Kubo and the Two Strings poster
Review

Kubo and the Two Strings 2016

Directed by Travis Knight · 102 mins · 1,769 views

4.2 Letterboxd 3.96(363,161)
Ratings S D D D J A K E J L

Synopsis

Kubo mesmerizes the people in his village with his magical gift for spinning wild tales with origami. When he accidentally summons an evil spirit seeking vengeance, Kubo is forced to go on a quest to solve the mystery of his fallen samurai father and his mystical weaponry, as well as discover his own magical powers.

Trailers

Reviews (94)

  1. S
    SilentDawn 8 月 22, 2026

    83 Pretty telling that I didn’t fully give myself over to Kubo and the Two Strings back when I was burying the ideas of memory, legend, family, and community in favor of independence and young adulthood. My mother gave me a big hug at the end of this film when we first saw it together. I thought I didn’t understand why at the time, but the truth is that I did, and I was scared – of leaving, of creating my own story, of confronting the conclusions of some and weaving the beginnings of others, and mostly, frightened of what the implications of that hug might mean. I’ve come to terms with it now, and I’m never letting go. That is, until the end of the story. It’ll be alright then.

    527 3
  2. D
    demi adejuyigbe 8 月 22, 2026

    God, this movie is beautiful. I almost cried at the final frame.

    404
  3. D
    davidehrlich 8 月 22, 2026

    Staggeringly beautiful and immensely true, the best animated film of 2016 — one of the year’s best films of any kind, really — is a stop-motion fable about a one-eyed boy in mythical Japan that was made by a team of gifted visionaries in an Oregon warehouse. Laika, the independent studio behind morbid enchantments like “Coraline” and “ParaNorman,” has already established itself as a formidable bulwark against the ever-accelerating onslaught of computer-generated 3D cartoons, but “Kubo and the Two Strings” makes even the most painstaking of their previous movies feel like a trial run. READ THE FULL REVIEW ON INDIEWIRE

    1,100 12
  4. D
    DirkH 8 月 22, 2026

    Ok, Disney-, Pixar-, Dreamworks-people listen up. The next time you’re in the process of creating your next animated feature, have this running 24/7 to make sure you’ll be creative, different, passionate, dedicated, not inclined to take the easy way out and above all in awe of the craftsmanship involved in making what is one of the best animated films ever made. Dare to be different. Dare to be Kubo.

    591 11
  5. J
    Joe A 8 月 22, 2026

    Up there with one my favorite movie endings, right down to the “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” cover. Full discussion about this gem of the movie on the pod- Kubo & the Two Strings

    426 1
  6. A
    adambolt 8 月 22, 2026

    This movie is so god damn beautiful.

    367 1
  7. K
    Karsten 8 月 22, 2026

    Beautifully animated, definitely need to watch again.

    622
  8. E
    Evan 8 月 22, 2026

    Some of the most beautiful animation I’ve ever seen. The imagination and creativity behind this movie is absolutely mind-blowing. Monkey and Beetle are forever my spirit animals. Step aside Pixar, Laika is taking over.

    1,188 4
  9. J
    Josh Lewis 8 月 22, 2026

    Eyes can be manipulated, memories can be forgotten, family can betray us… but the human condition always prevails.

    2,412 11
  10. L
    liam f 8 月 22, 2026

    my favourite thing about this film has to be the fact that your fate could literally be determined by how epic your guitar solo is

    1,042 6
  11. J
    James (Schaffrillas) 8 月 22, 2026

    It’s not great, it’s not terrible. Some absolutely stunning animation anchors an aggressively predictable and mediocre story with a really annoying side character. It’s fine but I really don’t anticipate checking it out again

