| Vanellope & Friends: Big City Vacation | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Mike Mitchell |
| Produced by | Stephen Swofford |
| Screenplay by | John Whittington James V. Hart |
| Story by | John Whittington James V. Hart Rob Renzetti Chris A. Bailey Viki Anderson |
| Starring | Sarah Silverman Owen Laramore Chloë Grace Moretz Anya Taylor-Joy Justin Timberlake Mary-Kate Olsen Jada Pinkett Smith Will Ferrell Kaitlyn Porras Ginnifer Goodwin Ed O'Neill |
| Music by | Mark Mothersbaugh |
| Cinematography | Stuart Dryburgh |
| Edited by | Wendy Greene Bricmont Carsten Kurpanek |
| Production companies |
Walt Disney Pictures Dice Productions |
| Distributed by | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
| Release date | October 21, 2026 |
| Running time | 112 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $200 million |
| Box office | $1.430 billion |
Vanellope & Friends: Big City Vacation is a 2026 American computer-animated adventure buddy superhero film produced by Dice Productions and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The sequel to 2025's Vanellope & Friends: Valentine's Day and the fifthteenth installment in the Vanellope & Friends franchise, it was directed by Mike Mitchell. It features an ensemble voice cast consisting of Sarah Silverman, Owen Laramore Chloë Grace Moretz, Anna Taylor-Joy, Justin Timberlake, Mary-Kate Olsen, Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Ferrell, Kaitlyn Porras, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Ed O'Neill. In the film, Vanellope and her friends go on vacation in the big city of Sandshore, where Vanellope von Schweetz and four new friends get involved in a daring superhero mission: a confrontation against a human/robot hybrid who secretly wants to upgrade Sandshore to his new technological marvel.
Vanellope & Friends: Big City Vacation was released in the United States on October 21, 2026, in time for the franchise's tenth anniversary. The film received acclaim from critics and audiences, who praised the writing, humor, animation, voice acting, action sequences, and Mark Mothersbaugh's musical score. It was a box office success, grossing $301 million in the first day, $525 million in the opening weekend and a total of $1.430 billion worldwide, becoming the third-highest film released by Dice, the second highest-grossing Vanellope & Friends film, the third highest-grossing film of 2026, and the highest-grossing animated film of that same year. It was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. A sequel, Vanellope & Friends: Up in Outer Space, was released on August 27, 2027.
Plot[]
After the events of the previous film, Vanellope von Schweetz, Lawrence Broderick Pierce, Bethany Hayden Pierce, Judy Hopps, and Hank take a vacation in the big city of Sandshore. They reach Sandshore's finest hotel, Grand Vista, where they will stay for three days. Joining their stay is a peacock named Francesca Feathers. Since they have already left Disneyville, Lawrence advises Vanellope to be on her best behavior, as he wants the vacation to be the most perfect vacation for his family.
When the gang go on a walk through Sandshore to present the robotic dog Lawrence built to a human/robot hybrid named CyBoy, the owner of Tech. Co., a technology company. Suspicious of CyBoy and believing she is not meant for Lawrence's way of the vacation, Vanellope leaves the family to make new friends, Vanellope meets a streetwise purple squirrel superhero named RadRodent, Taffyta Muttonfudge, and three kittens named Eva, Geraldine, and Isabella. The kittens want to be superheroes like RadRodent. Vanellope decides to introduce them to her family. Lawrence tells Vanellope to take them back, saying that talking to strangers and stealing someone else's pets does not give her much potential in making new friends, but she ignores him.
Vanellope, RadRodent, and Taffyta take the kittens to a potion maker and scientist named Professor Mailio. Mailio makes a potion that gives the kittens superpowers. Eva becomes super strong, Geraldine is given the power to create flowers, plants, and trees, and Isabella can now create force fields. Vanellope, RadRodent, Taffyta, and the kittens (now named Pinkpoppy, GreenGrass, and Bluebubble) go to Tech. Co, where GreenGrass accidentally creates a tree with some of the costumers' kids about to fall. Although RadRodent and the kittens are able to save the kids, Tech. Co. is a wreck and Lawrence's robotic dog is destroyed, angering Lawrence. Not long after, the kittens' mother (whose kids Vanellope unknowingly stole), takes her kittens, along with Vanellope.
As Lawrence, Beth, Judy, Hank, Taffyta, RadRodent, and Francesca pursue Mother Cat. RadRodent offers to help the gang find Vanellope, to which Lawrence reluctantly agrees. The gang enters a cave called Crystal Cavern, where they find a mystical magic gemstone. The cave suddenly begins to crumble, and Beth is about to plummet over the edge of the cave's crumbling bridge into a vast chasm. RadRodent throws a rope for Beth to grab at the last moment, and they all manage to escape before the cave crumbles. In the meantime, Vanellope and the mother cat try to outdo each other in feeding the kittens. Vanellope loses this contest, but is welcomed into the cat family regardless. The next morning, RadRodent, Lawrence, Beth, Judy, Hank, Taffyta, and Francesca eventually find Vanellope and the cat family. Vanellope blames herself for her recklessness in disobeying Lawrence, but he tells her he did not understand that while she is herself in Disneyville, she is herself in Sandshore as well.
