Kung Fu Panda 4
Kung Fu Panda 4 is a 2024 American computer-animated martial arts comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures.[1] It serves as the fourth installment in the Kung Fu Panda franchise, following the adventures of Po, the panda who has become the Dragon Warrior.[1] Directed by Mike Mitchell and co-directed by Stephanie Ma Stine, with a screenplay by Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, and Darren Lemke, the film was released in theaters on March 8, 2024.[1][2] In the story, Po (voiced by Jack Black) is chosen to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace, requiring him to select and train a successor as the next Dragon Warrior.[1] However, he faces a formidable new antagonist, the shape-shifting sorceress known as the Chameleon (Viola Davis), who plots to steal the kung fu powers of defeated villains using Po's Staff of Wisdom to resurrect them.[1] Po teams up with a cunning fox thief named Zhen (Awkwafina) to thwart her plans, blending high-energy action sequences with humor centered on Po's love for noodles and self-discovery.[1] The voice cast also includes returning stars Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu, James Hong as Mr. Ping, Bryan Cranston as Li Shan, and Ian McShane as Tai Lung, alongside newcomers Ke Huy Quan as Han.[1] The film was produced by Rebecca Huntley and features a runtime of 94 minutes, earning a PG rating for mild action violence and rude humor.[1] Upon release, Kung Fu Panda 4 opened to $58.3 million in North America, marking one of the strongest starts for a DreamWorks animated film in recent years.[3] It ultimately grossed $547.9 million worldwide, contributing to the franchise's total earnings of $2.36 billion and solidifying its status as a box office powerhouse despite a modest $85 million budget.[2] Critically, it received mixed reviews, holding a 71% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 165 reviews (as of November 2025), with praise for its vibrant animation and Black's charismatic performance but criticism for a formulaic plot and the absence of some original cast members like Angelina Jolie and Jackie Chan.[4] On Metacritic, it scored 54 out of 100 from 33 critics, indicating average reception.[5] Audience response was more positive, with a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes from verified ratings.[4]Synopsis and cast
Plot
Po, the Dragon Warrior voiced by Jack Black, continues his adventures in the Valley of Peace, where he defeats a massive flying stingray monster terrorizing a lake and rescues a group of piglets. Master Shifu, voiced by Dustin Hoffman, then appoints Po as the new Spiritual Leader, tasking him with finding and training a successor to take his place as Dragon Warrior before ascending to the role. Meanwhile, the Furious Five are away on secret missions.[6][7][8] Meanwhile, a shape-shifting sorceress known as the Chameleon, voiced by Viola Davis, disguised as the defeated villain Tai Lung (voiced by Ian McShane), attacks a mining operation run by ram henchmen, destroying it and asserting her invincibility to instill fear. The Chameleon seeks the mystical Staff of Wisdom to open a portal to the Spirit Realm, allowing her to absorb the kung fu abilities of vanquished masters like Tai Lung, Lord Shen, and Kai, thereby gaining ultimate power to conquer the world. Reports of Tai Lung's apparent return reach the Valley of Peace, prompting Po to investigate. During this time, Po encounters Zhen, a clever corsac fox thief voiced by Awkwafina, whom he catches attempting to steal artifacts from the Jade Palace; rather than imprison her immediately, Po sees potential in her street smarts and agility, enlisting her aid in the quest.[7][6][8] Traveling to the bustling metropolis of Juniper City, Po and Zhen infiltrate the Happy Bunny Tavern, where they confront a gang of thugs led by the Chameleon's forces, leading to a chaotic action sequence involving acrobatic fights amid overturned tables and flying debris. Zhen, revealing her backstory as an orphaned scavenger who honed her skills through survival on the streets, helps Po escape the brawl by commandeering a boat from the fish-like Captain Fish, an arowana informant. Along the way, Po's adoptive goose father Mr. Ping (voiced by James Hong) and biological panda father Li (voiced by Bryan Cranston) tag along uninvited, providing comic relief and familial support while complicating the mission. The duo eventually allies with Han, a Sunda pangolin thief lord voiced by Ke Huy Quan, and his band of criminals, who provide insider knowledge of the city's underbelly.