View source for Bee Movie

{{Short description|2007 DreamWorks Animation film}}
{{About|the film|the video game based on the film|Bee Movie Game}}
{{Redirect|Barry Benson|the Mississippi politician|Barry W. Benson}}
{{Distinguish|Maya the Bee (film){{!}}''Maya the Bee'' (film)|B movie}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| image       = Bee Movie (2007 animated feature film).jpg
| caption     = Theatrical release poster
| director    = {{Plainlist|
* [[Simon J. Smith]]
* [[Steve Hickner]]
}}
| writer      = {{Plainlist|
* [[Jerry Seinfeld]]
* [[Spike Feresten]]
* [[Barry Marder]]
* [[Andy Robin]]
}}
| producer    = {{Plainlist|
* Jerry Seinfeld
* Christina Steinberg
}}
| starring    = {{Plainlist|<!--Per poster-->
* Jerry Seinfeld
* [[Renée Zellweger]]
}}
| editing     = [[Nick Fletcher (film editor)|Nick Fletcher]]
| music       = [[Rupert Gregson-Williams]]
| studio      = {{Plainlist|
* [[DreamWorks Animation]]
* Columbus 81 Productions
}}
| distributor = [[Paramount Pictures]]{{efn|name=Distributor}}
| released    = {{Film date|2007|10|25|New York City|2007|11|2|United States}}
| runtime     = 91 minutes
| country     = United States
| language    = English
| budget      = $150{{nbsp}}million<ref name="BOM">{{Cite web |title=Bee Movie |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1984202241/ |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref>
| gross       = $293.5{{nbsp}}million<ref name="BOM" />
}}

'''''Bee Movie''''' is a 2007 American animated [[comedy film]] produced by [[DreamWorks Animation]] and Columbus 81 Productions, and distributed by [[Paramount Pictures]].{{efn|name=Distributor|In July 2014, the film's distribution rights were purchased by DreamWorks Animation from [[Paramount Pictures]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chney|first1=Alexandra|title=DreamWorks Animation Q2 Earnings Fall Short of Estimates, SEC Investigation Revealed|url=https://variety.com/2014/biz/news/dreamworks-animation-q2-earnings-fall-short-of-estimates-1201271262/|access-date=July 30, 2014|work=Variety|date=July 29, 2014|archive-date=August 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812201831/http://variety.com/2014/biz/news/dreamworks-animation-q2-earnings-fall-short-of-estimates-1201271262/|url-status=live}}</ref> and transferred to [[20th Century Fox]] before reverting to [[Universal Pictures]] in 2018 following [[NBCUniversal]]'s acquisition of DreamWorks Animation in 2016.}} Directed by [[Simon J. Smith]] and [[Steve Hickner]] from a screenplay by the writing team of [[Jerry Seinfeld]], [[Spike Feresten]], [[Barry Marder]] and [[Andy Robin]], it stars the voices of Seinfeld and [[Renée Zellweger]]. The film depicts a civilization of anthropomorphic [[bee]]s; it centers on Barry B. Benson (Seinfeld), a honey bee who tries to sue the human race for exploiting bees after learning from his new florist friend Vanessa Bloome (Zellweger) that humans sell and consume honey.

''Bee Movie'' debuted in New York City on October 25, 2007, and was released in theaters in the United States on November 2. It grossed $293.5 million worldwide on a budget of $150 million. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its humor and voice cast but criticized its plot and lack of originality. Nevertheless, it has since gained a [[cult following]], partly driven by [[Internet meme]]s of the film shared on [[social media]], which most often lampoon the film's surreal premise, script and celebrity cameos.

==Plot==
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries for feature films should be between 400 to 700 words. Please check the word count before making any additions. -->
Barry B. Benson, an idealistic [[honey bee]] who has the [[Anthropomorphism|ability to talk to humans]], has recently graduated from college and is about to enter the hive's honey-making workforce, Honex Industries, with his best friend, Adam Flayman. Barry is initially excited, but his ambitious, [[Insubordination|insubordinate]] attitude emerges upon discovering that his choice of job will never change once picked. Later, the two bees run into a group of pollen jocks, bees who collect pollen from flowers outside the hive, and they offer to take Barry with them if he is "bee enough". While on his first pollen-gathering expedition in New York City, Barry gets lost in the rain, and ends up on the windowsill of a human [[Floristry|florist]] named Vanessa Bloome. Upon noticing Barry, Vanessa's boyfriend Ken attempts to squash him, but Vanessa gently catches and releases Barry outside, saving his life.

