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Sing

Sing is a 2016 American computer-animated musical comedy film produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal Pictures.

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

Sing is a 2016 American computer-animated musical comedy film produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal Pictures. The film follows Buster Moon, a koala theatre owner who stages a singing competition to save his struggling venue. The ensemble voice cast is led by Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon.

Plot

The story centres on Buster Moon, a theatre owner whose venue is in financial trouble. He stages a singing competition that attracts a range of contestants whose personal lives are affected by the event.

Production

Sing was written and directed by Garth Jennings and produced by Illumination Entertainment. It was developed as a computer-animated musical comedy and features a large voice cast.

Release

The film was released in 2016 by Universal Pictures. It premiered in the United States in December 2016 and later became available on home media and streaming.

Reception

The film received generally positive attention as a family musical comedy and became a commercially successful release. Its popularity led to further franchise activity.

Key facts

  • Sing is a 2016 computer-animated musical comedy film produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal Pictures.
  • The film is set in a world of anthropomorphic animals and centres on a koala theatre owner who hosts a singing competition.
  • The screenplay and direction are credited to Garth Jennings.
  • The voice cast includes Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, Scarlett Johansson, John C. Reilly, Taron Egerton, and Tori Kelly.
  • The film was originally titled Lunch before being retitled Sing.
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Canadian context

Sing was released in Canadian theatres as a mainstream Hollywood animated family film and would have been widely accessible to Canadian audiences through cinemas, home video, and streaming.

Frequently asked questions

What is Sing about?
It is about a koala theatre owner who stages a singing contest to save his struggling venue.
Who directed Sing?
Sing was written and directed by Garth Jennings.
Who stars in Sing?
The voice cast includes Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, Scarlett Johansson, John C. Reilly, Taron Egerton, and Tori Kelly.
What kind of film is Sing?
It is a 2016 animated musical comedy film.
Who produced and distributed Sing?
Illumination Entertainment produced the film, and Universal Pictures distributed it.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sing_(2016_American_film)
    Supports: Basic film identification, plot premise, director, cast, and production/distribution details.
  2. Illumination — https://www.illumination.com/movie/sing/
    Supports: Official production synopsis, cast, setting, and filmmaking credits.
  3. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/sing
    Supports: Plot overview, release information, genre, and main characters.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sing_2016
    Supports: Genre classification and synopsis.