ThePaddingtonfranchise is one of the most critically acclaimed trilogies of recent times, but how do they stack up against each other? The first movie in the trilogy was released in 2014 to incredibly positive reviews. Its sequel only furthered this in 2017, withPaddington 2’s potential best-movie-of-all-timestatus proving how well-received it truly was. Then there is2024’sPaddington in Peru, the final film in the trilogy of live-action stories based on the lovable young bear.
As evident by the film’s title,Paddington in Peru’s filming locationshifted from London to South America. Upon its release, many placed pressure onPaddington in Peruto match the heights of its predecessors. Although it is the lowest-rated film in the trilogy on Rotten Tomatoes, its critical score still sits at a lofty 90%, proving how excellent each installment in the series is and placing more pressure on thepotential story ofPaddington 4. With each film being highly thought of, many will question how they measure up against one another afterPaddington’s first trilogy comes to a close.
3Paddington in Peru (2024)
Directed by Dougal Wilson
The weakest of thePaddingtontrilogy is its third installment,Paddington in Peru. It is worth noting, however, that there is not a single bad move in the trilogy and all of them are great at worst. WherePaddington in Peruis concerned, it is less about what the film itself does that ranks it as the “worst” of the trilogy and more about what its predecessors simply do better.Paddington in Peruhas the same emotional and comedic heartbeat as the first two movies, proving to induce tears as much as it does laughs.
Paddington in Peru
Cast
Paddington in Peru follows the beloved bear as he embarks on an adventure to visit Aunt Lucy in her new home at the Home for Retired Bears. Accompanied by the Brown Family, they uncover a mystery that leads them through the Amazon rainforest and the mountainous regions of Peru.
Unfortunately,Paddington in Peruis ever so slightly longer than its predecessors, meaning the story somewhat loses track midway through. It quickly regains its footing but, without the experienced hand of Paul King behind the camera, it cannot quite match the lofty heights ofPaddingtonorPaddington 2. Overall, though,new director Dougal Wilson makes an admirable attempt to do so withPaddington in Peru,crafting a very solid, funny, emotionally impactful story that is bolstered by the returning cast and Ben Whishaw’s voice workas the ever-adorable Paddington.
2Paddington (2014)
Directed by Paul King
The first movie ranks as the second-best in thePaddingtontrilogy. 2014’sPaddingtonis best described using one word: wholesome. Sally Hawkins and Hugh Bonneville lead the charming cast in an incredibly cute story of a bear simply trying to find a home. This simple story and immensely heartwarming vibe creates a film that is very easy to love, but also one that is much more stylish than it has any right to be.Paddington in Peruwas lacking in director Paul King’s visual flair, which was evident inPaddington.
Paddington
Paddington follows a young Peruvian bear who ventures to London in search of a new home. Upon arriving at Paddington Station, he encounters the Brown family, who kindly offer him temporary shelter as he navigates the unfamiliar city.
The camera shots and choices are incredibly dynamic and stylish for what could have been a very conventional family film. Instead,Paddington’s long takes and cinematic shots make the movie as beautiful to look at as it is emotional to experience. Nicole Kidman’s cartoonishly evil villain is great and allows the film to convey its central themes beautifully.
Paddingtonworks on almost every level, and it is only the strengths of its successor that stop it from topping this list…
Paddingtonprovides the touching, and still very timely, message that love, family, and home can be found regardless of one’s species, in Paddington’s case. Speaking of the bear himself, Whishaw is excellent as Paddington and imbues the fluffy protagonist with as much charm, politeness, and kindness as one might expect. The CGI is nearly flawless, and Paddington is undeniably one of the cutest protagonists in recent years. Overall,Paddingtonworks on almost every level, and it is only the strengths of its successor that stop it from topping this list.
1Paddington 2 (2017)
As alluded to,Paddington 2takes everything that worked about the first one and does exactly the same again, only with a bigger story, a better villain, more heart, and more laughs. It would be difficult to list everything that works aboutPaddington 2on a broader scale without simply repeating everything that was written aboutPaddington. That said, the sequel does what all sequels should by improving on its predecessor without losing what made it so special in the first place.
Paddington 2
Paddington 2 follows the beloved bear as he settles with the Brown family and takes on various jobs to purchase an ideal gift for Aunt Lucy’s birthday. His plans are thwarted when the gift is stolen, setting off a chain of humorous and heartfelt adventures in pursuit of the thief.
This is bolstered byHugh Grant’s career-changing villain role inPaddington 2. Grant is absolutely excellent in the film, having the time of his life as a cartoonish, down-on-his-luck actor who makes an enemy of Paddington, who only wishes to provide his Aunt Lucy with the best possible birthday gift. It is this simple motivation for Paddington that makesPaddington 2so easy to love, as it typifies the theme of the movie that may seem obvious, but unfortunately, is a message that needs to be conveyed in today’s world.
Paddington 2’s end-credit scene involving Hugh Grant is one of the best in modern cinema history and somehow imbues the film with yet another perfectly fitting genre: musicals.
Paddington 2is about being polite and kind where possible, changing the world around youas a result. The wayPaddington 2depicts how Paddington’s environment - be it Windsor Gardens in London or a literal prison - improves because of his kindness will never stop being tear-jerking. On top of this simple yet timely message,Paddington 2has all of the visual flair and cinematic greatness of its predecessor, only on a larger scale.
Paddington 2is so many different movies in one, from a heist to a prison break to a high-speed train chase. Despite this bigger scale, the kindness of Paddington is never lost as all of those things are only happening because of his desire to give Aunt Lucy a birthday present. It would be impossible to list everything great aboutPaddington 2, but there is a reason it is ranked as the bestPaddingtonmovie and one of the best sequels, and films in general, of all time: everything about it works, and its uplifting message proves that everyone should be more like the titular lovable bear.