Barry later returns to express his gratitude to Vanessa, breaking the sacred law that bees are not to communicate with humans. Barry and Vanessa develop a close friendship, bordering on attraction, and spend time together. When he and Vanessa are in a grocery store, Barry discovers that the humans have been stealing and eating the bees' honey for centuries. He decides to journey to Honey Farms, which supplies the grocery store with its honey. Incredulous at the poor treatment of the bees in the hives, including the use of [[bee smoker]]s to incapacitate colonies, Barry decides to sue the human race to put an end to exploitation of the bees, with Vanessa agreeing to help.

Barry's mission attracts wide attention from bees and humans alike, with countless spectators attending the trial. Although Barry is up against tough defense attorney Layton T. Montgomery, the trial's first day goes well. That evening, Barry is having dinner with Vanessa when Ken shows up. Vanessa leaves the room, and Ken expresses to Barry that he hates the pair spending time together. When Barry leaves to use the restroom, Ken ambushes and attempts to kill him, only for Vanessa to intervene and break up with Ken. The second day at the trial, Montgomery unleashes an unrepentant [[character assassination]] against the bees, leading a deeply offended Adam to sting him. Montgomery immediately exaggerates the stinging to make himself seem the victim of an assault while simultaneously tarnishing Adam. Adam's actions jeopardize the bees' credibility and his life, though he recovers. The third day, Barry wins the trial by exposing the jury to the torturous treatment of bees, particularly use of the smoker, and prevents humans from stealing honey from bees ever again. Having lost the trial, Montgomery cryptically warns Barry that a negative shift of nature is imminent.

Sure enough, human-obtained honey being returned in overload to the hives leads to Honex stopping honey production and all bees, including the vitally important pollen jocks, put out of a job, and all the world's flowers begin to die out without any pollination. Before long, the last remaining flowers on earth are being stockpiled in [[Pasadena, California]], intended for the last [[Tournament of Roses Parade]]. Barry and Vanessa travel to the parade and steal a float, which they load onto a plane. They hope to bring the flowers to the bees so they can re-pollinate the world's last remaining flowers. When the plane's captain explains that the flight will be delayed due to bad weather, Barry attempts to talk to the pilots, only for them to knock each other out while attempting to kill Barry. With help from Barry and the bees from Barry's hive, Vanessa is able to land the plane safely.

Barry becomes a member of the pollen jocks, and they fly off to a flower patch. Armed with the pollen of the last flowers, Barry and the Pollen Jocks reverse the damage and save the world's plants, restarting the bees' honey production. Later on, Barry runs a law firm at Vanessa's flower shop titled "Insects at Law", which handles disputes between animals and humans. While selling flowers to customers, Vanessa offers certain brands of honey that are "bee-approved".

==Voice cast==
{{div col}}
* [[Jerry Seinfeld]] as Barry B. Benson
* [[Renée Zellweger]] as Vanessa Bloome
* [[Matthew Broderick]] as Adam Flayman
* [[John Goodman]] as Layton T. Montgomery
* [[Patrick Warburton]] as Ken
* [[Chris Rock]] as Mooseblood the Mosquito
* [[Kathy Bates]] as Janet B. Benson
* [[Barry Levinson]] as Martin B. Benson
* [[Megan Mullally]] as Trudy, Honex Tour Guide
* [[Rip Torn]] as Pollen Jocks General Lou Lo Duca
* [[Oprah Winfrey]] as Judge Bumbleton
* [[Michael Richards]] as Bud Ditchwater
* [[Larry King]] as Bee Larry King, a fictionalized bee version of himself
* [[Larry Miller (comedian)|Larry Miller]] as Dean Buzzwell
* [[Jim Cummings]] as Title Narrator and Graduation Announcer
* David Moses Pimentel as Hector
* Chuck Martin as Andy
* Brian Hopkins as Sandy Shrimpkin and TSA Agent
* [[John DiMaggio]] as Bailiff and Janitor
* [[Tress MacNeille]] as Jeanette Chung, Mother and Cow
* [[Simon J. Smith]] as Truck Driver and Chet
* [[Ray Liotta]] as Himself
* [[Sting (musician)|Sting]] as Himself
* [[Robert Jayne]] as Bee (''only credited with ADR Group'')
* [[Carl Kasell]] as Himself (''uncredited'')
{{div col end}}