    995 4
  12. C
    cinéfila... 🕯️ 8 月 22, 2026

    producers: so, this role is for a person of color rooney mara: hello

    531 1
  13. M
    MıMın 8 月 22, 2026

    ¿Alguna vez han visto la paciencia transformada en lo bello? El Stop Motion en un origami y personajes es un arte infravalorado, por la manera que aún es tomada infantil, pero esto, me recordó a esas leyendas donde la imaginación se vuelve real, más en la cultura de honrar a los muertos, en la familia de algunas ser imposible y a reconocer a tus padres en esos aspectos que no son perfectos pero nos dan ese pedacito en crecer y…

  14. M
    malakai ! 8 月 22, 2026

    fucking love this movie 10/10 my favourite childhood movie, i cry each time i watch it

  15. R
    rinrinfate 8 月 21, 2026

    very good

  16. F
    FinneganUnawake 8 月 21, 2026

    this is actually epic

  17. O
    Olga Kotki 8 月 21, 2026

    za szybko domyslilam sie plottwistu

  18. J
    JOHNNINJASCOTT 8 月 21, 2026

    This movie has an anti blind agenda that I simply cannot support

    1
  19. E
    emilygeorgie 8 月 21, 2026

    This happened to a guitar i know

  20. T
    Tiff 8 月 21, 2026

    I just really love when the massive amount of love we feel for others and guitar solos saves the day okay

  21. H
    Henry Lough 8 月 21, 2026

    all stories have an end… except fast and furious which im seeing tomorrow in theaters lol

    1
  22. M
    monisah18 8 月 21, 2026

    May this kind of art never die or be taken over by AI 🙏

  23. A
    Ari 8 月 21, 2026

    Beautiful

  24. O
    O'Conner 8 月 21, 2026

    some childhood memories

  25. A
    Allizard53 8 月 21, 2026

    Who would win: The Monkey vs The Monkey (2025)

    1
  26. R
    Rayan Ouazar 8 月 21, 2026

    Ghayatt yemas n kubo. Animation: 8/10 Story: 7/10 Dialogue: 3/10 Sequencing: 6/10 Characters: 8/10

  27. B
    Ben 8 月 21, 2026

    I love it when a movie just makes ya ask “how’d they do that?” The Beatles cover for the credits is very jarring.

  28. J
    jingle jangle 8 月 21, 2026

    personal fave

  29. S
    shahakavsha 8 月 21, 2026

    so real, so relatable

  30. M
    Medievalot 8 月 21, 2026

    Visually stunning film about love, loss, and the importance of finding family worth remembering. On rewatch I deeply appreciate that the main character is disabled as well, and showing that he can be strong and overcome challenges regardless of his circumstances. Can’t believe it’s been 10 years since I watched this, definitely a worthwhile film that I hope will be remembered for years to come. I will say, this movie could have benefitted from more time spent with its portrayal…

  31. W
    Widget569 8 月 21, 2026

    A powerful piece of filmmaking about love and growing up that rises to the a level of handmade artistry rarely seen.

    1
  32. I
    Ilaria | Sike 8 月 21, 2026

    Le animazioni sono stupende ma ho trovato la storia un po’ banale e i dialoghi molto infantili. Mi rendo conto che è un film per bambini ma non credo che lo rivedrò volentieri.

  33. A
    athelemon 8 月 21, 2026

    shout out my 10th birthday party for allowing me to watch this masterpiece for the first time

  34. P
    ParkerTheMarker 8 月 21, 2026

    This is a beautiful film.

  35. E
    Ellie447 8 月 21, 2026

    This has been a childhood favourite of mine for a long time I think it conveys a special message about how parents are presented and how we must not loose the worth we have for our self even when loosing others we love

  36. P
    Payfiddy 8 月 21, 2026

    Got this for my Birthday and got to finally watch it! I’ve always considered this my favorite Laika Film- and it still is. Visually it’s so impressive and the story is really sweet- hits the coming of age, hero’s journey, fantastical elements is enjoy and Kubo is a Bard! Some might call it cliche but it’s tender to me. I’m really into the voice performances of Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey. Points for the great cover of My Guitar Gently Weeps.

