| The Book of Life | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Jorge R. Gutierrez |
| Screenplay by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Edited by | Ahren Shaw[1] |
| Music by | Gustavo Santaolalla |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox[2] |
Release date |
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Running time | 95 minutes[3] |
| Country | United States[4][5] |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $50 million[6] |
| Box office | $100 million[6] |
The Book of Life is a 2014 American animatedfantasyadventure comedy film[7][8][9] directed byJorge R. Gutierrez in his feature directorial debut and written by Gutierrez andDoug Langdale.Guillermo del Toro,Brad Booker, Aaron D. Berger and Carina Schulze produced the film.[1] Produced by20th Century Fox Animation,Reel FX Animation Studios, and Chatone, it features the voices ofDiego Luna,Zoe Saldaña, andChanning Tatum, with supporting roles fromChristina Applegate,Ice Cube,Kate del Castillo, andRon Perlman. Based on an original idea by Gutierrez,[10] the film tells the story of Manolo Sánchez (Luna), a bullfighter who wants to be a musician and win the love of his love interest, María Posada, as he confronts personal challenges on theDay of the Dead.
The Book of Life premiered in Los Angeles on October 12, 2014, and was released theatrically in the United States on October 17, 2014, by20th Century Fox. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and aGolden Globe nomination forBest Animated Feature Film. The film grossed $100 million on a $50 million budget.
Mary Beth, a museumtour guide, takes a group of students serving detention on a secret tour, telling them the story of aMexican town called San Angel from theBook of Life, which holds every story in the world.
On theDay of the Dead,La Muerte, ruler of the Land of the Remembered, andXibalba, ruler of the Land of the Forgotten, see young Manolo Sánchez and Joaquín Mondragon II competing for the love of María Posada. The gods strike a wager: if María marries Manolo, Xibalba will no longer interfere in mortal affairs, but if she marries Joaquín, La Muerte and Xibalba will swap realms. Xibalba cheats by giving Joaquín his Medal of Everlasting Life, which grants the wearer invincibility.
After the rebellious María causes a stampede by freeing the butcher's pigs, leading Manolo and Joaquín to save the town, her father, General Ramiro Posada, sends her toSpain. Before parting ways, Manolo gives María a pig he names Chuy, and she gives him a new guitar. Years later, María returns to San Angel, where Joaquín has become a military hero with the Medal's power, and Manolo has been trained by his father Carlos in their family tradition ofbullfighting, but dreams of being a musician.
At his first bullfight, Manolo refuses to kill the bull, angering Carlos and the crowd but impressing María. General Posada pressures María to marry Joaquín, desperate to keep him in San Angel and protect the town from the Bandit King Chakal. Instead, María and Manolo profess their love for each other, but Xibalba sends his dual-headed snake to stop them. Believing María has been fatally bitten, a devastated Manolo allows himself to be bitten as well, hoping they will be reunited in death.
In the Land of the Remembered, Manolo is met by his deceased mother and their ancestors. Having won the bet, Xibalba now rules La Muerte's realm, and explains that María was only bitten once, putting her in a trance, while Manolo was killed by being bitten twice. Determined to expose Xibalba's cheating, Manolo, Carmen, and his grandfather Luis travel to the Cave of Souls and meet the Candle Maker, overseer of mortal lives and keeper of the Book of Life.
Realizing that Manolo is still writing his own story, the Candle Maker takes them to the Land of the Forgotten to inform La Muerte of Xibalba's treachery. She confronts Xibalba, but Manolo offers him a new wager: Manolo will be resurrected if he completes a challenge of Xibalba's choosing, but if he fails, his spirit will be forgotten and Xibalba will keep both realms. Believing Manolo’s biggest fear is bullfighting, Xibalba sets him against a giant skeletal bull made from every bull ever killed by the Sánchez family.
Meanwhile, María awakens and is heartbroken to learn of Manolo's death. She reluctantly accepts Joaquín's proposal, but he reconsiders after seeing her despair. Their wedding is interrupted by Chakal, who has led his army to San Angel to reclaim the Medal he once stole from Xibalba. Carlos sacrifices himself, arriving in the Land of the Remembered as Manolo faces the bull. Realizing his true fear is being himself, Manolo sings an apology to the bull for its suffering. Soothed by his song, the bull transforms intomarigold petals, touching the hearts of everyone present, including Carlos, who finally respects his son's wishes.