==Production==
{{expand section|date=November 2021|small=no}}
The development of ''Bee Movie'' began in 2003, when [[Steven Spielberg]] approached [[DreamWorks Animation]] CEO and co-founder [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]] after [[Jerry Seinfeld]] asked him to make an animated film featuring insects. Seinfeld spent a week in Los Angeles working on it. Teleconferencing system HP Halo was installed in Seinfeld's office in New York, enabling him to work on the film and interact between coasts. Seinfeld said he set the film in New York because it was "the [[Tigris–Euphrates river system|Tigris and Euphrates]] of comedy", and Katzenberg was the main reason for making the film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Strike |first=Joe |date=November 2, 2007 |title=''Bee Movie'': A Seinfeldian Society |url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/bee-movie-seinfeldian-society |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211125113750/https://www.awn.com/animationworld/bee-movie-seinfeldian-society |archive-date=November 25, 2021 |access-date=November 25, 2021 |website=[[Animation World Network]]}}</ref> The budget was approximately $150{{nbsp}}million.<ref name="BOM" /> Spielberg appeared in two live-action trailers for this film in November 2006 and early 2007 where he interacted with Seinfeld, who wore a bee costume. Using these trailers as a basis, promotional live-action short skits surrounding the production of the movie, branded as ''Bee Movie TV Juniors'', would air on [[NBC]] during their [[Fall schedule|Fall]] [[Prime time|primetime]] lineup.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ball |first=Ryan |date=2007-05-17 |title=Bee Movie Shorts to Sting NBC |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2007/05/bee-movie-shorts-to-sting-nbc/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Animation Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Release==
''Bee Movie'' debuted in New York City on October 25, 2007,<ref name="BOM" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=''Bee Movie'' premiere |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/bee-movie-premiere-gallery-1.98555 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211101140127/https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/bee-movie-premiere-gallery-1.98555 |archive-date=November 1, 2021 |access-date=November 2, 2021 |website=[[New York Daily News]]}}</ref> followed by a premiere on October 28, in Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 29, 2007 |title=''Bee Movie'' Premiere In L.A. |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/bee-movie-premiere-in-la/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211101140334/https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/bee-movie-premiere-in-la/13/ |archive-date=November 1, 2021 |access-date=November 2, 2021 |website=[[CBS News]]}}</ref> It was released in the United States on November 2.<ref>{{Cite web |last=LaPorte |first=Nicole |date=April 27, 2005 |title=''Bee'' buzzes into '07 |url=https://variety.com/2005/digital/markets-festivals/bee-buzzes-into-07-1117921777/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211101140215/https://variety.com/2005/digital/markets-festivals/bee-buzzes-into-07-1117921777/ |archive-date=November 1, 2021 |access-date=November 2, 2021 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> The film was produced by DreamWorks Animation and Columbus 81 Productions, and distributed by [[Paramount Pictures]]{{efn|name=Distributor}}.<ref name="AFI">{{Cite web |title=''Bee Movie'' |url=http://catalog.afi.com/Film/64155-BEE-MOVIE?sid=25216e22-8c29-460f-8559-7d55a00fff88 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211125120554/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/64155-BEE-MOVIE?sid=25216e22-8c29-460f-8559-7d55a00fff88 |archive-date=November 25, 2021 |access-date=July 12, 2021 |website=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]]}}</ref><ref name="VarietyReview">{{Cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Todd |date=October 28, 2007 |title=Review: ''Bee Movie'' |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2007/digital/reviews/bee-movie-1200555014/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623222239/https://variety.com/2007/digital/reviews/bee-movie-1200555014/ |archive-date=June 23, 2018}}</ref> ''[[Bee Movie Game]]'' was released in October 2007 for multiple platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 30, 2007 |title=''Bee Movie Game'' |url=https://www.ign.com/games/bee-movie-game |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211024072902/https://www.ign.com/games/bee-movie-game |archive-date=October 24, 2021 |access-date=October 24, 2021 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref>