  37. Y
    Yanni 8 月 21, 2026

    🙁

  38. E
    Eubey Kang 8 月 21, 2026

    god I love stop motion

  39. T
    Terence Jones 8 月 21, 2026

    I never thought origami and magic fits so well together After watching Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and this , I can definitely say stop motion is my favorite sub genre in animation.

  40. K
    konstantine shvelidze 8 月 21, 2026

    კარგი და უცნაური ანიმაციია სთორისაც არაუშავს მაგრამ დიდი ვერაფერია ჯამში

  41. S
    Supfoool 8 月 21, 2026

    Hell yeah movie time

  42. P
    Prim 8 月 21, 2026

    story and characters are very amazing as well as the environment it plays out on, but you can tell this is a very Western perspective of asian culture…its such a nitpick but i just wish this was collaborated with more dedication to asian culture and history cause i think it would’ve drive home the beauty of japan’s history. i think it’s really beautiful but i don’t think this movie is for me (to rewatch again).

    1
  43. B
    Brandon Williford 8 月 21, 2026

    185th film of 2026. I missed celebrating the actual 10th anniversary two days ago, but Happy 10th Anniversary!!

  44. B
    Bob Brown 8 月 21, 2026

    I picked this up a couple of weeks ago (my son was with me and “knew” that it was good). The animation is fantastic and really enhanced the story – which finds a really nice sweet spot in between driving the plot forward, adding some humour, and allowing you to connect with the characters emotions. The voice cast are all very good, though I have to say that Charlize Theron impressed me the most.

  45. S
    SamCoski 8 月 21, 2026

    I rate everything high because I only watch good movies that I like

    4 8
  46. S
    Soph Phillips 8 月 21, 2026

    “I have a question! If i’m beetle, you’re monkey. Why isn’t he boy?”

  47. S
    Stromon 8 月 21, 2026

    Una película tan fina y tan elegante, que la historia no te la cuenta, te la susurra como si te estuviera haciendo un favor. Lo que más me fascina de Kubo, sin embargo, no es su virtuosismo, que tiene muchísimo, con un stop-motion que parece una amenaza directa a la pereza humana, sino lo seria y profunda que es cuando nadie se lo ha pedido. Porque era fácil haberse quedado en la típica aventura de niño, en una aventura, con…

  48. E
    Eoin Duffy 8 月 21, 2026

    laika movies r so good

  49. N
    Nutsa 8 月 21, 2026

    Kubo and the two strings was definitely a movie that js stuck w me and now I will love it with my whole heart for her of my life

  50. E
    emery_wolfe 8 月 21, 2026

    Love Laika and what they do in stop motion. Like there other movies it pushes the boundaries and maturity of what stop motion and kids movies can be. Kubo is nothing short of that, creating a unique story of a boy pressured to abandon what he’s known and the steps he takes to stand up to that.

  51. H
    husayn ☆ 8 月 21, 2026

    I look at the world and I notice it’s turning While my guitar gently weeps With every mistake, we must surely be learning Still, my guitar gently weeps The people we love never truly leave us.. they live on in the stories we carry and the memories we choose to keep as we move forward… I can’t believe I held off on this so long, such a stunningly animated film. I think this could be one of the most breathtaking stop-motions I’ve seen thus far, every movement and detail felt so tangible.. fluid and immersive…. handcrafted and yet so alive… thanks for the rec Sophie!! 😛

    1
  52. S
    sikei 8 月 21, 2026

    i need MORE animated films like this

  53. G
    Gowri 8 月 21, 2026

    OH MY GODDD I was so ENTHRALLED through and through

  54. T
    TheOGLizardLips 8 月 20, 2026

    Fantastic art style and soundtrack. My first Laika movie

  55. X
    xGeng 8 月 20, 2026

    beautiful animation, Kubo really pulls on them strings

  56. S
    Sean O'Rourke 8 月 20, 2026

    Good kids movie, couldve had more consequences.

