Pinocchio

Geppetto, a lonely woodcarver, fashions a puppet he names Pinocchio, who dreams of becoming a real boy. When a magical Blue Fairy intervenes, Pinocchio is granted a chance to prove himself, and a cricket named Jiminy is appointed as his conscience. The puppet leaves Geppetto and encounters a string of tempting choices, from flattering strangers to flashy distractions, each testing his honesty and courage. Along the way he forms fragile friendships, learns about love and responsibility, and forces Geppetto to act out of devotion. The story follows Pinocchio's attempts to understand what being human means, while avoiding spoilers about how his trials resolve or how relationships change by the end.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis and written in part by Chris Weitz, this 2022 live-action adaptation draws on Carlo Collodi's classic tale. The cast includes Tom Hanks as Geppetto, Cynthia Erivo as the Blue Fairy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt voicing Jiminy Cricket, and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Pinocchio. It was produced for Disney and released in 2022.

The film did not collect major awards or Oscar nominations, so it wasn't a big presence during awards season, though some of the performances and production choices received attention in reviews.

Pinocchio reignited conversation about Disney's recent trend of live-action remakes, prompting fans and critics to debate faithfulness to the original material and the balance between practical and digital effects. The movie's visual style and casting choices were often central to online discussion, and Jiminy Cricket's role as conscience renewed interest in the character for a new generation.

Critics and audiences responded unevenly, reflected in an aggregate vote average of about 6.3 out of 10. Praise tended to focus on the heart of the story and some performances, while criticism aimed at pacing and visual effects. Core themes include honesty, parental love, and moral growth, presented in a family-friendly way that leans into whimsy as much as moral lessons.