You will believe.|Dec. 19, 2019|United Kingdom | United States | Canada | Australia | Japan|110 Min.|PG
Genre: Comedy;Drama;Fantasy
Description: “Cats” is a 2019 musical fantasy film inspired by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1981 Tony Award-winning stage musical, which itself draws from T. S. Eliot’s 1939 poetry collection, *Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats*. Directed by Tom Hooper, who previously helmed *Les Misérables* (2012), the film features a star-studded cast including James Corden, Judi Dench, Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen, Taylor Swift, Rebel Wilson, and Francesca Hayward.
The story follows Victoria, a young white cat abandoned on the streets of London. She is introduced to the “Jellicles,” a group of alley cats, who guide her into their world. As the Jellicles prepare for their annual Jellicle Ball, where one cat is chosen to ascend to the Heaviside Layer and gain a new life, Victoria learns about their unique universe.
The film, which was shot from December 2018 to April 2019, premiered in the UK and US on December 20, 2019, under Universal Pictures. Despite its grand ambitions, *Cats* faced harsh criticism for its visual effects, editing, cat designs, performances, and storyline. However, Jennifer Hudson’s rendition of “Memory” and the soundtrack received some praise. Regarded by many as one of the worst films ever made, it also proved to be a financial disaster, grossing $75 million against an $80–100 million budget, resulting in an estimated $114 million loss for the studio.
Cast director: Tom Hooper
Cast actor: Francesca Hayward, James Corden, Judi Dench, Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen, Rebel Wilson, Laurie Davidson, Mette Towley
Original name: Cats