Chris Pratt Returns for Garfield 2
Part 1 was a success at the box office
Time for lasagna, laziness and a good dose of charm: As The Hollywood Reporter informs, "Garfield 2" is officially in the pipeline – once again with Chris Pratt voicing the cat.
Although the reviews for the first "Garfield" were anything but positive, the animated film performed strongly at the box office. The likeable cat made over 230 million US dollars worldwide. Therefore, it's hardly surprising that a sequel is now in development. One special connection remains: Jim Davis, the creator of "Garfield", will once again be involved as an executive producer. He will be supported by Bridget McMeel from Amuse.
The search for a suitable director and screenwriter is currently well underway. Apart from that, information on "Garfield 2" remains quite vague – details on the plot and a date for the planned theatrical release have yet to be announced.
Garfield on the Big Screen: All Theatrical Appearances of the Iconic Cat at a Glance
Garfield, the lazy, lasagne-loving cat with an aversion to montage, is one of the best-known comic characters in the world. Since his creation in 1978 by cartoonist Jim Davis, Garfield has conquered numerous media newspapers, television series, video games and, of course, the movies. His appearances on the big screen in particular have thrilled millions of fans. Below we take a look at all the movies Garfield has starred in so far.
Garfield (2004)
Garfield's first appearance in cinema was in 2004 with the film "Garfield". The mixture of live-action and CGI was a big trend in Hollywood at the time. The plot revolved around the pampered cat Garfield, who finds his cozy life in danger when his owner Jon Arbuckle takes in the dog Odie. When Odie is kidnapped, Garfield has to jump over his shadow and rescue the dog.
Garfield was voiced by cult comedian Bill Murray, which gave the movie additional notoriety. Murray later admitted that he had accepted the film by mistake because he mistook the name of screenwriter Joel Cohen for one of the famous Coen brothers. Nevertheless, he lent Garfield his unmistakable sarcasm. Despite mixed reviews, the movie was a commercial success and grossed over 200 million US dollars worldwide. The mix of slapstick, humor and computer animation was particularly well received by families and children.
Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties (2006)
After the financial success of the first movie, a sequel was only a matter of time. "Garfield 2" was released in cinemas in 2006 and sent Garfield on an adventure to England. In the sequel, Jon travels to London, where Garfield is kidnapped by a royal cat named Prince and suddenly finds himself living a luxurious life in a castle. Bill Murray once again provided the voice of Garfield in this movie. The humor remained similar, with a focus on animal mishaps and comedy of mistaken identity. The story was criticized for being unoriginal, but young audiences were delighted to see another adventure of the popular cat.
In financial terms, "Garfield 2" fell short of the first part, but still managed to generate solid revenues of around 140 million US dollars worldwide. After that, however, things went quiet for Garfield at the movies.
The Garfield Movie (2024)
For a long time, Garfield was more present on television, for example in the animated series "The Garfiled Show". But in 2024, he returned to the big screen in a new look: The fully animated film "The Garfield Movie" was released worldwide (except in China) by Sony Pictures.
The animation was realized by DNEG Animation in collaboration with Alcon Entertainment. This time, Chris Pratt provided the voice of Garfield. The movie tells an original story about Garfield's past and his family: After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father, the street cat Vic (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson), Garfield becomes embroiled in an action-packed adventure.
The film scored with high-quality animation, humorous dialog, and a good balance of nostalgia and modern presentation. Chris Pratt's voice acting in particular brought a breath of fresh air to the character and made Garfield accessible to a new generation. Despite mixed reviews, the movie was a worldwide success and grossed over 230 million US dollars. Due to this success, a sequel has now been announced, with many of the original producers exptected to be on board. Chris Pratt will once again voice Garfield in the upcoming sequel.
Conclusion: The Cult of the Lazy Cat Lives On
Garfield's cinematic history is an impressive example of how a comic character can outlast several generations. From the CGI live-action hybrid of the 2000s to the modern animated version of 2024, Garfield has proven that his humor is timeless. Lasagna, laziness and his sarcastic nature delight audiences worldwide, regardless of age or zeitgeist. With the announced sequel, Garfield will continue his movie career in the coming years – to the delight of fans and lasagna lovers all over the world.
