Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie
2025 DreamWorks Animation film
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Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie is a 2025 American live-action animated musical fantasy comedy film based on the Netflix series Gabby's Dollhouse, which was created by Traci Paige Johnson and Jennifer Twomey, both of whom serve as executive producers. Produced by DreamWorks Animation, the film was directed by Ryan Crego from a screenplay by the writing teams of Mike Lew and Rehana Lew Mirza, and Adam Wilson and Melanie Wilson LaBracio, based on a story conceived by Crego. Combining live-action and animation, it stars Laila Lockhart Kraner, who reprises her role from the series with Jason Mantzoukas, Gloria Estefan, and Kristen Wiig joining the cast. The plot follows Gabby as she goes on a road trip with her grandmother to the urban wonderland of Cat Francisco and embarks on an adventure to save her dollhouse and the Gabby Cats from a cat lady.
- Mike Lew
- Rehana Lew Mirza
- Adam Wilson[1]
- Melanie Wilson LaBracio
| Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Ryan Crego |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Story by | Ryan Crego |
| Based on | |
| Produced by | Steven Schweickart |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Todd Elyzen |
| Edited by | Marcus Taylor |
| Music by | Stephanie Economou |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 98 minutes[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $32 million[3] |
| Box office | $80.8 million[4][5] |
DreamWorks Animation announced a feature-length film based on Gabby's Dollhouse in April 2024, with Crego and Steven Schweickart attached as director and producer, respectively. It was also announced that same month that Kraner set to reprise her role as Gabby. Filming began in July 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia, with further casting running from February to May 2025. It is the second live-action DreamWorks Animation film, following the 2025 remake of How to Train Your Dragon (2010), as well as DreamWorks Animation's first live-action film that is not a remake.
Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie premiered in Melbourne on September 13, 2025, and was released by Universal Pictures in the United States on September 26, 2025. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and has grossed $80.8 million worldwide.
Plot
A young Gabby visits her grandma Gigi, who was working on a cat-themed dollhouse which she made just for her. She gets very excited when she shows her the Gabby Cats that she just made, and eventually she gives her a special headband with cat ears that can allow her to shrink to the size of a doll and then teaches her how to do the pinching tune so she can be able to play in the dollhouse.
Later in the present, Gabby is preparing to go on a road trip with her grandmother to Cat Francisco, bringing her stuffed sidekick, Pandy Paws, and the other cats in her dollhouse to visit her home for a special project. While on their way there, CatRat accidentally unlatches the dollhouse from the van, causing it to roll into a store where Vera, an old cat lady, takes it and drives home. Vera then splits the Gabby Cats up to different surroundings in her area. CatRat ends up in a drawer full of cat-themed items and discovers a plush cat named Chumsley and a colorful quartet of small, cat-shaped pencil toppers, whom he eventually brings to life.
Gabby, determined to save her dollhouse, shrinks along with Pandy and is taken to Vera's home, where the dollhouse got stolen. Gabby soon learns that the Gabby Cats are missing but meets Chumsley at Cakey's kitchen, while ordering CatRat to stay. Gabby and Pandy find MerCat in a fish tank and jump inside, turning into mermaids. They free MerCat, traveling in a bubble, and find the Gabby Cats inside a bag. Vera opens the door, causing them to fly outside and fall into a nearby bush. They then meet some kitty gnomes in the grasslands who take them to see the Kitty Fairy, their queen.
At the kitty gnomes' hideout, they trick the gnomes into playing a game of hide and seek while building a flying bird-like vehicle to escape. Kitty Fairy decides to give up her queen title, and she then heads back to the dollhouse with MerCat. Meanwhile, Gabby and Pandy try to free the other Gabby Cats as Vera is distracted by a bunch of Kitty Rangers. Gabby rescues the cats, and they all return to the dollhouse, where Chumsley shows them in a flashback how Vera once played with him when she was a child but grew up and left him in her drawer. Gabby, Pandy, and the Gabby Cats are cast out, and Chumsley seals the windows, claiming that he has taken over the dollhouse. Pandy goes to get Gigi.
CatRat unlocks the door, and the team enters the dollhouse to stop Chumsley. Gabby nearly pinches her cat ears, but Chumsley takes them away from her, corrupting the dollhouse. Gabby tearfully tells Baby Box she's a bit scared of growing up, and Baby Box comforts her, retrieving her cat ears from Chumsley. Carlita returns with a smaller Gigi. Gabby then is happy to see Gigi return and she shares with her what happened.
