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July 27, 2026Sources cited
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The Bad Guys

The Bad Guys is a 2022 American animated crime-comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and based on Aaron Blabey’s children’s book series.

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

The Bad Guys is a 2022 American animated crime-comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and based on Aaron Blabey’s children’s book series. It follows a gang of anthropomorphic animal criminals who pretend to reform after being caught, only for their leader to become genuinely interested in changing his ways. The film was directed by Pierre Perifel in his feature directorial debut and features an ensemble voice cast.

Premise

The story follows an infamous gang of anthropomorphic animal criminals who are caught and offered a chance to avoid prison by pretending to become good citizens. Over time, the leader begins to take the idea of reform seriously.

Production

The film was produced by DreamWorks Animation and directed by Pierre Perifel from a screenplay by Etan Cohen. It is loosely based on Aaron Blabey’s children’s book series of the same name.

Voice cast

The film features Sam Rockwell as Mr. Wolf, with Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Richard Ayoade, Zazie Beetz, Alex Borstein, and Lilly Singh among the principal cast.

Themes

Reviews and descriptions of the film emphasize redemption, morality, and second chances, alongside its comedic heist structure and stylized animation.

Key facts

  • The Bad Guys is a 2022 DreamWorks Animation film based on Aaron Blabey’s book series.
  • It was directed by Pierre Perifel in his feature directorial debut.
  • The story centres on Mr. Wolf and his crew of animal thieves who try to avoid prison by posing as reformed citizens.
  • The ensemble voice cast includes Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, and Anthony Ramos.
  • The film combines heist-film elements with family-friendly comedy and themes of redemption.
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Canadian context

The film was distributed in Canada alongside its international release through major North American theatrical and streaming channels, and it is part of a widely recognised family animation franchise available to Canadian audiences.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Bad Guys?
The Bad Guys is a 2022 DreamWorks Animation film about a gang of animal criminals who try to pass themselves off as reformed.
What is The Bad Guys based on?
It is loosely based on Aaron Blabey’s children’s book series of the same name.
Who directed The Bad Guys?
The film was directed by Pierre Perifel, in his feature directorial debut.
Who stars in The Bad Guys?
The main voice cast includes Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Richard Ayoade, Zazie Beetz, Alex Borstein, and Lilly Singh.
What kind of film is it?
It is an animated crime-comedy with family-friendly and heist-film elements.
When was The Bad Guys released?
It was released in 2022, with its U.S. theatrical release in April 2022.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bad_Guys_(film)
    Supports: Film title, 2022 release, DreamWorks Animation production, director, writer, cast, premise, and basis on Aaron Blabey’s books.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8115900/
    Supports: Plot summary, release year, and general film identification.
  3. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/the-bad-guys/umc.cmc.6l0nbkdiji7k55epc7lph672x
    Supports: Runtime, cast, director, and synopsis.
  4. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/81513703
    Supports: Film description, release year, genre classification, and cast.
  5. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-bad-guys
    Supports: Family-friendly classification, themes of stereotypes and teamwork, runtime, MPAA rating, and release context.
  6. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-bad-guys-movie-review-2022
    Supports: Plot context, thematic framing, and character names.