[[Brach's]] sold ''Bee Movie'' candy corn "made with real honey" and also held a sweepstakes with the grand prize being a trip for four to New York City. General Mills placed cereal spoons and hand buzzers inside cereal boxes promoting ''Bee Movie''. Customers could save 50 cents if they bought two [[Fruit by the Foot]], [[Fruit Gushers]], and [[Fruit Roll-Ups]] products featuring ''Bee Movie'' on their packaging. McDonald's offered six ''Bee Movie'' toys in its Happy Meals, while the company's advertising pointed customers towards white meat chicken nuggets, apple dippers, and low-fat milk. The Happy Meal and Conservation International websites both invited kids to take the "Bee Good to the Planet" pledge to protect the environment, and McDonald's supported Conservation International's efforts to protect bee habitats in South Africa and Mexico.<ref name="McDonalds">{{Cite press release |date=October 22, 2007 |title="Bee Good to the Planet" |url=https://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/25200--bee-good-to-the-planet- |access-date=October 26, 2024 |publisher=[[McDonald's]] }}</ref>

[[Paramount Home Entertainment]] released ''Bee Movie'' on [[DVD-Video|DVD]] (single- and double-disc) on March 11, 2008,<ref name="DVD">{{Cite web |last=McCutcheon |first=David |date=January 30, 2008 |title=See the Bee Movie |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/01/30/see-the-bee-movie |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211024071005/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/01/30/see-the-bee-movie |archive-date=October 24, 2021 |access-date=October 24, 2021 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> and on [[Blu-ray]] on May 20.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Drawbaugh |first=B. |date=April 30, 2008 |title=Paramount officially rejoins the Blu-ray camp on May 20th |url=https://www.engadget.com/2008-04-29-paramount-officially-rejoins-the-blu-ray-camp-on-may-20th.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211024071022/https://www.engadget.com/2008-04-29-paramount-officially-rejoins-the-blu-ray-camp-on-may-20th.html |archive-date=October 24, 2021 |access-date=October 24, 2021 |website=[[Engadget]]}}</ref> The DVD extras include the "Inside the Hive: The Cast of ''Bee Movie''" and "Tech of ''Bee Movie''" featurettes, "We Got the Bee" music video, "Meet Barry B. Benson" feature, interactive games, a filmmaker commentary, alternate endings, lost scenes, the live-action trailers, and ''Jerry's Flight Over Cannes''.<ref name="DVD" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 24, 2008 |title=Update: Contest: Win Bee Movie on DVD! |url=https://people.com/parents/bee-movie-dvd/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211024071031/https://people.com/parents/catelynn-lowell-baby-rya-rose-movie-connection-name-exclusive/ |archive-date=October 24, 2021 |access-date=October 24, 2021 |website=[[People (magazine)|People]]}}</ref> An [[HD DVD]] version of the film was canceled after the discontinuation of that format.<ref>{{Cite web |last=De Leon |first=Nicholas |date=March 1, 2008 |title=Paramount's last HD DVD releases due next week; There Will Be Blood on Blu-ray |url=https://techcrunch.com/2008/02/29/paramounts-last-hd-dvd-releases-due-next-week-there-will-be-blood-on-blu-ray/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211024071734/https://techcrunch.com/2008/02/29/paramounts-last-hd-dvd-releases-due-next-week-there-will-be-blood-on-blu-ray/ |archive-date=October 24, 2021 |access-date=October 24, 2021 |website=[[TechCrunch]]}}</ref> The DVD release of ''Bee Movie'' was promoted with a $3 mail-in rebate offer from [[Blue Diamond Growers]] and a coupon for $1 off Sue Bee honey products.

==Reception==
===Box office===
''Bee Movie'' earned $126.6{{nbsp}}million in the United States and Canada and $166.9{{nbsp}}million in other countries, for a worldwide total of $293.5{{nbsp}}million.<ref name="BOM" /> DreamWorks Animation reported that the film made $27.3{{nbsp}}million in home media revenues.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ball |first=Ryan |date=October 28, 2008 |title=Geffen Exits DreamWorks Animation Board |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/people/geffen-exits-dreamworks-animation-board/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211125132658/https://www.animationmagazine.net/people/geffen-exits-dreamworks-animation-board/ |archive-date=November 25, 2021 |access-date=November 27, 2021 |website=[[Animation Magazine]]}}</ref>
 
The film was released with ''[[American Gangster (film)|American Gangster]]'' and ''[[Martian Child]]'' on November 2, 2007.<ref name="BOM" /><ref>{{Cite web |last1=McClintock |first1=Pamela |last2=McNary |first2=Dave |author-link2=Dave McNary |date=November 1, 2007 |title=Buzz builds for fall box office |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/box-office/buzz-builds-for-fall-box-office-1117975237/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923232445/https://variety.com/2007/film/box-office/buzz-builds-for-fall-box-office-1117975237/ |archive-date=September 23, 2021 |access-date=September 24, 2021 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> ''Bee Movie'' earned $10.2{{nbsp}}million on its first day. The film debuted at second earning $39.1{{nbsp}}million from 3,928 theaters.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Finke |first=Nikki |author-link=Nikki Finke |date=November 2, 2007 |title=#1 ''American Gangster'' Bullies Box Office; Seinfeld's ''Bee Movie'' Buzzes To #2 Spot |url=https://deadline.com/2007/11/american-gangster-is-monster-no-1-friday-seinfelds-honey-of-a-bee-movie-big-2-3678/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923232451/https://deadline.com/2007/11/american-gangster-is-monster-no-1-friday-seinfelds-honey-of-a-bee-movie-big-2-3678/ |archive-date=September 23, 2021 |access-date=September 24, 2021 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> Its second weekend earnings dropped by 32 percent to $26{{nbsp}}million,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yoshino |first=Kimi |date=November 12, 2007 |title=''Bee Movie'' is busy flying to No. 1 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-nov-12-fi-boxoffice12-story.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923224804/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-nov-12-fi-boxoffice12-story.html |archive-date=September 23, 2021 |access-date=September 24, 2021 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodman |first=Dean |date=November 12, 2007 |title=Jerry Seinfeld is king bee at box office |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-30442820071112 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923231843/https://www.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-30442820071112 |archive-date=September 23, 2021 |access-date=September 24, 2021 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> and followed by another $14.3{{nbsp}}million the third weekend.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodman |first=Dean |date=November 19, 2007 |title=Update 1-''Beowulf'' slays bees at weekend box office |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/boxoffice-idUSN1840044920071118 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923232438/https://www.reuters.com/article/boxoffice-idUSN1840044920071118 |archive-date=September 23, 2021 |access-date=September 24, 2021 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> ''Bee Movie'' completed its theatrical run in the United States and Canada on February 14, 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |title=''Bee Movie'' - Domestic Release |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1984202241/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923232735/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1984202241/ |archive-date=September 23, 2021 |access-date=September 24, 2021 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref>

===Critical reception===
''Bee Movie'' has an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} professional reviews on the [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. Its critical consensus reads, "''Bee Movie'' has humorous moments, but its awkward premise and tame delivery render it mostly forgettable."<ref name="RottenTomatoes">{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes |id={{RT data|rtid|noprefix=y}} |type=m |title=Bee Movie |access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}{{RT data|edit}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Metacritic]] (which uses a weighted average) assigned ''Bee Movie'' a score of 54 out of 100 based on 34 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.<ref>{{Cite Metacritic|id=bee-movie |type=movie |title=Bee Movie |access-date=December 19, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.<ref name="CinemaScore">{{Cite web |last=Friedman |first=Josh |date=November 5, 2007 |title=Gangster movie shoots to No. 1 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-nov-05-fi-boxoffice5-story.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227073034/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-nov-05-fi-boxoffice5-story.html |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |access-date=April 30, 2022 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

[[Michael Phillips (critic)|Michael Phillips]] of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' gave the film two and a half stars out of four, saying "It's on the easygoing level of ''[[Surf's Up (film)|Surf's Up]]'', and a full tick up from, say, ''[[Over the Hedge]]'' or ''[[The Ant Bully (film)|The Ant Bully]]''. But given the Seinfeld pedigree it's something of a disappointment."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Phillips (critic) |date=November 2, 2007 |title=Lots of buzz, but it could 'bee' better |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2007-11-02-0710310565-story.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210907005400/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2007-11-02-0710310565-story.html |archive-date=September 7, 2021 |access-date=September 7, 2021 |website=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Peter Travers of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' gave the film three out of four stars, saying "At its relaxed best, when it's about, well, nothing, the slyly comic ''Bee Movie'' is truly beguiling."<ref name="rottentomatoes1">{{Cite web |title=''Bee Movie'' - Movie Reviews |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bee_movie/reviews/?type=top_critics |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331034349/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bee_movie/reviews/?type=top_critics |archive-date=March 31, 2015 |access-date=July 2, 2013 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media]]}}</ref> Desson Thomson of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' said, "''Bee Movie'' feels phoned in on every level. The images, usually computer animation's biggest draw, are disappointingly average. And as for the funny stuff, well, that's where you were supposed to come in."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thomson |first=Desson |date=November 2, 2007 |title=Bumbling ''Bee Movie'' Needs More of Jerry |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/01/AR2007110102491.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=July 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110140117/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/01/AR2007110102491.html |archive-date=November 10, 2014}}</ref>

[[A. O. Scott]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' gave the film three and a half stars out of four, saying "The most genuinely apian aspect of ''Bee Movie'' is that it spends a lot of its running time buzzing happily around, sniffing out fresh jokes wherever they may bloom."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Scott |first=A. O. |author-link=A. O. Scott |date=2 November 2007 |title=A Drone No More: No Hive for Him! |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/02/movies/02bee.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=December 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212144647/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/02/movies/02bee.html |archive-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref> Claudia Puig gave the film one and a half stars out of four, saying "''Bee Movie'' is certainly not low-budget, but it has all the staying power and creative value of a B-movie. The secret life of bees, as told by Seinfeld, is a bore with a capital B."<ref name="rottentomatoes1" /> Steven Rea of ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' gave the film three stars out of four, saying "''Bee Movie'' is not ''[[Shrek]]'', and it is not ''[[Ratatouille (film)|Ratatouille]]'' either (by far the standout computer-animated feature of the year). But it has enough buzzing wit and eye-popping animation to win over the kids—and probably more than a few parents, too."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rea |first=Steven |date=November 1, 2007 |title=''Bee Movie'' flies *** |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/movies/20071102_Bee_Movie_flies.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316191524/http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/movies/20071102_Bee_Movie_flies.html |archive-date=March 16, 2008 |access-date=July 2, 2013 |website=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref> [[Richard Roeper]] gave the film a positive review, saying "This is a beautifully animated, cleverly executed, warm and funny adventure."<ref name="rottentomatoes1" />

[[Roger Ebert]] gave the film two out of four stars, saying "All of this material, written by Seinfeld and writers associated with his television series, tries hard, but never really takes off. We learn at the outset of the movie that bees theoretically cannot fly. Unfortunately, in the movie, that applies only to the screenplay. It is really, really, really hard to care much about a platonic romantic relationship between Renee Zellweger and a bee, although if anyone could pull it off, she could."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=November 1, 2007 |title=''Bee Movie'' Movie Review & Film Summary (2007) |url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/bee-movie-2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426081950/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/bee-movie-2007 |archive-date=April 26, 2013 |access-date=July 2, 2013 |website=[[RogerEbert.com]]}}</ref> [[Ty Burr]] of ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' gave the film three out of four stars, saying "The vibe is loose-limbed and fluky, and the gags have an extra snap that's recognizably Seinfeldian. If I believed in a sitcom afterlife, I'd swear the whole thing was cooked up by Kramer and George's dad."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Burr |first=Ty |author-link=Ty Burr |date=November 2, 2007 |title=Bee plus |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |url=http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2007/11/02/bee_plus/ |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=July 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426232318/http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2007/11/02/bee_plus/ |archive-date=April 26, 2014}}</ref>