The three deities resurrect Manolo to defend San Angel with María, Joaquín, and the spirits of the Sánchez family. Before Chakal can destroy the town with his bandoliers of explosives, Manolo traps himself and Chakal inside the church bell, shielding everyone else from the blast. Having secretly given Manolo the Medal, allowing him to survive the explosion, Joaquín returns it to Xibalba and resolves to be a true hero. Manolo and María marry, and Xibalba and La Muerte reconcile.
As the amazed children leave the museum, Mary Beth and a security guard reveal themselves to be La Muerte and Xibalba. The Candle Maker appears,encouraging the audience to write their own story.
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Jorge R. Gutierrez first began developingThe Book of Life fourteen years before its release. Several of the film's story ideas originated in Gutierrez's 2000 student filmCarmelo.[15][16] The opportunity to haveThe Book of Life produced as a feature film arrived after Gutierrez and his wife,Sandra Equihua, created theNickelodeon animated seriesEl Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera.[15]
The Book of Life was originally optioned byDreamWorks Animation in 2007, but never went beyond development because of "creative differences".[10] From there the film went toReel FX,[17] with20th Century Fox handling distribution rights.Guillermo del Toro joined as a producer. The film was initially given a release date of October 10, 2014;[18] however, this was eventually moved back by a week.[19] On October 16, 2013, it was announced thatChanning Tatum,Zoe Saldaña,Diego Luna andChristina Applegate would star as voice actors in the film.[13]
Gutierrez wanted to make the final animation look like the concept artwork, saying: "I saw every single one that comes out and my biggest heartbreak is that I see all this glorious art, and then the movie doesn't look like that! The mandate of this movie was: Our 'Art of' book is going to look exactly like the movie. And every artist poured their heart and soul into that idea."[20] Gutierrez did not permit his animation team to go on any research trips to Mexico, feeling that such trips often only covered very touristy aspects of the culture. Instead, he had the team address any questions they had about the region to him. He also stated that research trips would not be necessary to portray the film's "magic version of Mexico".[21] Explaining that the tone of the film as initially conceived was going to be much darker, Gutierrez said, "I always felt, much like the design, I need to push the envelope so that when I pull back, I end up with something I love."[21]
The Book of Life made its world premiere inLos Angeles on October 12, 2014.[22] It was released on October 17, 2014, in North America.[23]
The Book of Life was released on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D on January 27, 2015, by20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.[24] The special features included a three-minute[25] short animated film, titledThe Adventures of Chuy.[24] The film currently streams onDisney+ as of February 2026.
In April 2013, it was announcedGustavo Santaolalla andPaul Williams would be adapting pop songs for the film.[26] The soundtrack was released on September 26, 2014,[27][28] while the score was released on October 24, 2014.
