Swapped (2026)

By: Mike Ward on Friday, May 01

PG Running Time: 102 mins

SHOULD I SEE IT?

YES

  • Swapped looks great with vivid and vibrant animation and a rich attention to detail.

  • Three solid voiceover performances from Michael B. Jordan, Juno Temple, and Tracy Morgan keep you engaged.

  • Works just fine as a family movie night option…

NO

  • …Though it will likely bore parents quickly and give everyone a predictable, easy-to-follow story.

  • Sits perfectly in the space between a passive recommendation and a soft dismissal. Swapped is watchable, but really unremarkable.

  • Lacks a big or powerful moment in the screenplay to really be a meaningful movie that captures the hearts and minds of those watching.


OUR REVIEW

Kids appeared to really like Swapped. The screening I attended had kids laughing at all the right moments, giggling at funny visuals, and (mostly) rapt with attention. Adults, not nearly as much. But Swapped is not exactly aiming for the parents stamp of approval. It doesn’t pander to its target audience, though it does oddly rely on jump scares. Yet, overall, this is about as safe and easy a movie as one can imagine.

Though humans are not involved in the proverbial “swapping” found in this movie, the basics of the story will draw comparisons to Disney’s Hoppers, which is still in theaters as Swapped debuts both in theaters and on Netflix at the same time. 

Screenwriters John Whittington, Christian Magalhaes, and Robert Snow have invented entirely new animal species for their science-fiction comedy. Recent Oscar winner Michael B. Jordan voices Ollie, a young “pookoo,” who is curious and an explorer of the world around him. When he nearly gets swallowed up by a massive fish, his parents (Cedric the Entertainer, Justina Machado) scold and lecture him. However, Ollie soon ventures out and encounters Ivy, a “javan,” or parrot-like bird (Juno Temple).

When they encounter a magical plant, they somehow find themselves “swapped,” and in each other’s bodies. A fish, Boogle, unmistakably voiced by Tracy Morgan, becomes an ally to the duo as they become noticed by a pack of Fire Wolves, who seek to destroy the magical plants and eliminate the ability for animals to gain knowledge about each other. 

For Ollie and Ivy, finding the plant would allow them to return to normal, but doing so proves difficult. Their effort is fraught with battles against menacing beasts and creatures. Plus, someone is secretly leading efforts to destroy the magical plants, but who could it be?

Swapped has ideas it wants to explore. The film touches on themes around identity, acceptance, environmental protection, and finding common ground. Yet it does so with a broad, sweeping brush. On top of that, the score by Emmy-winning composer Siddhartha Khosia is surprisingly distracting. Some scenes feature a giant, symphonic score. Others lean into something more contemporary, and the end credits offer a song that sounds inspired by Irish folk music.

Despite those inconsistencies and a rather obvious plot, Swapped looks fantastic. The animation style blends wonderfully with background shots of sunsets, and forest scenes, and richly detailed character work. If the movie is not exactly thrilling you from a storytelling standpoint, at least director Nathan Greno (Tangled) has given viewers plenty to admire from a visual standpoint.

Jordan and Temple are a solid pair together, though the screenplay and dialogue does not exactly set them up for great success. Morgan’s comical “bull in a china shop”-style performance as Boogle is a joy to experience, even as it gets more unhinged during the film’s third act.

In the end, this is the kind of movie that reviewers often dread writing about. There is nothing objectionable here. The movie is not bad by any stretch and competently directed, edited, designed, and performed. However, there’s nothing especially great about it either. The movie doesn’t really strike a chord emotionally and it's ultimately a rather unremarkable viewing experience. 

As a Netflix pick for a family movie night, Swapped can fit the bill. Somehow it feels like it works both as a straight-to-streaming film and a palatable theatrical experience. However you come across Swapped, temper your expectations, make or buy really good popcorn and grab a blanket or recline your chair to a comfortable position. Swapped will definitely fill the time.   

CAST & CREW

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Juno Temple, Tracy Morgan, Cedric the Entertainer, Justina Machado, Ambika Mod, Lolly Adefope, Táta Vega, Nate Torrence, John Ratzenberger

Director: Nathan Greno
Written by: John Whittington, Christian Magalhaes, Robert Snow (screenplay); John Whittington, Adam Karp, Christian Magalhaes, Robert Snow, Nathan Greno (story)
Release Date: May 1, 2026
Netflix