The Emperor's New Groove

Play trailer

The Emperor's New Groove

G

2000

1h 20m

Kids & Family

Comedy

Animation

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

134 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Arrogant young Emperor Kuzco is transformed into a llama by his power-hungry advisor -- the devious diva Yzma. Stranded in the jungle, Kuzco's only chance to get back home and reclaim the high life rests with a good-hearted peasant named Pacha. Together, they must return Kuzco to the throne before Yzma tracks them down and finishes him off.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

The Emperor's New Groove isn't the most ambitious animated film, but its brisk pace, fresh characters, and big laughs make for a great time for the whole family.

Read Critics Reviews

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Aug 3, 2010

4/5

More fun, goofy cartoon antics than Disney polish.

Go to Full Review

Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

Nov 16, 2009

Ingenious action sequences driven by surprisingly little plot lead to a climax full of the transmogrification animation was invented for.

Go to Full Review

Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

Sep 8, 2008

Emperor doesn't aim too high or strain too hard; it is at ease inhabiting its pretty, miniature realm.

Go to Full Review

Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

Jan 5, 2026

Even the most risk-averse, anxiety-possessing children can look at this film and giggle because the film takes Kuzco’s evolution seriously and nothing else, making all the dangerous obstacles and deadly plots farcical and hilarious.

Go to Full Review

Allison Rose

FlickDirect

Dec 9, 2025

4.5/5

Driven by terrific voice work and clever humor, The Emperor’s New Groove proves why it became a cult classic audiences still adore.

Go to Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Jan 17, 2025

4/10

There’s a certain hipness and modernness to the characters and their conversations, providing a curious contrast to the ancient Incan setting, but it’s not enough to set it apart as a notable project.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

norriskeel

Jan 24, 2021

still funny after all these years my step son actually sat through the whole thing amazing

See more

Robert P

@Superbad Sep 10, 2026

The Emperor"s New Groove = A 4.5 star Movie...

See more

Everett S

@RT21092830 Aug 29, 2026

My favorite animated movie

See more

Ry N

@RyGuy Jul 26, 2026

Emperor Kuzco is turned into a llama in an assassination attempt by Yzma trying to take his throne. This is a Disney classic with kind of a Hercules style.

See more

TheMovieSearch R

@TheMovieSearch Jul 24, 2026

The Emperor’s New Groove is one of Disney’s most underrated animated films and a movie that deserves much more recognition. I am normally not a big fan of David Spade, especially when his voice is the main focus of an animated character, but his performance as Kuzco completely surprised me. He brings incredible comedic timing and personality to the role, making Kuzco a hilarious and memorable character. The biggest strength of the film is its comedy. The storyline is filled with nonstop humor, especially with Kuzco’s transformation into a llama and the ridiculous situations that follow. The movie knows exactly what it wants to be and delivers a fun experience from beginning to end. Eartha Kitt is fantastic as Yzma, bringing a perfect mix of comedy and villainy to the character. The animation is also beautifully done, with colorful designs and expressive characters that make the world feel alive.

See more

Donny F

@CCrusader Jul 20, 2026

What an absolutely hilariously entertaining movie! Patrick Warburton was amazing as always! David Spade hit this out of the ballpark! I miss Disney movies like this. Original content, and a story that's just meant to entertain and allow you to escape modern real world for a bit of time. Disney really needs to do more movies like this!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Mark Dindal

Director

David Spade

Kuzco (Emperor)

John Goodman

Pacha (Llama Herder)

Eartha Kitt

Yzma

Patrick Warburton

Kronk

Wendie Malick

Pacha's Wife

Kronk's New Groove

0%

46%

Kronk's New Groove

Watchlist

Stitch! The Movie

20%

49%

Stitch! The Movie

Watchlist

Chicken Little

36%

47%

Chicken Little

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Chicken Little

A Goofy Movie

64%

71%

A Goofy Movie

Watchlist

Doug's 1st Movie

26%

28%

Doug's 1st Movie

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

New on Netflix in September

The Crown, The Emperor’s New Groove, Grosse Pointe Blank, and More Available to Stream on Netflix and Amazon Prime

Trailer Bulletin: When a Stranger Calls

View more photos

Synopsis

Arrogant young Emperor Kuzco is transformed into a llama by his power-hungry advisor -- the devious diva Yzma. Stranded in the jungle, Kuzco's only chance to get back home and reclaim the high life rests with a good-hearted peasant named Pacha. Together, they must return Kuzco to the throne before Yzma tracks them down and finishes him off.

Director: Mark Dindal
Producer: Randy Fullmer
Screenwriter: David Reynolds
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Walt Disney Pictures
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 15, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $89.6M
Runtime: 1h 20m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings