Hoppers 2026 Pixar Review: Plot Twists, Box Office Numbers & Bold Opinions | Sparrows Under Review

<p><strong>Hosts:</strong> JR Sparrow &amp; Stacey Sparrow <strong>Guest Intro:</strong> King Jerm (Poddin&#39; Saved Our Marriage)</p><p><strong>This Week&#39;s Review: </strong><em><strong>Hoppers</strong></em><strong> (Disney/Pixar, 2026)</strong></p><p>This week JR Sparrow flies solo to review Pixar&#39;s latest animated feature, <em>Hoppers</em> — currently the <strong>4th highest-grossing film of 2026</strong>with a $375 million box office haul on a $150 million budget.</p><p><strong>What&#39;s it about?</strong> <em>Hoppers</em> follows <strong>Mabel Tanaka</strong>, a young girl raised near a forest by her grandmother, who becomes deeply connected to nature and wildlife. When Mabel is transformed into a beaver, she finds herself navigating a world of animal kingdoms — insects, amphibians, fish, reptiles, and birds — each with their own rulers, agendas, and comedy. The film tackles themes of government, environmental activism, neglect, and loss, wrapped in stunning Pixar animation.</p><p><strong>Director:</strong> Daniel Chung <strong>End Credits Song:</strong> <em>Save the Day</em> by Scissor</p><p><strong>Critical Reception:</strong></p><ul><li>Rotten Tomatoes: 94%</li><li>Metacritic: 73/100 (based on 46 critics)</li><li>CinemaScore: A</li><li>RogerEbert.com (Neil Minow): ★★★★ — <em>&quot;Pixar at its very best&quot;</em></li></ul><p><strong>JR&#39;s Take:</strong> A well-crafted, thoughtful film that demands your full attention from the start. The plot twists are earned, the ensemble voice cast is stellar, and the writing subverts villain expectations in a refreshing way. Best suited for <strong>teens and adults</strong>, though younger kids will enjoy the humor and colorful animal characters. Features a standout performance from Meryl Streep.</p><p><strong>2026 Box Office Rankings (as of April 28):</strong></p><ol><li>Super Mario Galaxy</li><li>Pegasus 3</li><li>Project Hail Mary</li><li><strong>Hoppers</strong></li><li>Weathering Heights</li></ol><p><strong>Find us on Threads</strong> — drop your takes, requests, and what movies you want covered next!</p><p><em>Sparrows Under Review — every take is examined, nothing escapes the spotlight.</em> <em>Follow Poddin&#39; Saved Our Marriage with King Jerm — new episodes every Friday</em></p><p><br></p>