Chumsley and the Toppers bake a cake with a bunch of magic, which accidentally causes a portal to appear. Gabby becomes big again to get Vera, then they both turn small (with Gabby teaching Vera the pinching tune) and meet up with Gigi and the Gabby Cats. They find the portal at Cakey's kitchen, which sucks Gabby, Vera, Cakey, and Chumsley into a land made of sweets.
Gabby, Vera, and Cakey see where the trail of Chumsley's paw prints are and ride animal-shaped cookies to catch up. Gummy worms erupt from the candy grounds, carrying them away, and Chumsley escapes. The ground collapses, and they fall into a river, floating on a donut. As Vera talks about growing up to Gabby, Cookie Bobby, a large cat made of candy, appears and throws them to safety, while Chumsley crosses a sweets-made rickety bridge. Before Vera can reconcile with Chumsley, he destroys the bridge.
All of a sudden, the magic from the dollhouse begins to fade, causing the world to start collapsing. Vera and Chumsley save each other and reconcile, while everyone manages to return to the dollhouse. Its magic has been restored, and a balloon shaped like a cat inflates from the dollhouse, lifting it as it flies over Cat Francisco. Back at Gigi's home, everyone celebrates, and Gabby helps build the special project Gigi has been working on: a dog-themed dollhouse made just for Gabby's sister.
Cast
Live-action
- Laila Lockhart Kraner as Gabby,[6] a young girl who is a kitty enthusiast. Kraner also voices her animated counterpart.
- Tina Ukwu as young Gabby
- Gloria Estefan as Grandma Gigi, the grandmother of Gabby who also made her Dollhouse and the Gabby Cats who live inside it. Estefan also voices her animated counterpart.
- Kristen Wiig as Vera, an eccentric cat lady. Wiig also voices her animated counterpart.
- Gweneth Everlee as young Vera
- Cassidy Nugent as teenage Vera
- Kate Widdington as Kitty Ranger #1
- Sophia Biling as Kitty Ranger #2
- Lauren Chan as Kitty Ranger #3
Voices
- Jason Mantzoukas as Chumsley,[7] a neglected plush cat owned by Vera
- Logan Bailey as Pandy Paws, a kitty/giant panda Gabby Cat who is Gabby's sidekick and is mostly in plush form when Gabby is normal size
- Juliet Donenfeld as Cakey, a kitty/cupcake Gabby Cat
- Secunda Wood as MerCat, a kitty/mermaid Gabby Cat who can swim through the air
- Donovan Patton as CatRat, a kitty/rat Gabby Cat
- Eduardo Franco as DJ Catnip, a Gabby Cat with extendable legs
- Maggie Lowe as Baby Box, a cardboard Gabby Cat
- Carla Tassara as Carlita, a kitty/car Gabby Cat
- Sainty Nelsen as Pillow Cat, a kitty/pillow Gabby Cat
- Tara Strong as Kitty Fairy, a kitty/fairy Gabby Cat
- Fortune Feimster as Kitty Fridge, the cat-themed refrigerator in the kitchen part of the Dollhouse
- Thomas Lennon as Matthew,[7] a Kitty Gnome
- Melissa Villaseñor as Sunflower, a Kitty Gnome
- Ego Nwodim as Twiggy, a Kitty Gnome
- Kyle Mooney as an existential Kitty Gnome
- Matty Matheson as Cookie Bobby,[7] a cat creature made of candy.
Production
In April 2024, DreamWorks Animation announced a feature-length film based on the Netflix series Gabby's Dollhouse, titled Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie, with Ryan Crego attached to direct and Steven Schweickart producing, while series creators Traci Paige Johnson and Jennifer Twomey would serve as executive producers. Laila Lockhart Kraner would also reprise her role as Gabby.[6] In February 2025, it was revealed that Maria Bamford and Mimi Webb had joined the cast of the film.[8] In April 2025, during CinemaCon, Kristen Wiig and Gloria Estefan were announced to have joined the film. Logan Bailey, Eduardo Franco, Juliet Donenfeld, Donovan Patton, Sainty Nelsen, Maggie Lowe, Carla Tassara, Tara Strong and Secunda Wood were also announced to reprise their roles from the show.[9] In May 2025, with the release of the trailer, it was announced that Ego Nwodim, Kyle Mooney, Melissa Villaseñor, Thomas Lennon, Jason Mantzoukas, and Fortune Feimster had joined the cast.[10] Stephanie Economou composed the score.[11]
Principal photography began on July 10, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia.[12]
Animation and visual effects
CGCG, Image Engine, and Assemblage Entertainment provided the animation for the film, while FX3X provided the visual effects.
