemble cast, Serkis’s Animal Farm is colourful and creative enough to function as a serviceable children’s film. However, it dilutes the thesis of Orwell’s literary classic too much for it to be considered a good adaptation.

Andrew Murray

Animal Farm is released nationwide on 24^th July 2026.

Watch the trailer for Animal Farm here: