Kung Fu Panda 4, an animated martial arts comedy film, was produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures in 2024. Serving as the fourth installment in the Kung Fu Panda franchise and the sequel to Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016), the film was helmed by Mike Mitchell, with Stephanie Ma Stine as co-director. The screenplay was penned by Darren Lemke and the writing duo Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, while Rebecca Huntley served as producer. The movie stars Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, Bryan Cranston, and Ian McShane reprising their roles, with new additions including Awkwafina, Ke Huy Quan, Ronny Chieng, Lori Tan Chinn, and Viola Davis.
In the storyline, Po (voiced by Black) embarks on a quest to find and train his successor as the new Dragon Warrior. He forms an alliance with fox bandit Zhen (Awkwafina) to thwart the plans of the malevolent sorceress The Chameleon (Davis), who seeks to steal the kung-fu prowess of all masters in China.
The possibility of a fourth Kung Fu Panda film was discussed by directors Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Alessandro Carloni before the release of the third installment in January 2016. DreamWorks officially announced the fourth film in August 2022, with Mitchell, Ma Stine, and Huntley attached as director, co-director, and producer, respectively. The main voice cast was confirmed in December 2023, following Awkwafina’s casting in May of that year. The film premiered at the AMC 14 Theater at The Grove in Los Angeles on March 3, 2024, before its theatrical release in the United States on March 8. It received generally positive reviews from critics and grossed $520 million worldwide, ranking as the third highest-grossing film of 2024.
CHARACTERS
– Jack Black portrays Po, a giant panda who relinquishes his title as the Dragon Warrior to pursue a spiritual path. He also provides the voice for The Chameleon’s imitation of Po.
– Awkwafina voices Zhen, a corsac fox wanted for theft, who accompanies Po on his journey. She also voices The Chameleon’s impersonation of Zhen.
– Viola Davis lends her voice to The Chameleon, a malevolent chameleon sorceress capable of copying others’ kung fu abilities. She is also the adoptive mother of Zhen.
– Dustin Hoffman reprises his role as Master Shifu, a wise red panda and Po’s mentor.
– James Hong returns as Mr. Ping, a Chinese goose and Po’s adoptive father.
– Bryan Cranston voices Li Shan, Po’s biological father.
– Ian McShane portrays Tai Lung, a snow leopard who was once Shifu’s disciple but turned to evil. Tai Lung returns as the secondary antagonist, brought back from the Spirit Realm by The Chameleon. McShane also voices The Chameleon’s imitation of Tai Lung.
– Ke Huy Quan plays Han, a Sunda pangolin who leads a den of thieves.
– Lori Tan Chinn voices Granny Boar, an elderly female boar skilled in using her tusks as weapons.
– Ronny Chieng lends his voice to Captain Fish, a green arowana living in a pelican’s mouth.
– Harry Shum Jr. voices Scott, a fire-breathing crocodile banished to the Spirit Realm by Po.
STORYLINE
In the Valley of Peace, Po assists Li Shan and Mr. Ping in launching their new restaurant. Master Shifu then informs Po that he must progress and assume the role of a spiritual leader, necessitating Po to step down as the Dragon Warrior and seek a worthy successor. Struggling with this decision as he fears losing his status, Po encounters a fox bandit named Zhen attempting to steal ancient weapons from the Jade Palace. Despite outsmarting Zhen and sending her to prison, Po learns from mine workers that Tai Lung has resurfaced and wreaked havoc on a quarry. Zhen discloses that Tai Lung’s return was orchestrated by a sorceress known as The Chameleon, capable of shape-shifting into any creature and replicating various kung fu techniques merely by touch.
With Zhen’s help, Po sets off to confront The Chameleon in Juniper City, unaware that his concerned fathers are trailing them. After a skirmish at a dubious tavern and evading arrest, they reach Juniper City. Seeking refuge in the Den of Thieves, they receive assistance from the den’s leader, Han, who is Zhen’s close associate. Po and Zhen proceed to The Chameleon’s hideout, where Po gets captured. It emerges that Zhen was a double agent for The Chameleon, tasked with acquiring Po’s Staff of Wisdom, which accesses the Spirit Realm. Although Po nearly escapes, The Chameleon, disguised as Zhen, deceives him and pushes him off a cliff. Saved by his fathers, they persuade him that change can be beneficial.
Using the staff, The Chameleon summons deceased kung fu masters and steals their techniques. Zhen rejoins Po, who refuses to relent in facing The Chameleon. They return to the Den of Thieves to seek aid in rescuing Po. In a battle against The Chameleon’s army, Po tries to reason with her to no avail. The conflict escalates, with The Chameleon assuming forms of various kung fu masters. Eventually, Po entrusts Zhen with the Staff of Wisdom, enabling her to defeat The Chameleon. Po, feigning entrapment, overpowers The Chameleon with the staff, restoring the stolen kung fu techniques to their rightful owners, who return to the Spirit Realm, taking The Chameleon with them.
Upon their return to the Valley of Peace, Po selects Zhen as his successor, despite Shifu’s objections. Confident in his decision, Po, along with the Furious Five, aids in training Zhen to assume the role of the next Dragon Warrior.
BOX-OFFICE COLLECTION
As of May 5, 2024, Kung Fu Panda 4 has amassed $188.3 million in the United States and Canada and $331.7 million in other territories, resulting in a global box office total of $520 million.
Upon its release in the United States and Canada, Kung Fu Panda 4 premiered alongside Imaginary and Cabrini, with initial projections estimating a weekend opening of $45–50 million from 3,900 theaters. The film exceeded expectations, earning $19.4 million on its first day, including $3.8 million from Thursday night previews. Its debut weekend saw it grossing $58 million, claiming the top spot at the box office and marking the highest opening weekend for a DreamWorks Animation production since Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted in 2012. In its second weekend, the film maintained its lead with $30.1 million in earnings, albeit experiencing a 48% decline.