Music
| Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Various artists | |
| Released | September 26, 2025 |
| Genre | Pop |
| Length | 31:38 |
| Label | Republic |
| Producer |
|
Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album for the film. Stephanie Economou composed the film's score, and the album includes original songs performed by Kraner, along with new tracks by Aespa and Lu Kala.[13] The soundtrack was released by Republic Records on September 26, 2025, coinciding with the film's theatrical release.
Other songs featured in the film include: "Apt.", by Rosé and Bruno Mars; "Makeba", by Jain; "I Swear", by All-4-One; "Ice Cream", by Blackpink and Selena Gomez; "Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl", by Chappell Roan; "Living My Best Life", by Jessie J; and "Sunroof", by Nicky Youre and Dazy.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Say Hello" |
| MAX | 3:06 |
| 2. | "Gabby's Dollhouse World" |
| Gabby's Dollhouse | 3:10 |
| 3. | "Pinching In" |
| Gabby's Dollhouse | 1:02 |
| 4. | "Kaleidoscope" | Joseph Chase Atkins | Gabby's Dollhouse | 2:33 |
| 5. | "Skibidi Meow" |
|
| 1:18 |
| 6. | "Cat Party" |
| BOBBLYS | 2:34 |
| 7. | "Sweet Cream" |
| Gabby's Dollhouse | 1:28 |
| 8. | "Let's Go for a Ride" | P.T. Walkley | Gabby's Dollhouse | 2:28 |
| 9. | "Every Day Is a Party" |
| Lu Kala | 2:58 |
| 10. | "Dollhouse World" |
| Aespa | 3:11 |
| 11. | "Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie Score Suite" | Stephanie Economou | Stephanie Economou | 6:19 |
| 12. | "Pretty Glitter Kitty Litter - Bonus Track" |
|
| 1:26 |
| Total length: | 31:38 | |||
Release
Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie had its premiere in Melbourne on September 13, 2025,[14] and was released in the United States on September 26, by Universal Pictures.[15]
Home media
Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie was released on digital on October 14, 2025, and on Blu-ray and DVD on November 25, 2025, by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.[16][17]
Reception
Box office
Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie has grossed $32 million in the United States and Canada and $48.8 million internationally, for a total of $80.8 million.[4][5]
In the United States and Canada, Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie was released alongside One Battle After Another and The Strangers – Chapter 2, and was projected to gross $12–15 million from 3,500 theaters in its opening weekend.[3] It opened with $13.7 million and finished second behind One Battle After Another.[18][19] In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the film opened with approximately £1.7 million (US$2.1 million) from 606 locations, topping the local box office during its opening weekend.[20]
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 85% of 27 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.3/10.[21] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 46 out of 100, based on four critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[22] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a rare average grade of "A+" on an A+ to F scale, becoming the first DreamWorks Animation film to receive this grade.[23]
Weiting Liu of Common Sense Media rated the film three stars, writing: "This energetic live-action movie delivers exactly what fans of a popular TV series would expect: a lively blend of animation and sing-alongs overflowing with irresistibly cute kitty characters."[24] In a positive review, Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "If you happen to have some tykes that need big-screen babysitting, well, they'll probably have a swell time... [But] other than the presence of Kristen Wiig, there's precious little on offer for anyone who doesn't drink beverages from a sippy cup."[25] Owen Gleiberman of Variety gave the film a positive review and wrote: "A genial throwaway that skitters through incidents with a G-rated innocuousness that makes it perfect for a very pint-sized demo."[26] J. Kelly Nestruck of Globe and Mail wrote: "The big-screen spinoff is, surprisingly, quite charming, borrowing themes from the Toy Story franchise to explore the fear of growing up and that you may lose your ability to play and imagine along the way."[27] Bob Strauss of the San Francisco Chronicle rated the film three stars out of four, writing: "Songs and jokes and a surprisingly psychedelic sensibility make for a safe, kooky and sometimes even adult-amusing good time."[28]
Sandra Hall of The Sydney Morning Herald gave the film two stars out five, writing: "I can understand the film's appeal for young children... But if you're over 10, its relentlessly upbeat tone makes you feel as if you're being beaten over the head with a toy catalogue."[29] Natalie Winkelman of The New York Times gave the film a negative review writing that "Gabby's Dollhouse is strictly not suitable for anyone over reading age. If parents want to stay awake through the drivel, I'd suggest bringing a book."[30]
