Animated feature film maestro Brad Bird has unveiled his slick neo-noir, Ray Gunn, at the 2026 BFI London Film Festival.
Film News Blitz was on the ground at the world premiere, ahead of the film’s first public screening at the festival.
Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson and Tom Waits lead an all-star voice cast in this retro-futuristic murder mystery, billed as an animated feature for grown-ups.
What is ‘Ray Gunn’ about?
Rockwell is Ray Gunn, a former cop turned private investigator living in a retro-futuristic metropolis where humans and aliens co-exist, although the latter are treated as a lower class of citizens (one of several mature themes that set the film apart from a children’s animated film).
Gunn and his alien partner Eye-Ra (Waits) are down on their luck and out of money.
Gunn won’t betray his ethics to make profit.
But when a case lands on his doorstep from the jilted husband of a world-famous, but difficult pop star (Johansson’s Venus Nova), Gunn is happy to take the payday.
Alas, he soon finds himself embroiled in a much wider and culturally significant murder mystery, where his life and heart are at stake.
A slick neo-noir
When it comes to world-building, Bird is a master in the animation realm.
His previous works include The Iron Giant, The Incredibles and Ratatouille.
Moreover, his live-action work also includes the rip-roaring Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.
Bird blends all his passions here, and Ray Gunn leans into The Incredibles‘ animation style with an extra layer of sheen.
The retro-futuristic alternate-1939 backdrop is full of flying cars, sharp suits, fancy dresses, and a sprawling cityscape.
Gunn, as a character, is a typically wrought noir hero who, during the late 1930s/early 40s, you could easily see played by Humphrey Bogart.
Eye-ra is the PI’s loyal sidekick, Venus Nova the femme fatale and the rest of the cast all fit into their noir labels seamlessly (goons and all).
There’s a lot to like about Bird’s film.
It’s entertaining, funny and full of zippy action set pieces.
More importantly, Rockwell’s Gunn is a hero you can easily get behind.
Juggling several themes in a clearly signposted plot
Alas, Ray Gunn isn’t perfect.
The read-up among us will know that this film is coming to Netflix, just a week before Christmas.
Netflix has long been accused of presenting films that are easy to follow for second-screen viewers.
Look down at your phone, doomscroll, look back up, and pick up where you left off without confusion.
What that means for Ray Gunn is that every twist and turn in this murder mystery is so clearly signposted that the audience is several steps ahead of the film at every moment.
Moreover, there are a lot of themes being tackled in this film, from xenophobia to media intrusion and how technology can be used to replicate artistic endeavours without consent (ahem, looking at you, AI).
Kudos to Ray Gunn for tackling these important themes, but it never really settles on one long enough to go further than surface level.
The verdict
Despite a clearly sign-posted plot and some mismanagement of multiple themes, Ray Gunn is an incredibly crowd-pleasing effort offering plenty for audiences to enjoy.
You’ll laugh, you’ll care, and you’ll marvel at the entertaining display that Bird has conjured.
What’s more, Rockwell, Johansson and Waits are joined by a delicious cast of lovable performers, including Alan Tudyk, Matt Berry, Bobby Cannavale and Michelle Rodriguez.
So despite its pitfalls, Ray Gunn will make you smile, and you can tell that was Bird’s mission.
Ray Gunn is in cinemas on 4 December and on Netflix on 18 December.
You can guarantee that this will be a Christmas family favourite.
Rating: 7 out of 10
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