Incredibles 2 (2018)

Fourteen years is a long time to wait for a sequel, and by the time Incredibles 2 arrived in cinemas in the summer of 2018, the anticipation had built to a considerable pitch. The original film, released back in 2004, had been one of Pixar's most beloved features, blending superhero action with sharp domestic comedy and an undercurrent of genuine feeling about identity, ambition, and family. It felt, at the time, like a film that had said exactly what it needed to say. Whether a follow-up was warranted at all was a fair question, and one that plenty of fans had been asking since the credits rolled on that first instalment. (For context on just how highly regarded that original is, my thoughts on The Incredibles are worth a read before you go any further.)

Brad Bird returns to the director's chair here, as he did for Pixar's Ratatouille, a film that showed he could apply his particular brand of witty, kinetic filmmaking to fresh material with considerable success. With Incredibles 2, Bird is back on familiar ground, working again with Pixar under the Disney umbrella, and the production carries all the technical craft you would expect from that combination. The animation has taken a visible step forward in the years since the first film, which is no surprise given how much the medium has evolved, and the film runs at a brisk 118 minutes. The story picks up precisely where the original left off, with the Parr family, superheroes legally obliged to suppress their abilities, now facing a fresh crisis and a world that still hasn't decided whether it wants them back. Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter reprise their roles as Bob and Helen Parr, bringing the same warm, slightly frayed domestic energy they established first time around. Sarah Vowell returns as the sardonic teenager Violet, Huck Milner steps in to voice Dash, and Catherine Keener joins the cast as a new figure whose motives drive the central plot forward.

It is worth noting that the film performed exceptionally well commercially on release, becoming the highest-grossing animated film in the United States at that point, a measure of just how much goodwill the franchise had accumulated over those intervening years. Whether the film itself justifies that enthusiasm is, of course, another matter entirely, and that is precisely what this review sets out to address.

Incredibles 2 arrives with all the polish and energy you’d expect from Pixar. The animation is slick, the action sequences are inventive, and Michael Giacchino’s retro-futuristic score snaps with the same jazzy flair as the original. The film picks up seconds after the first one ends, throwing the Parr family straight into a new threat: a villain who weaponizes screens and mind control, wrapped in a timely critique of technology dependence. It’s smart on the surface, and there’s fun to be had watching the whole family in action, especially Frozone, who finally gets a few proper moments to shine. The role reversal is an interesting twist (Helen (Elastigirl) takes the lead on a high-profile superhero mission, while Bob (Mr. Incredible) stays home to handle parenting duties). It sets up some solid comedy and a few genuine insights about gender roles and parental identity. But while the idea has potential, it doesn’t go nearly far enough. The family dynamics feel rushed, the kids’ storylines underdeveloped, and Jack-Jack’s powers (though hilarious in one standout fight scene) are mostly sidelined after that. Ultimately, it plays like a competent sequel rather than a necessary one. It looks great, moves fast, and hits the expected points, but it lacks the heart, urgency, and originality of the first film. The villain’s motivation is thin, the plot follows a predictable arc, and the social commentary never digs deep. It’s not bad, just forgettably average. A solidly made, visually impressive follow-up that does everything you’d expect, without ever surprising you. Another Pixar sequel that feels more like obligation than inspiration.

For me, that sums it up rather neatly. There are moments here where you can see the film Incredibles 2 could have been, and those glimpses make the finished product a little frustrating to sit with. It is the kind of film I enjoyed well enough in the moment and had largely forgotten by the time I reached the car park. If you are coming to it as a fan of the original, you will find enough to keep you entertained, but I would temper expectations accordingly. Sometimes the best thing a long-awaited sequel can do is remind you how good the first one was.

Rating: ★★½  | Year: 2018  | Watched: 2025-08-04

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Trailer

▶ Watch the official trailer for Incredibles 2 (2018) on YouTube

Where to watch

Watch in the UK
Stream: Disney Plus
Rent: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Sky Store
Buy: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Google Play Movies
Physical: Amazon UK · Zavvi

Watch in the US
Stream: Disney Plus
Rent: Amazon Video · Apple TV Store · Google Play Movies · YouTube
Buy: Amazon Video · Apple TV Store · Google Play Movies · YouTube
Physical: Amazon US

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