The Book of Life grossed $50.2 million in North America and $49.8 million in other countries for a worldwide total of $100 million, against a production budget of $50 million.[6]
The Book of Life was released in the United States and Canada on October 17, 2014.[29][30] The film earned $300,000 from Thursday late night showings from 2,150 theatres[31][32] and $4.9 million on its opening day.[33][34] The film debuted at number three in its opening weekend, earning $17 million at an average of $5,537 per theatre behindFury ($23.5 million) andGone Girl ($17.8 million).[35][36][37][38] The film played 57% female and 54% under the age of 25 years. It played 59% under 10 years old while 31% of tickets sold were in 3D.[39]
In other territories,The Book of Life earned $8.58 million from 3,654 screens in 19 markets. The highest-earning debuts came fromMexico ($3.84 million) andBrazil ($1.98 million).[37] In Mexico, the film was number two behind the local filmPerfect Dictatorship.[40]
OnRotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 82% based on 125 reviews and an average rating of 6.90/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "The Book of Life's gorgeous animation is a treat, but it's a pity that its story lacks the same level of craft and detail that its thrilling visuals provide."[41] OnMetacritic, the film has aweighted average score of 67 out of 100 based on reviews from 27 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[42] Audiences polled byCinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.[33]
Geoff Berkshire ofVariety wrote, "Repping a major step forward for Dallas-based Reel FX Animation Studios (after their anemic feature bow on last year'sFree Birds), the beautifully rendered CG animation brings an unusually warm and heartfelt quality to the high-tech medium and emerges as the film's true calling card."[43] Frank Scheck ofThe Hollywood Reporter wrote, "The Book of Life is a visually stunning effort that makes up for its formulaic storyline with an enchanting atmosphere that sweeps you into its fantastical world, or in this case, three worlds."[44] Simon Abrams ofThe Village Voice wrote that the film's "hackneyed stock plot preaches tolerance while lamely reinforcing the status quo".[45] Marc Snetiker ofEntertainment Weekly gave the film an A−, saying "Overflowing with hyperactive charm and a spectacular sea of colors, it showcases some of the most breathtaking animation we've seen this decade."[46] Claudia Puig ofUSA Today gave the film two-and-a-half stars out of four, saying "The dizzying, intricate imagery is so beautiful, and the Latin-inspired songs catchy enough that the overall effect is often enchanting."[47] Sara Stewart ofThe New York Post gave the film two out of four stars, saying "Just in time for Mexico's Day of the Dead holiday comes this gloriously colorful animated musical, which almost (but not quite) makes up in visuals what it lacks in snappy dialogue."[48] Katie Rife ofThe A.V. Club gave the film a B−, saying "Ultimately, what dragsThe Book Of Life down is its insistence on trying to update an (original) folkloric story for a contemporary audience. In practice, this means adding some pop-cultural touches that only serve to take the viewer out of the fantastic setting."[49]
Michael Ordoña of theSan Francisco Chronicle gave the film three out of five stars, saying "The vibrant animated featureThe Book of Life is a cheeky celebration of Mexican folklore with a solid cast, an irreverent sensibility and gorgeous visuals."[50] Michael O'Sullivan ofThe Washington Post gave the film three out of five stars, saying "The Book of Life may use state-of-the-art animation, but it derives its strength from the wisdom of antiquity. It only looks new, but it's as old as life (and death) itself.[51] Bill Goodykoontz ofThe Arizona Republic gave the film four out of five stars, saying "A visually stunning, funny movie that trusts children to deal with subject matter that many films don't: specifically, death."[52] Frank Lovece ofNewsday gave the film three out of four stars, saying "Funny without being frantic, seamlessly switching from dry humor to slapstick, it shows death as a part of life—and, judging from a preview audience of very young tykes, does so in a gentle, delightful way."[53]Manohla Dargis ofThe New York Times gave the film a negative review, saying "This often beautiful and too-often moribund, if exhaustingly frenetic, feature tends to be less energetic than the dead people waltzing through it."[7] Conversely, Charles Solomon of theLos Angeles Times wrote, "The Book of Life juxtaposes overwrought visual imagery with an undernourished, familiar story—regrettable flaws in one of the few animated films to focus on Latino characters and the rich heritage of Mexican folk culture."[54] Marjorie Baumgarten ofThe Austin Chronicle gave the film two-and-a-half stars out of five, saying "Visually arresting but dramatically rote,The Book of Life at least introduces American kids to the Mexican holiday of Día de los Muertos and should score points with families looking for kid-friendly movies that reflect aspects of their Mexican cultural heritage."[55]
