Chicken Run
Movie, 2000, Originals, Set in A Yorkshire farm
Chicken Run is #4 of 51 in release order and #4 of 51 in chronological order in the DreamWorks Animation.
The story
The creators of Wallace & Gromit bring you an exciting and original story about a group of chickens determined to fly the coop–even if they can’t fly! It’s hardly poultry in motion when Rocky attempts to teach Ginger and her feathered friends to fly…but, with teamwork, determination and a little bit o’ cluck, the fearless flock plots one last attempt in a spectacular bid for freedom.
Chicken Run recap
On the Tweedys' Yorkshire egg farm, Ginger keeps trying to break the hens out and keeps ending up in the coal bin. Hens that stop laying are killed, and Mrs Tweedy decides to switch from eggs to pies, ordering a machine that will turn every chicken into a chicken pie. Rocky, an American rooster, crash-lands in the coop, and Ginger hides him from the circus he escaped from in return for flying lessons. Rocky teaches the hens a series of useless exercises while the old RAF rooster Fowler grumbles. Ginger is put through the pie machine and escapes it with Rocky's help. Then she finds the torn circus poster showing Rocky being fired from a cannon: he cannot fly at all, and he has left the farm.
Chicken Run ending explained
Ginger turns the plan around: the hens build a plane, the Old Crate, with Fowler as pilot, and take off while the Tweedys attack. Mrs Tweedy climbs the string of lights trailing behind, Ginger cuts it, and she falls into the pie machine's gravy valve, which blows the machine apart. Rocky returns in time to help, and the chickens settle in an island sanctuary where Ginger and Rocky are a couple.
Post-credits scenes
During the credits, the rats Nick and Fetcher are heard off screen continuing their argument about the chicken and the egg. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Chicken Run
Chicken Run isn't on a US streaming service right now. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.1/10, Rotten Tomatoes 97%
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Road to El Dorado, before Shrek.
- Chronological order: after The Road to El Dorado, before Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas.
What to watch before Chicken Run
In release order, the essentials before Chicken Run (2000) are Antz (1998), The Prince of Egypt (1998), and The Road to El Dorado (2000).
Cast
- Julia Sawalha as Ginger (voice)
- Mel Gibson as Rocky (voice)
- Imelda Staunton as Bunty (voice)
- Jane Horrocks as Babs (voice)
- Lynn Ferguson as Mac (voice)
- Miranda Richardson as Mrs. Tweedy (voice)
- Tony Haygarth as Mr. Tweedy (voice)
- Benjamin Whitrow as Fowler (voice)
- Timothy Spall as Nick (voice)
- Phil Daniels as Fetcher (voice)
- Lisa Kay as Additional Chicken (voice) (uncredited)
- John Sharian as Circus Man (voice) (uncredited)
Directed by Nick Park, Peter Lord.