What’s it about?
Po encounters a shapeshifting sorceress who seeks control of his Staff of Wisdom, in order to access the spirit realm. He must ensure she fails, but is also charged with seeking out a replacement as Dragon Warrior, in order to become a spiritual leader in the Valley of Peace. This latest instalment of the hugely popular series is one of the year’s most acclaimed animations.
Kung Fu Panda 4: The #1 Comedy of the Year!
After three death-defying adventures defeating world-class villains with his unmatched courage and mad martial arts skills, Po, the Dragon Warrior (Golden Globe nominee Jack Black), is called upon by destiny to … give it a rest already. More specifically, he’s tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. That poses a couple of obvious problems. First, Po knows as much about spiritual leadership as he does about the paleo diet, and second, he needs to quickly find and train a new Dragon Warrior before he can assume his new lofty position. Even worse, there’s been a recent sighting of a wicked, powerful sorceress, Chameleon (Oscar® winner Viola Davis), a tiny lizard who can shapeshift into any creature, large or small. And Chameleon has her greedy, beady little eyes on Po’s Staff of Wisdom, which would give her the power to re-summon all the master villains whom Po has vanquished to the spirit realm.
So, Po’s going to need some help. He finds it (kinda?) in the form of crafty, quick-witted thief Zhen (Golden Globe winner Awkwafina), a corsac fox who really gets under Po’s fur but whose skills will prove invaluable. In their quest to protect the Valley of Peace from Chameleon’s reptilian claws, this comedic odd-couple duo will have to work together. In the process, Po will discover that heroes can be found in the most unexpected places.
Production notes
KUNG FU PANDA 4
Directed by: Mike Mitchell
Production Company: DreamWorks
Co-Director: Stephanie Ma Stine
Executive Producer: Mike Mitchell
Produced by: Rebecca Huntley
Co-Producers: Steven Schweickart, Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger
Written by: Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, Darren Lemke
Head of Cinematography/Layout: Joshua Gunther
Production Designer: Paul Duncan
Music Composed by: Hans Zimmer, Steve Mazzaro
Voice Cast
Jack Black (Po)
Awkwafina (Zhen)
Viola Davis (Chemeleon)
Dustin Hoffman (Shifu)
Bryan Cranston (Li)
James Hong (Mr Ping)
Ian McShane (Tai Lung)
Ke Huy Quan (Han)
USA 2024
94 mins
Digital
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Programme notes and credits compiled by Sight and Sound and the BFI Documentation Unit
Notes may be edited or abridged
Questions/comments? Contact the Programme Notes team by email