The Croods is a prehistoric animated comedy-adventure that follows the Crood family, led by their patriarch Grug (Nicolas Cage). While his neighbors have succumbed to the perils of their time, Grug has kept his family safe by living in a state of constant fear, sticking to simple mantras etched into their cave walls. His credo is: “Fear keeps us alive. Never not be afraid.”

But despite the writing on the wall, their world is literally crumbling down around them when tectonic plates shift, and the family become homeless. Amid thick vegetation and new predators, they meet Guy (Ryan Reynolds) who warns of imminent destruction that propels our protagonists on a quest towards higher grounds, which may prove difficult given that the Croods aren’t used to being so vulnerable.

Christy Lemire of the Associated Press writes, “The animated adventure features a strong, star-studded cast and dazzles visually in wondrously colorful, vibrant 3-D. Brisk and beautiful, much of the lush landscape and vivid details propel these stronger segments.” HSX is predicting that The Croods opens at around $42.5M; FilmGo is anticipating upwards towards $47.5M.

Rating: PG // Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy // Runtime: 1 hr. 38 min. // Starring: Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone // Directed by: Kirk De Micco, Chris Sanders // Written by: Kirk De Micco, Chris Sanders // Produced by: DreamWorks Animation // Distributed by: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation