• Trending
    • Certified Fresh & Verified Hot
    • TV Premier dates
    • New horror Movies
    • Best Movies of All Time
  • Movies
    • Movies In Theaters
    • Movies at Home
  • TV Shows
    • New TV
    • Most Popular TV
  • News
    • What to Watch
    • Guides
    • RT News
    • Awards
  • Games
    • Find Your Next Horror Watch
  • Video
  • Showtimes
  • Fanstore
  • About Rotten Tomatoes
  • Critics
  • Download the App Now
  • Logout
Rotten Tomatoes
Suggestions will appear as you start typing. Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App New News Showtimes

Kensuke's Kingdom

Play trailer 1:52 Poster for Kensuke's Kingdom 2024,  1h 25m,  Adventure/ Animation/ Kids & Family Play Trailer Watchlist
Kensuke's Kingdom: Trailer 1 Kensuke's Kingdom: Trailer 1 Now Playing View more videos
Watchlist 97% 30 Reviews Tomatometer - - Popcornmeter
97% Tomatometer 30 Reviews Popcornmeter
A young boy and his family set off on a sailing trip of a lifetime until a violent storm erupts, sweeping Michael and his dog overboard. After washing up on a remote island, terrified, they struggle to survive and adjust to life alone, One day, Michael discovers he is not alone when he is confronted by a mysterious Japanese man who has lived there secretly since World War II, angry that Michael has arrived. However, as dangerous invaders threaten their fragile island paradise, Michael and the old man, Kensuke, join forces to save their secret world.
Kensuke's Kingdom

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Remaining loyal to its source material, Kensuke's Kingdom is a quietly engaging story with meticulous 2D animation that's more profound than average offerings

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Nick Bradshaw Sight & Sound Dec 19, 2025
Michael Morpurgo’s book about a 12-year-old boy washed ashore on a desert island is brought to life with imaginative hand-drawn animation in this delicate young fantasy adventure. Go to Full Review
Kambole Campbell Time Out Sep 11, 2024
3/5
Maudlin when it goes directly for the heartstrings, but it’s a pleasant enough coming-of-age fable. It’s hard not to wish for the film to lean a little more on its assured visual craft, especially as its story feels a little by the numbers. Go to Full Review
Yasmin Omar Empire Magazine Aug 7, 2024
3/5
Though low-stakes for an adventure film, this is nonetheless an engaging, found-family eco-fable that imparts an important conservationist message with considerable, at times impressionistic, style. Go to Full Review
Jennie Kermode Eye for Film Jan 21, 2025
3.5/5
There’s plenty for thoughtful children to engage with. Go to Full Review
Joel Copling Spectrum Culture Oct 24, 2024
Kensuke’s Kingdom is an adventure story in the classical tradition, defined by patience and attentiveness to its characters. Go to Full Review
Chris Sawin Bounding Into Comics Oct 21, 2024
3/5
The character animation seems purposely flat so that the elaborate backgrounds pop with rich detail and eye-catching color. The film is so visually complex that it’s kind of heartbreaking that its writing is so simple. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

View All

Kirk Hendry

Director

Neil Boyle

Director

Sally Hawkins

Voice

Ken Watanabe

Voice

Cillian Murphy

Voice

Raffey Cassidy

Voice

More Like This

View All
The Wild Robot 97% The Wild Robot Watchlist TRAILER for The Wild Robot Spirit Untamed 48% 95% Spirit Untamed Watchlist TRAILER for Spirit Untamed The Magician's Elephant 66% 83% The Magician's Elephant Watchlist TRAILER for The Magician's Elephant Sea Level 3: Dolphin Boy Sea Level 3: Dolphin Boy Watchlist Migration 73% 30% Migration Watchlist TRAILER for Migration Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Kensuke's Kingdom

Kensuke's Kingdom: Trailer 1 Kensuke's Kingdom: Trailer 1 1:52 Now Playing View more videos
View All

Kensuke's Kingdom

View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A young boy and his family set off on a sailing trip of a lifetime until a violent storm erupts, sweeping Michael and his dog overboard. After washing up on a remote island, terrified, they struggle to survive and adjust to life alone, One day, Michael discovers he is not alone when he is confronted by a mysterious Japanese man who has lived there secretly since World War II, angry that Michael has arrived. However, as dangerous invaders threaten their fragile island paradise, Michael and the old man, Kensuke, join forces to save their secret world.
Director
Kirk Hendry, Neil Boyle
Producer
Camilla Deakin, Ruth Fielding, Anne Labadie, Martin Metz, Adrian Politowski, Sarah Radclyffe, Barnaby Spurrier
Screenwriter
Frank Cottrell Boyce
Distributor
Blue Fox Entertainment
Production Co
Bankside Films, Align, British Film Institute
Genre
Adventure, Animation, Kids & Family
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 18, 2024, Limited
Runtime
1h 25m
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings