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Cats (2019 film)

Cats is a 2019 musical fantasy film directed by Tom Hooper, based on the stage musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Cats is a 2019 British-American musical fantasy film directed by Tom Hooper, based on Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage musical of the same name. The film features an ensemble cast of performers portraying the Jellicle cats, who gather for an annual selection in which one cat is chosen to ascend to the Heaviside Layer. It was widely noted for its box office underperformance and poor critical reception.

Premise

The film follows a tribe of cats called the Jellicles as they gather for the Jellicle Ball. One cat is selected by Old Deuteronomy to ascend to the Heaviside Layer and receive a new life.

Production

Tom Hooper directed the film from a screenplay by Lee Hall and Hooper. Filming took place from December 2018 to April 2019.

Cast

The ensemble cast includes Francesca Hayward, James Corden, Judi Dench, Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen, Taylor Swift, and Rebel Wilson. Francesca Hayward and Jason Derulo made their feature film debuts in the movie.

Release and reception

Cats premiered at Alice Tully Hall in New York City on 16 December 2019 and opened in the UK and US on 20 December 2019. It grossed $75.5 million worldwide against a reported production budget of $80–100 million, making it a box office flop. The film was widely criticized by reviewers.

Key facts

  • Cats is a 2019 British-American musical fantasy film directed by Tom Hooper.
  • The film is adapted from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s stage musical Cats.
  • Its story follows the Jellicle cats as they choose one cat to ascend to the Heaviside Layer.
  • Francesca Hayward and Jason Derulo made their feature film debuts in the movie.
  • It grossed $75.5 million worldwide against a reported production budget of $80–100 million.
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Canadian context

The film was an international theatrical release and became notable in Canadian film coverage mainly as part of the broader global discussion of its reception and box office performance.

Frequently asked questions

What is Cats (2019 film) about?
It follows the Jellicle cats, who gather annually so one cat can be chosen to ascend to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn.
Who directed the film?
Tom Hooper directed Cats.
What is the film based on?
It is based on the stage musical Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber, itself based on T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.
When was Cats released?
It premiered on 16 December 2019 and was released in the UK and US on 20 December 2019.
Was Cats commercially successful?
No. It earned $75.5 million worldwide against a reported $80–100 million production budget.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cats_(2019_film)
    Supports: Directed by Tom Hooper; screenplay by Lee Hall and Hooper; cast; filming dates; premiere and release dates; worldwide gross; production budget; box office flop characterization.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5697572/
    Supports: Plot premise involving the Jellicle cats and the Heaviside Layer.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cats_2019
    Supports: Runtime, genre, release date, director, producers, distributor, box office gross in the US.
  4. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/cats-movie-review-2019
    Supports: General description of the premise and critical reception context.