===Accolades===
''Bee Movie'' led the [[35th Annie Awards]] season with five nominations (including [[Annie Award for Best Animated Feature|Best Animated Feature]]).<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 3, 2007 |title=Nominees for the 35th Annual Annie Awards |url=https://variety.com/2007/digital/awards/nominees-for-the-35th-annual-annie-awards-1117976874/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305032844/https://variety.com/2007/digital/awards/nominees-for-the-35th-annual-annie-awards-1117976874/ |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |access-date=November 16, 2022 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Giardina |first=Carolyn |date=February 9, 2008 |title=''Ratatouille'' wins big at Annie Awards |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/ratatouille-wins-big-at-annie-104472/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723145204/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/ratatouille-wins-big-at-annie-104472/ |archive-date=July 23, 2021 |access-date=October 27, 2021 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> At the [[65th Golden Globe Awards]], it was nominated for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film|Best Animated Feature Film]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 14, 2008 |title=Golden Globes 2008: The winners |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7186422.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125040650/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7186422.stm |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |access-date=November 4, 2022 |website=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> The [[13th Critics' Choice Awards]] nominated the film for [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Animated Feature|Best Animated Feature]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 14, 2007 |title=Critics' winners and nominees |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/news/critics-winners-and-nominees-1117977724/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211027021405/https://variety.com/2007/film/news/critics-winners-and-nominees-1117977724/ |archive-date=October 27, 2021 |access-date=October 27, 2021 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 7, 2021 |title=Winners at the Critics' Choice Awards |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2008/01/07/winners-at-the-critics-choice-awards/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211027021409/https://www.denverpost.com/2008/01/07/winners-at-the-critics-choice-awards/ |archive-date=October 27, 2021 |access-date=October 27, 2021 |website=[[The Denver Post]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="width: 99%;"
|-
! scope="col"| Award
! scope="col"| Date of ceremony
! scope="col"| Category
! scope="col"| Recipients
! scope="col"| Result
|-
| rowspan="5" |[[Annie Awards]]
| rowspan="5" |[[35th Annie Awards|February 8, 2008]]
| [[Annie Award for Best Animated Feature|Best Animated Feature]]
| ''Bee Movie''
| {{nom}}
|-
| Animation Production Artist
| Michael Isaak
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in a Feature Production|Storyboarding In A Feature Production]]
| Nassos Vakalis
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in a Feature Production|Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production]]
| [[Patrick Warburton]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Music in a Feature Production|Music in an Animated Feature Production]]
| [[Rupert Gregson-Williams]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Critics Choice Awards]]
| [[13th Critics' Choice Awards|January 7, 2008]]
| [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Animated Feature|Best Animated Feature]]
| [[Steve Hickner]] and [[Simon J. Smith]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Awards]]
| [[65th Golden Globe Awards|January 13, 2008]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film|Best Animated Film]]
| Simon J. Smith and Steve Hickner
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Reel Award (Motion Picture Sound Editors)|Golden Reel Award]]
| 2008
| [[Golden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Sound Effects, Foley, Dialogue and ADR for Animated Feature Film]]
|Will Files <small>(supervising sound editor/sound designer)</small>; Michael Silvers <small>(supervising sound editor)</small>; Randy Thom <small>(sound designer)</small>; Luke Dunn Gielmuda <small>(supervising Foley editor)</small>; J.J. George <small>(supervising music editor)</small>; Scott Guitteau, Kyrsten Mate <small>(sound editors)</small>; Steve Slanec <small>(ADR editor)</small>, Kevin Crehan <small>(music editor)</small>
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Producers Guild of America Awards]]
| [[19th Producers Guild of America Awards|February 2, 2008]]
| [[Producers Guild of America Award for Best Animated Motion Picture|Best Animated Motion Picture]]
| [[Jerry Seinfeld]], Christina Steinberg, and Cameron Stevning
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[Kids' Choice Awards]]
| rowspan="2"|[[2008 Kids' Choice Awards|March 29, 2008]]
| [[Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie|Favorite Animated Movie]]
| ''Bee Movie''
| {{nom}}
|-
| Favorite Voice From an Animated Movie
| Jerry Seinfeld as Barry B. Benson
| {{nom}}
|}

==Lawsuits==
Two lawsuits involving ''Bee Movie'' were filed. Multiple Swedish animation students, who were represented by an American attorney, sued because their developed concept in 2000, titled ''Beebylon'', had similarities to ''Bee Movie''. A separate suit was brought by Florida-based cosmetics company Beeceuticals over the use of their trademarked phrase "Give Bees a Chance". Both of these lawsuits were rejected.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 7, 2007 |title=''Bee Movie'' Makers Sued Over Use Of Slogan |url=http://www.theindychannel.com/entertainment/14530310/detail.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202074612/http://www.theindychannel.com/entertainment/14530310/detail.html |archive-date=December 2, 2008 |access-date=March 21, 2011 |website=[[WRTV]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Larson |first=Erik |date=January 14, 2008 |title=Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Settle ''Bee Movie'' Slogan Suit |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory&refer=conews&tkr=VIA/B:US&sid=anJbGSk8FO7w |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202053315/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory&refer=conews&tkr=VIA%2FB%3AUS&sid=anJbGSk8FO7w |archive-date=December 2, 2008 |access-date=September 20, 2008 |website=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]]}}</ref>