[7][6] Tensions rise when Zhen temporarily betrays Po by stealing the Staff of Wisdom to trade for her freedom, but she has a change of heart upon witnessing the Chameleon's true destructive ambitions. The Chameleon uses the staff to breach the Spirit Realm during a dramatic prison escape sequence where Po and Zhen fight guards in a multi-level tower, dodging traps and scaling walls with improvised kung fu maneuvers. In the Spirit Realm, Po confronts echoes of past masters, gaining wisdom about destiny and inner strength, which reinforces his role as a mentor. The Chameleon successfully siphons the essences of the villains, temporarily resurrecting them as her puppets.[7][8][6] The story culminates in a massive showdown in Juniper City's central square, where the Chameleon summons the empowered villains—Tai Lung, Shen, and Kai—for a high-stakes battle against Po, Zhen, and their allies. Po, embracing his growth from warrior to guide, trains Zhen on the fly, teaching her to channel her innate potential and believe in her own path, echoing themes of mentorship and self-discovery. As the fight intensifies with aerial clashes, energy blasts, and coordinated team attacks, Po appears to sacrifice himself by entering the Spirit Realm fully to confront the absorbed essences directly, but he revives through the collective spirit of the kung fu masters, who reject the Chameleon's control and salute his heroism before returning to the afterlife. With the Chameleon defeated and her portal sealed, Po returns triumphant.[7][6][8] In the resolution, Po selects Zhen as his successor, recognizing her as the new Dragon Warrior destined to carry on the legacy. The Furious Five—Tigress, Viper, Monkey, Mantis, and Crane—reappear briefly in the end-credits scene to assist in Zhen's initial training, underscoring Po's transition into a guiding figure for the next generation.[7][6]Voice cast
The voice cast of Kung Fu Panda 4 includes several returning performers from the franchise alongside newcomers, emphasizing Po's personal growth and new alliances. Jack Black returns as the voice of Po, the panda protagonist who has voiced the character since the original 2008 film.[9] Dustin Hoffman reprises his role as Master Shifu, Po's red panda mentor, a part he has played across all prior installments.[10] Similarly, James Hong voices Mr. Ping, Po's adoptive goose father, continuing from the first three films, while Bryan Cranston returns as Li Shan, Po's biological panda father, introduced in Kung Fu Panda 3.[9] Ian McShane reprises Tai Lung, the snow leopard villain from the first film whose spirit is summoned in this entry.[11] New to the series are Awkwafina as Zhen, a corsac fox and skilled thief who becomes Po's apprentice, and Viola Davis as The Chameleon, the film's shape-shifting sorceress villain.[9] Ke Huy Quan provides the voice for Han, a pangolin leader of a thieves' den, marking his first role in the franchise.[10] Supporting voices include Ronny Chieng as Captain Fish, a green arowana boat captain, and Lori Tan Chinn as Granny Boar, an elderly resident of Juniper City.[9] Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast) makes a cameo as Panda Pig.[11] Notably, the Furious Five—Tigress, Monkey, Viper, Crane, and Mantis—appear only in the end-credits scene but are not voiced by their original actors here, shifting the focus to Po's relationship with Zhen.[9]| Actor | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Black | Po | Returning lead from all films |
| Awkwafina | Zhen | New; Po's fox apprentice |
| Viola Davis | The Chameleon | New; main antagonist |
| Dustin Hoffman | Master Shifu | Returning from all films |
| Bryan Cranston | Li Shan | Returning from Kung Fu Panda 3 |
| James Hong | Mr. Ping | Returning from all films |
| Ian McShane | Tai Lung | Returning from first film |
| Ke Huy Quan | Han | New; pangolin thief leader |
| Ronny Chieng | Captain Fish | New; arowana boat captain |
| Lori Tan Chinn | Granny Boar | New; elderly city resident |
| MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) | Panda Pig | New; cameo |