  57. A
    Aitana 8 月 20, 2026

    Esto es un sueño, ¿es un sueño bueno o malo? Elegir nombrar a pesar de todo, aunque es de noche.

    2
  58. C
    Christian_2010 8 月 20, 2026

    Love stop motion

  59. I
    ivorysiick 8 月 20, 2026

    me caguei de medo cm as tias e o avô do mlk, familia maldita

  60. J
    JJ ✿ 8 月 20, 2026

    Si esta película tuviera un sonido, claramente sería: tonto el que no entienda 🪕✨🎋🐵 cuenta una leyenda 🌙🌌👀🎐 No se aceptan discusiones 😛

  61. S
    sasha 8 月 20, 2026

    one of the most beautiful movies and i’ll stand by it

    1
  62. ✨

    Visually one of the greatest movies of all time that is put in a frustratingly casual adventure. Lot of walking around and fairly slow action. It’s like I’m given a Wendy’s burger with the best fries to ever exist. Like yeah I wanna give the meal a perfect score but the fries don’t change the burger. Also the characters aren’t amazing but god I WANNA LOVE THIS MOVIE SO MUCH. But I can only think it’s pretty good Oh my god I was a day off watching this on its 10 year anniversary first insane chances second 10 years god take me now

  63. ‮
    ‮نیلوفر ☭‬ 8 月 20, 2026

    laika studios never miss

  64. D
    David Seligman 8 月 20, 2026

    This movie was made using real magic. No like seriously the animators are all wizards.

  65. P
    projectcedd 8 月 20, 2026

    visually insane!!!! story-wise it is beautiful and warm. disney and pixar needs to take notes, WDYM STOP MOTION LAHAT TO??? HELLO???

  66. G
    gdsergio 8 月 20, 2026

    Memories are a powerful thing and so is this damn story

  67. C
    cool steel 8 月 20, 2026

    I

    1
  68. A
    ascohen11180 8 月 20, 2026

    Wildwood trailer put me in the mood to watch something from Laika

  69. S
    sioned_eva 8 月 20, 2026

    Beautiful. Absolutely Beautiful.

    3
  70. P
    PiB0 8 月 20, 2026

    non è fatto male, ma è dimenticabile

  71. M
    Michael 8 月 20, 2026

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtr5JL1zkiM Best trailer of the year??

    1
  72. A
    aprilahaha 8 月 20, 2026

    im crying right now “If you must blink…do it now.”

    3
  73. D
    darlaaaaaa 8 月 20, 2026

    Why are Laika obsessed with cutting children’s eyeballs out? Beautiful animation though

    1
  74. A
    amazing_monkey 8 月 20, 2026

    fav childhood movie plus has beatles song

    1
  75. Y
    yanna 8 月 20, 2026

    at some point you just have to stop thinking about how they made this possible in stop motion!!! so magical i enjoyed this a lotttttt

    1
  76. C
    Carmen 8 月 20, 2026

    Niño lucha para no quedarse completamente ciego por culpa de su abuelo. Animación en su puro peak 10/10

  77. C
    crowsbeforehoes 8 月 20, 2026

    God made only two genders: monkey and beetle. These genders are completely unrelated to man and woman

    1
  78. N
    naomibowen 8 月 20, 2026

    “Little orphan boy” – Shea

    1
  79. P
    PandaJack6 8 月 20, 2026

    HOW THE FUCK DID THEY MAKE THAT WATER

  80. N
    ninjanade 8 月 20, 2026

    Hello Charlize Theron Monkey and Matthew McConaughey Beetle

  81. C
    CinemaRegular 8 月 20, 2026

    The worst voice acting and annoying foley work in any animated movie I have ever heard. Takes away from all the great stuff that might’ve been there that I certainly couldn’t focus on. Humor is very dry, poorly written, and delivered terribly. All the main characters are voiced by white people… Obviously a kids movie, but the story and plot are soooo boring and predictable. Woof.