Calvin Wilson of theSt. Louis Post-Dispatch gave the film two-and-a-half stars out of five, saying "The Book of Life is a flawed but intriguing new chapter in animation."[56]James Berardinelli ofReelViews gave the film three out of four stars, saying "The Book of Life moves breezily from one scene to the next, keeping the pace brisk and rarely skipping a beat."[57] Laura Emerick of theChicago Sun-Times gave the film three out of four stars, saying "Whether en ingles o en espanol,The Book of Life is a delight. In an animated universe cluttered with kung-fu pandas, ice princesses and video-game heroes, Gutierrez and del Toro have conjured up an original vision."[58] Tasha Robinson ofThe Dissolve gave the film three-and-a-half stars out of five, saying "It's all flawed, and distracted, and conceptually messy, prioritizing color over common sense and energy over consistency. But as an afternoon's diversion for a handful of misbehaving kids—both within the movie, and within the movie theater—it's authentically winning."[59] Michael Ordoña of theSan Francisco Chronicle wrote, "There are no great surprises, no shocking reveals (except to the characters themselves). But there's so much to appreciate along the way that it's a real page-turner."[50] Kenji Fujishima ofSlant Magazine gave the film two out of four stars, saying "Jorge R. Gutierrez subsumes the film's darker themes in a relentlessly busy farrago of predictable kids'-movie tropes and annoying attempts at hipness."[60] Ben Sachs of theChicago Reader called it "more imaginative than most" but said it is "undone by a surfeit of glib one-liners and pop culture references".[61]
| Award | Category | Recipients | Results | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42nd Annual Annie Awards | Best Animated Feature | The Book of Life | Nominated | [62] |
| Animated Effects in an Animated Production | Augusto Schillaci, Erich Turner, Bill Konersman, Chris Rasch, Joseph Burnette | Nominated | ||
| Character Design in an Animated Feature Production | Paul Sullivan,Sandra Equihua, Jorge R. Gutierrez | Won | ||
| Directing in an Animated Feature Production | Jorge R. Gutierrez | Nominated | ||
| Production Design in an Animated Feature Production | Simon Varela & Paul Sullivan | Nominated | ||
| 4th Behind the Voice Actors Awards | Best Female Lead Vocal Performance in a Feature Film | Zoe Saldaña | Nominated | [63] |
| Best Male Vocal Performance in a Feature Film in a Supporting Role | Ron Perlman | Nominated | ||
| Best Female Vocal Performance in a Feature Film in a Supporting Role | Kate del Castillo | Nominated | ||
| 15th Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Voice Performance | Zoe Saldaña | Nominated | [64] |
| 30th Casting Society of America Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Animation Feature | Christian Kaplan | Nominated | [65] |
| 13th Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards | Best Animated Film | The Book of Life | Nominated | [66] |
| 20th Critics' Choice Awards | Best Animated Feature | Nominated | ||
| 4th Georgia Film Critics Association Awards | Best Animated Film | Nominated | ||
| 72nd Golden Globe Awards | Best Animated Feature Film | Nominated | [67] | |
| 14th Golden Schmoes Awards | Best Animated Movie of the Year | Nominated | [68] | |
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | Best Original Score – Animated Film | Gustavo Santaolalla | Nominated | [69] |
| Outstanding Music Supervision – Film | John Houlihan | Nominated | ||
| 8th Houston Film Critics Society Awards | Best Animated Film | The Book of Life | Nominated | [66] |
| 6th International 3D & Advanced Imaging Society Awards | 3D Feature – Animated | Nominated | [70] | |
| 62nd MPSE Golden Reel Awards | Best Sound Editing – Animated Feature | Nominated | [71] | |
| 46th NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance | Zoe Saldaña | Nominated | [72] |
| 26th Producers Guild of America Awards | Best Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures | Guillermo del Toro andBrad Booker | Nominated | [73] |
| 19th Satellite Awards | Satellite Award for Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature | The Book of Life | Nominated | [74] |
| 11th St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards | Best Animated Film | Nominated | [66] | |
| 13th Visual Effects Society Awards | Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature Motion Picture | "Magical Land of the Remembered" Glo Minaya, Amy Chen, Sean McEwan, Jeff Masters | Nominated | [75] |
| 13th Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards | Best Animated Feature | The Book of Life | Nominated | [66] |
Director Jorge Gutierrez revealed in an interview that one of the ideas for the next chapter in the story involves Joaquin and his relationship with his father. "I had always imagined the first movie to be about Manolo, the second to be about Joaquín and the third one to be about Maria...I've always conceived it as a trilogy."[76] In June 2017, Gutierrez and Reel FX Animation announced that development on the sequel had begun; however, as of June 2019, Gutierrez clarified on Twitter that there are currently no plans for a sequel.[77][78]
Gustavo Santaolalla and I are writing songs for an animated film called 'The Book of Life' for Fox.
