The Emperor's New Groove
Movie, 2000, The 2000s, Set in The Inca Empire
The Emperor's New Groove is #15 of 20 in release order and #5 of 20 in chronological order in the Disney Animated Classics.
The story
When the self‑absorbed Emperor Kuzco is accidentally transformed into a llama, he must rely on a humble villager to survive the jungle and reclaim his throne.
The Emperor's New Groove recap
Kuzco is the young and spoiled emperor of an Inca-like empire. He fires his scheming advisor Yzma and tells the village leader Pacha that he plans to build a summer home, Kuzcotopia, on his village's hilltop. Yzma tries to poison Kuzco with the help of her muscle-bound helper Kronk, but the potion is the wrong one and turns him into a llama. Kronk is told to kill him but cannot go through with it, and Kuzco ends up in Pacha's cart. Pacha offers to help Kuzco get back to the palace if he will spare the village. They travel through jungle, escaping jaguars, and Kuzco slowly learns to be decent, though their trust breaks down once before they make up. Yzma and Kronk chase them, and the race ends back at Yzma's secret lab, reached by a lever-operated rollercoaster.
The Emperor's New Groove ending explained
Kuzco becomes human again and builds his summer home on another hill, beside Pacha's family, instead of on the village. They reach Yzma's lab, she is turned into a cat, and Kuzco and Pacha fight her for the antidote; Kuzco becomes human. Yzma ends up working as a girl scout with Kronk. Kuzco visits Pacha's family at a small cabin nearby.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch The Emperor's New Groove
The Emperor's New Groove is streaming on Disney+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.4/10, Rotten Tomatoes 86%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Dinosaur, before Atlantis: The Lost Empire.
- Chronological order: after Mulan, before Aladdin.
What to watch before The Emperor's New Groove
In release order, 14 Disney Animated Classics essentials come before The Emperor's New Groove (2000), from The Little Mermaid (1989) to Dinosaur (2000).
Cast
- David Spade as Kuzco (voice)
- John Goodman as Pacha (voice)
- Eartha Kitt as Yzma (voice)
- Patrick Warburton as Kronk (voice)
- Wendie Malick as Chicha (voice)
- Kellyann Kelso as Chaca (voice)
- Eli Russell Linnetz as Tipo (voice)
- Stephen J. Anderson as Additional Voices (voice)
- Bob Bergen as Bucky / Additional Voices (voice)
- Rodger Bumpass as Additional Voices (voice)
- Robert Clotworthy as Additional Voices (voice)
- Jennifer Darling as Additional Voices (voice)
Directed by Mark Dindal.