The Bad Guys is a 2022 American computer-animated crime comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures. The film was directed by Pierre Perifel (in his feature directorial debut) from a screenplay by Etan Cohen, and is loosely based on the children's book series of the same name by Aaron Blabey. The film stars the voices of Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Richard Ayoade, Zazie Beetz, Alex Borstein, and Lilly Singh. It tells the story of a group of criminal animals who, upon being caught, pretend to attempt to reform themselves as model citizens, only for their leader to find himself genuinely drawn to changing his ways as a new villain has his own plans.
The Bad Guys was released in several countries beginning March 16, 2022, and in the United States on April 22, in 2D and RealD 3D formats. It received generally positive reviews from critics and has grossed over $165 million worldwide, making it the ninth highest-grossing film of 2022. A sequel, titled The Bad Guys: Mission Unpluckable, was released on October 27, 2028.
Plot[]
In a fictional Los Angeles where humans and anthropomorphic animals coexist, the Bad Guys, a gang of notorious criminal animals led by the cool-headed Mr. Wolf and known for their brazen thefts while eluding the authorities, attempt to steal the Golden Dolphin award at a gala from guinea pig philanthropist Professor Rupert Marmalade IV after being insulted by Governor Diane Foxington on TV. During the heist, Wolf takes some free time to pickpocket various people but inadvertently helps an old woman and is praised for the good deed, leading to Wolf finding himself affected by his wrongdoings. After the gang is exposed and arrested, Wolf persuades Marmalade with Foxington's approval to reform them, planning to take advantage of the pretense to try to steal the award again.
Marmalade invites the Bad Guys to his home, but his lessons prove a struggle with them, seemingly unable to adapt to the concept of good behavior. After a "heist for good" to rescue a herd of guinea pigs from a research lab fails due to Wolf's second-in-command Mr. Snake eating them, Foxington decides to call off the experiment but relents when Wolf confesses that he despises being hated for his species, with Foxington admitting that she understands him and that she has hope for him. Wolf contemplates the matter and finds himself rescuing a cat from a tree, which Marmalade records and publishes, turning the public image of the Bad Guys around. However, Snake fears he is losing touch with his friend.
When the Bad Guys execute a new heist to steal the award again, Wolf cannot bring himself to finish the plan. Suddenly, a meteorite on display is stolen, causing the Bad Guys to be blamed for its theft. When the gang is arrested once again, Marmalade meets them in private and reveals that he stole the meteorite and was disguised as the old lady Wolf helped earlier, to manipulate the gang into taking the blame. In prison, Wolf explains to his gang that he doesn't want to be a criminal anymore, infuriating Snake into attacking him until the Crimson Paw, a notorious criminal, rescues them, revealing herself to be Foxington, who reformed when she attempted to steal the award herself.
Upon reaching safety, the Bad Guys bitterly abandon Wolf for betraying them. When they return to their hideout, they find it completely emptied of their loot, as Wolf revealed its location to Foxington earlier as compensation for his crimes. After Snake willingly gives Mr. Shark his last possession out of kindness, the other Bad Guys realize that they can change their ways and proceed to help Wolf, though Snake denies it and abandons them to ally with Marmalade, who plans to use the meteorite's power to control an army of hypnotized guinea pigs into robbing charity funds.
Meanwhile, Wolf and Foxington break into Marmalade's home to steal the meteorite, only to be captured by Marmalade and Snake. Before the two can be finished off, they are rescued by the remainder of the Bad Guys. They then take the meteorite and proceed to foil Marmalade's plans. After a hectic effort, the Bad Guys arrive at the police station to turn in the meteorite until they decide to go after Snake and bring him back despite his betrayal. During the chase, Marmalade turns on Snake and the Bad Guys risk their lives to save him, bargaining with Marmalade for his safety in exchange for the meteorite.
After rescuing Snake and defeating Marmalade, the Bad Guys surrender themselves to the authorities and prevent Foxington from revealing her former criminal past. Marmalade attempts to take credit for recovering the meteorite, but it is revealed to be a fake planted by a secretly redeemed Snake, having destroyed the real one along with Marmalade's mansion. When the fake meteorite falls on Marmalade, a diamond he stole from Foxington falls out, which authorities realize was stolen by the Crimson Paw years ago; Marmalade is framed as a result, destroying his reputation and leading to his arrest.
One year later, the Bad Guys are released from prison in light of their good behavior, partnering up with Foxington as they begin their new crime-fighting careers.
Voice cast[]
- Sam Rockwell as Mr. Wolf, a witty, charming, pickpocket gray wolf and the leader of the "Bad Guys" gang, who also acts as the crew's getaway driver.
- Marc Maron as Mr. Snake, a sarcastic and cynical safe-cracking eastern brown snake, Mr. Wolf's second-in-command, and best friend.
- Awkwafina as Ms. Tarantula, a sharp-tongued and sarcastic expert hacker redknee tarantula also known as "Webs" or "Mata Hairy", the smallest and only female member of the gang.
- Craig Robinson as Mr. Shark, a childish and sensitive master-of-disguise great white shark and the biggest member of the gang.
- Anthony Ramos as Mr. Piranha, a Bolivian red-bellied piranha, the short-fused, loose-cannon "muscle", and the youngest of the gang.
- Richard Ayoade as Professor Rupert Marmalade IV, a pompous guinea pig philanthropist who suggests that Mr. Wolf's group start doing "good deeds" while having a villainous agenda of his own.
- Barbara Goodson voices an old woman that Mr. Wolf intended to pickpocket who is later revealed to have been a disguise piloted by Marmalade.
- Zazie Beetz as Diane Foxington / "The Crimson Paw", a red fox governor who is later revealed to be a former lady thief, and Mr. Wolf's love interest.
- Alex Borstein as Misty Luggins, the hot-tempered human chief of police who is determined to arrest the Bad Guys at any given notice.
- Lilly Singh as Tiffany Fluffit, a local human news reporter with the tendency to exaggerate her reports.