  82. B
    benwubs 8 月 20, 2026

    not as good as i remember i like the art style a lot tho

  83. R
    Riooyyaaa 8 月 20, 2026

    Man this movie is soo good . The refrence of kubo being the third string that was awesome. Even the refrence of underwater eyes was goated !

  84. D
    DanArmo 8 月 20, 2026

    A very beautfiul animatied movie very beautiful storyy

  85. K
    kururah 8 月 20, 2026

    it was a sad but happy ending…and that really is the least of it

    1
  86. S
    StSuperman 8 月 20, 2026

    What a beautiful, touching, heartfelt movie

  87. T
    Tyler 8 月 20, 2026

    Laika is unstoppable when they’re not re-releasing Coraline. But if those profits give them enough juice to make more stop-motion epics…then very well.

  88. S
    samuel' 8 月 20, 2026

    lindo

  89. L
    LaAnnadelcinema 8 月 19, 2026

    Omg Hanzo is the Hollow Knight 😱

    1
  90. R
    RickyJesse 8 月 19, 2026

    Laika really outdid themselves here, with the stop-motion animation looking absolutely gorgeous from beginning to end. The Japanese-inspired setting gives the film such a distinct visual identity, while the mix of magic, mythology, monsters, and heartfelt family drama makes this feel much bigger and more ambitious than your typical animated movie. I especially love how it can be genuinely exciting and even a little creepy at times, but still has this warm emotional core underneath everything. Kubo himself is an…

  91. E
    eggsy 8 月 16, 2026

    this plot in 2026 is a hard watch but after seeing all the work done in the special features section of the DVD, my initial thoughts on the movie still stand. so much detail that is/would be elusive to the general viewer.

  92. W
    wafflis 8 月 16, 2026

    Sin duda la animación es hermosa y muy creativa, amé a mono y escarabajo en todo momento 😗

  93. J
    joellasng 2 月 11, 2025

    ‘you are my quest.’

  94. ୭
    ୭sofea 6 月 10, 2022

    jir sebesar itukah kumbang?

Write a Review

My rating

A Art Parkinson Kubo (voice)
C Charlize Theron Monkey / Mother (voice)
M Matthew McConaughey Beetle / Hanzo (voice)
B Brenda Vaccaro Kameyo (voice)
R Ralph Fiennes Moon King (voice)
R Rooney Mara The Sisters (voice)
G George Takei Hosato (voice)
C Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa Hashi (voice)
M Meyrick Murphy Mari (voice)
M Minae Noji Minae (voice)
A Alpha Takahashi Aiko (voice)
L Laura Miro Miho (voice)
K Ken Takemoto Ken (voice)
A Aaron Aoki Villager (voice)
L Luke Donaldson Villager (voice)
M Michael Sun Lee Villager (voice)
C Cary Y. Mizobe Villager (voice)
R Rachel Morihiro Villager (voice)
T Thomas Isao Morinaka Villager (voice)
S Saemi Nakamura Villager (voice)
Director Travis Knight
Writer Marc Haimes, Chris Butler
Producer Travis Knight, Arianne Sutner, Jocelyn Pascall
Editor Christopher Murrie
Original Music Dario Marianelli
Sound Gregg Barbanell, Darrin Mann, Catherine Harper, Travis Crotts, Thomas O'Neil Younkman, Clayton Weber, Eric Stolberg, Tim Chau, Tim LeBlanc
Stunts Aaron Toney
Art Direction Alice Bird, August Hall
Casting Allison Jones, Ben Harris
Synopsis
Kubo mesmerizes the people in his village with his magical gift for spinning wild tales with origami. When he accidentally summons an evil spirit seeking vengeance, Kubo is forced to go on a quest to solve the mystery of his fallen samurai father and his mystical weaponry, as well as discover his own magical powers.
Director
Travis Knight
Writer
Marc Haimes, Chris Butler
Studio
Laika
Country
USA, UK
Language
English
Year
2016
Runtime
102 mins

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