Disney looks to have another hit on its hands as Raya and the Last Dragon has been officially Certified Fresh by review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes. With 93 reviews counted as of this writing, Raya and the Last Dragon sits at an impressive 96% on the Tomatometer.
The critical consensus reads: "Another gorgeously animated, skillfully voiced entry in the Disney canon, Raya and the Last Dragon continues the studio's increased representation while reaffirming that its classic formula is just as reliable as ever."
In the reviews, Raya and the Last Dragon has been praised for its gorgeous animation, captivating story, and irresistible cast characters. Should Raya continue to hold its impressive score, it would rank among the best-reviewed films from Walt Disney Animation Studios. 2016's Zootopia achieved a 98% score with 293 reviews while Moana sits at a 95% with 282 reviews. We'll continue to track Raya and the Last Dragon's reviews as they come in but it's clear Disney's latest film is being well-received.
Whether or not this will translate to financial success for the House of Mouse is another question though. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has wreaked havoc on the film industry with theaters shutting down, Disney has opted to release Raya and the Last Dragon both in theaters and on its Disney+ streaming service simultaneously.
Given the current climate of the theater industry, it's unlikely that Raya and the Last Dragon will be breaking any box office records but a solid theatrical showing coupled with an impressive haul on Disney+ -- where subscribers will have to pay a $30 premium charge to watch it -- could prove to be a successful formula for Disney.
“Raya and the Last Dragon” takes us on an exciting, epic journey to the fantasy world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons lived together long ago in harmony. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. However, along her journey, she’ll learn that it’ll take more than a dragon to save the world—it’s going to take trust and teamwork as well.
Raya and the Last Dragon arrives in theaters and on Disney+ on March 5, 2021. Only those who watch the movie in theaters will be treated to the theatrical short, Us Again.