==Legacy==
Years after the film's release, ''Bee Movie'' has seen an unexpected rise in popularity as an absurd and surreal [[Internet meme]]. In 2015, posts of the film's dialog transcript (erroneously referred to as simply the "[[screenplay|script]]") spread across [[Facebook]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Purdom |first=Clayton |date=November 17, 2016 |title=People are inexplicably flocking to watch ''Bee Movie'' at '20,000X speed' |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |url=http://www.avclub.com/article/people-are-inexplicably-flocking-watch-bee-movie-2-246092 |url-status=live |access-date=November 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129145736/http://www.avclub.com/article/people-are-inexplicably-flocking-watch-bee-movie-2-246092 |archive-date=November 29, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Feldman |first=Brian |date=December 2, 2015 |title=The Best Prank on Facebook Right Now Involves the Entire Transcript of ''Bee Movie'' |work=[[New York (magazine)|Select All]] |publisher=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |url=http://nymag.com/selectall/2015/12/why-do-people-post-the-bee-movie-script.html |url-status=live |access-date=November 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129151225/http://nymag.com/selectall/2015/12/why-do-people-post-the-bee-movie-script.html |archive-date=November 29, 2016}}</ref> On November 17, 2016, [[YouTube]] user Avoid at All Costs uploaded a video titled "The entire bee movie but every time they say bee it gets faster", where the entire film is sped up every time the word "bee" is spoken, condensing the film to only 7 minutes; the video amassed seven million views.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=November 23, 2016 |title=YouTube removes Bee Movie memes due to its policy on spam, deception and scams (update) |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |url=http://www.polygon.com/2016/11/23/13732986/bee-movie-meme-youtube-remove |url-status=live |access-date=November 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013172528/https://www.polygon.com/2016/11/23/13732986/bee-movie-meme-youtube-remove |archive-date=October 13, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Shamsian |first=Jacob |date=December 2, 2016 |title=This YouTube video that has been viewed over 12 million times could be the heralding of a new meme |work=Insider |url=http://www.thisisinsider.com/bee-movie-sped-up-meme-2016-12 |url-status=live |access-date=December 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204163215/http://www.thisisinsider.com/bee-movie-sped-up-meme-2016-12 |archive-date=December 4, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-11-21 |title=The entire bee movie but every time they say bee it gets faster - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6iN6VTL7v8 |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=web.archive.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121161510/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6iN6VTL7v8 |archive-date=2016-11-21}}</ref>

''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' later characterized the film's sudden popularity as "totally bizarre",<ref name="Beemovievanity">{{Cite web |last=Bradley |first=Laura |date=December 30, 2016 |title=How ''Bee Movie'' Won 2016 |url=http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/12/bee-movie-memes-2016 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103134324/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/12/bee-movie-memes-2016 |archive-date=January 3, 2017 |access-date=February 2, 2017 |website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]}}</ref> and later identified Jason Richards as one of the meme's larger promoters through his @Seinfeld2000 Twitter account.<ref name=Beemovievanity/><ref name="Statemenmeme">{{Cite web |last=Tait |first=Amelia |date=December 14, 2017 |title=A decade on, Bee Movie{{'s}} creators reflect on its many memes |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/science-tech/internet/2017/12/why-is-bee-movie-a-meme |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216201139/https://www.newstatesman.com/science-tech/internet/2017/12/why-is-bee-movie-a-meme |archive-date=December 16, 2017 |access-date=December 16, 2017 |website=[[New Statesman]]}}</ref> ''[[Inverse (website)|Inverse]]'' felt the film's ironic internet popularity has helped the movie become critically reevaluated by millennial critics who now view the film as an unironic, genuinely well-made film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergado |first=Gabe |date=February 22, 2017 |title=How Barry B. Benson Became an Internet A-Lister |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/25329-bee-movie-memes-explained-script-youtube-videos |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223102001/https://www.inverse.com/article/25329-bee-movie-memes-explained-script-youtube-videos |archive-date=December 23, 2017 |access-date=December 22, 2017 |website=[[Inverse (website)|Inverse]]}}</ref>

Seinfeld has commented on the film's reemergence as a meme as "kinda weird but pretty welcoming" and said "you just can't predict what the internet will do next, but you gotta love it," but expressed no interest in making a sequel to ''Bee Movie'' despite its online popularity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amidi |first=Amid |author-link=Amid Amidi |date=June 27, 2016 |title=Jerry Seinfeld Won't Make A ''Bee Movie'' Sequel, But Not For The Reason You Might Think |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/jerry-seinfeld-wont-make-bee-movie-sequel-not-reason-might-think-141071.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315133818/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/jerry-seinfeld-wont-make-bee-movie-sequel-not-reason-might-think-141071.html |archive-date=March 15, 2018 |access-date=March 15, 2018 |website=[[Cartoon Brew]]}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb title}}

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