A shape of Mailio appears, only to reveal himself as CyGuy in disguise. His bodyguard, Mr Jones, CyGuy uses a disintegration gun to transport CyGuy and the gang to Tech. Co., where Mailio is revealed to have been trapped to be run over and killed by a train. CyGuy sends his robot assistant, Nyno, to place the gemstone on a Tech. Co. satellite that is set to emit an energy beam to Sandshore to upgrade everyone into human/robot hybrids. The potion's effects suddenly wear off, causing the kittens to slowly lose their powers. Despite the loss of their powers, the kittens, with help from the gang, rescue Mailio from the train, whilst Vanellope and RadRodent chase Nyno into outer space. When Nyno incapacitates Vanellope with his bubble gun, RadRodent saves her and plugs the satelite's dish, destroying the satelite. The beam strikes CyGuy, instantly destroying him.
Vanellope and RadRodent return to Sandshore, where the citizens congratulate the gang. Lawrence finally admits to Vanellope that she did a good job looking after the kittens. The gang, now including RadRodent, Taffyta, the cat family, and Francesca, end their vacation with a car trip back to Disneyville.
Cast[]
- Sarah Silverman as Vanellope von Schweetz, a resident of Disneyville. When she becomes a superhero called Va-Nella-Pita, she has super strength, the sword of service, and rocket boots that allow her to fly.
- Owen Laramore as Ryan Oliver West, Beth's brother and one of Vanellope's friends. When he becomes a superhero named Ryan Lion Pride-on near the end of the film, he gains the ability to shapeshift into a mighty lion.
- Anya Taylor-Joy as Taffyta Muttonfudge, a resident of Sandshore and a fan of Bolt whom Vanellope befriends and is determined to become the successor to her retiring mentor, Bolt. When she is the superhero called LoliPoPink, she gains a loliPop-like scepter and the ability to create lolipop-like shapes.
- Justin Timberlake as Rancis Fluggerbutter, a resident of Sandshore, another fan of Bolt, and Taffyta's friend. When he becomes the superhero called ButterBuddy, he gains a blaster that shoots explosive butter and the ability to see very far.
- Mary-Kate Olsen as Candlehead, a resident of Sandshore, another fan of Bolt, and Taffyta's other friend. When she becomes the superhero called BurnCandle, she has super speed and the ability to unleash fire with the candle on her head when scared or angry.
- Kaitlyn Porras as Bethany Hayden Banks, Ryan's girlfriend and one of Vanellope's friends. When she becomes a superhero named Hayden-ja near the end of the film, she gets shuriken, Ninjato, swords, and the abilities of a ninja.
- Ginnifer Goodwin as Judy Hopps, a bunny who is a resident of Disneyville and one of Vanellope's friends. When she becomes a superhero called Far-Hops near the end of the film, she gets the ability to hop very high and far.
- Ed O'Neill as Hank, an octopus who is a resident of Disneyville and one of Vanellope's friends. When he becomes a superhero called Flexi-pus near the end of the film, he gets the ability to stretch his tentacles far.
- Jada Pinkett Smith as Professor Cyrus, a turkey who is the queen of Super Quart, a scientist, potion maker, and shapeshifter, who creates a potion that gives the group superpowers.
- Will Ferrell as CyGuy, a human/robot hybrid and Tech. Co.'s owner who secretly intends to upgrade everyone to his level.
- Andy Nyman as Nyno, a white robot and CyGuy's loyal but dimwitted assistant.
- Neal McDonough as Mr. Heaven Feathers, a peacock and the owner of Grand Vista.
- Brooklynn Prince as Little Jenny, a girl who the kittens save.
- Cobie Smudlers as Little Jenny's mother
Reception[]
Box office[]
In the United States, Vanellope & Friends: Big City Vacation was projected to gross $180--230 million in its opening weekend. The film has earned $640 million in North America and $790 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $1.430 billion, against a budget of $200 million budget.
Critical response[]
Vanellope & Friends: Big City Vacation received critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 97% approval rating based on 156 reviews. The site's consensus reads, "A well-chosen cast, impressive animation, a sense of the series' classic charm, and spectacular superhero sequences provide the youngsters with plenty of entertainment in Vanellope & Friends: Big City Vacation". On Metacritic, the film has a score of 90 out of 100 based on 55 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.