Main Voice Cast and Character Roles
The animated sequel features a returning ensemble of voice actors who reprise their roles from the original film. Nicolas Cage stars as Grug Crood, the overprotective patriarch of the prehistoric family. Emma Stone voices Eep, the adventurous eldest daughter who often challenges her father's rules. Ryan Reynolds provides the voice for Guy, the inventive outsider who joins the Crood family on their journey. Cloris Leachman, before her passing, voiced Gran, the sassy and resourceful grandmother, while Catherine Keener voices Ugga, Grug's wife. Peter Dinklage portrays Phil Betterman, a more modern-thinking rival and friend to the family. The Forbes review of the film highlights the chemistry between the original and new cast members.
New additions to the voice cast include Leslie Mann as Hope Betterman, Phil's wife, and Peter Dinklage as her husband. The film introduces several new creatures and minor characters, voiced by a supporting ensemble that includes Kiff VandenHeuvel and others. The casting process focused on finding voices that could convey both comedic timing and emotional depth for the prehistoric setting. DreamWorks Animation oversaw the casting to ensure continuity with the first film's established tone and character dynamics.
Production Companies and Franchise Context
DreamWorks Animation produced the sequel, with distribution handled by Universal Pictures. The studio is a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, which operates under the larger conglomerate Comcast. The original film, The Croods, was released in 2013 and grossed over $587 million worldwide, leading to the development of the sequel. The official Universal Pictures page for the film lists the production details and franchise roadmap. The sequel, titled The Croods: A New Age, premiered in November 2020 and continues the family's adventures in a more evolved prehistoric world.
The franchise extends beyond the films into a television series titled The Croods: Family Tree, which streams on Peacock and Netflix in different regions. The series features many of the same voice actors, maintaining continuity between the film and television properties. DreamWorks Animation's parent company, NBCUniversal, integrates these properties across its streaming and theme park divisions to build a multi-platform entertainment ecosystem.
Release Performance and Audience Reception
The Croods: A New Age earned a worldwide box office total of approximately $216 million, according to public box office tracking data. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a score of around 77% based on reviews from professional critics. Audience scores on major platforms indicate strong approval from families and fans of the original film. The Rotten Tomatoes page for the film aggregates critic and audience scores to provide a clear reception metric.
The film's performance is often compared to the original's box office figures, with the sequel earning less but still turning a profit given its production budget. DreamWorks Animation continues to leverage the Croods property as part of its broader animated franchise portfolio, which includes Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, and Kung Fu Panda. The studio's strategy focuses on building long-term value through sequels, spin-offs, and cross-platform content to maximize the commercial potential of successful animated properties.