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July 26, 2026Sources cited
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Rango

Rango is a 2011 American computer-animated Western comedy film directed by Gore Verbinski and written by John Logan.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Rango is a 2011 American computer-animated Western comedy film directed by Gore Verbinski and written by John Logan. The film stars Johnny Depp as a pet chameleon who ends up in the frontier town of Dirt and becomes its sheriff. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and was a commercial success.

Plot

The film centres on Rango, a sheltered pet chameleon who accidentally ends up in the desert town of Dirt. He is drawn into the community’s problems and assumes the role of sheriff.

Production

Rango was directed by Gore Verbinski and written by John Logan. It was produced by Nickelodeon Movies and released by Paramount Pictures.

Release and reception

The film premiered on February 14, 2011, and was released in the United States on March 4, 2011. It received positive reviews and earned strong box-office results worldwide, grossing about $246 million against a reported $135 million budget.

Accolades

Rango won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 84th Academy Awards. It also received other animation-related honours, including recognition from the Annie Awards.

Key facts

  • Rango is a 2011 American animated Western comedy film directed by Gore Verbinski and written by John Logan.
  • It stars Johnny Depp as a chameleon who becomes sheriff of the frontier town of Dirt.
  • The film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 84th Academy Awards.
  • It grossed about $246 million worldwide against a reported $135 million budget.
  • The film is a parody of the Western genre and its success helped lead to the formation of Paramount Animation.
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Canadian context

Rango was widely distributed in Canada through Paramount’s North American release pattern and remains notable to Canadian audiences as a major Oscar-winning animated feature from the 2010s.

Frequently asked questions

What is Rango?
Rango is a 2011 American animated Western comedy film about a chameleon who becomes sheriff of a frontier town.
Who directed Rango?
Gore Verbinski directed the film.
Who stars in Rango?
Johnny Depp voices the title character, with Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Harry Dean Stanton, Ray Winstone and Timothy Olyphant in supporting roles.
Did Rango win any major awards?
Yes. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
When was Rango released?
It premiered on February 14, 2011, and was released in the United States on March 4, 2011.
How did Rango perform commercially?
It grossed about $246 million worldwide against a reported $135 million budget.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rango_(2011_film)
    Supports: Director, writer, cast, premise, release dates, box office, and Oscar win.
  2. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rango-animated-film
    Supports: Identification of Rango as the 2011 film and its Academy Award recognition.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1192628/
    Supports: Plot synopsis and principal cast.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rango
    Supports: Synopsis, genre, release date, and production/distribution details.
  5. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rango-film-by-Schoedsack
    Supports: Distinguishes the 2011 film from the 1931 film of the same title.