The ‘Cats’ trailer is one of the freakiest, most disconcerting things ever

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I actually had no expectations coming into my first viewing of the Cats trailer. The only thing I knew about it was what I learned from the preview yesterday – there were dance rehearsals and all the actors were so happy that they didn’t have to wander around in absurd cat costumes, and that their “fur” would be added digitally. It sounded messy and like the whole thing was going to be an uncanny valley disaster. Well, now the trailer is here and… yes, this is a disaster, I’m sorry.

So after that, I actually had to do some research. The research consisted of skimming this Polygon article. Taylor Swift plays the sexy tabby Bombalurina, and no, Taylor will not be singing “Memories.” That honor goes to Jennifer Hudson, who plays Grizabella… I think? Right? Judi Dench plays Old Deuteronomy, Idris Elba plays Macavity, Rebel Wilson plays Jennyanydots and Jason Derulo plays Rum Tum Tugger, who was originally based on, like, Mick Jagger? I don’t know about any of this, peeps.

One thing worth noting is that Taylor Swift and the other actors insist that their catfaces and fur were “not motion capture,” meaning they didn’t have to wear green-screen suits or whatever. But… I think they did, and Universal has already shown behind-the-scenes footage where the actors are wearing motion capture suits. I think that there was probably a different kind of method for achieving the “catface” look and wow, they should have waited for the technology to get a bit better, because this is awful.

This is amazing because it fits so well:

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Photos courtesy of Cats.

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203 Responses to “The ‘Cats’ trailer is one of the freakiest, most disconcerting things ever”

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  1. Digital Unicorn says:

    The best thing about that trailer is Jennifer Hudson singing Memories – Bey has competition for best Oscar song – she sounds amazing and Memories is perfect for her.

    Its not too bad, looks kinda fun.

    • Onerous says:

      I’m with you – Cats is high camp so this looks like it fits perfectly. It’s a bizarre show and I honestly thought this looked pretty good in a kind of an OTT cult-classic way. I was prepared to hate it but I’ll see it based on that trailer.

      • Kitten says:

        EXACTLY. If you think the new version is freaky, go youtube some of the original Broadway versions. I recently did because I wanted to show my BF Rum Tug Tugger was a CURIOUS CAT.
        (I was obsessed with Cats as a kid lol)

        Anyway, the show that I loved as a child gives me nightmares as an adult. All in all, I think the trailer is fine and yeah, fun.

      • Tiffany :) says:

        I’m not sure what people were expecting, but this is exactly what I thought it would look like. We knew they were using the actor’s actual bodies in some fashion (dance rehearsal), and that the fur was going to be CGI.

    • Mia4s says:

      Hard disagree. Jennifer Hudson is an amazing singer but that version is just…meh. How do you make Memory “meh”? Hopefully that’s just trailer editing.

      Beyond that?….Well….I no longer fear death on the upside. WTF?!?!??!? That is just….WTF?!?!??? I’ve been consumed by nervous laughter for hours. It’s HORRIFYING. 😂

      • Agirlandherdog says:

        I agree. We saw Cats on Broadway, and this just doesn’t compare. Jennifer Hudson is an amazing singer with a powerful voice, but there’s just something missing when you adapt a song to make it a Hollywood hit.

        I’ll probably watch it when it hits DVD (without my husband because he hated Cats). I’d watch just to see Mr. Mistoffelees dance number. It better be awesome.

      • BeanieBean says:

        They looked more like rats scurrying around than cats.

      • Deedee says:

        Agree. I dislike this version of the song.

      • Redgrl says:

        I agree. I don’t like this version of that song at all. Her voice sounds straining and over the top – and having seen the play, the stage singers were chosen for their ability to actually sing that song. Someone posted the link to Betty Buckley further down – that’s how that song should be sung. This is weak in comparison. I am also not a fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals in any event; the same four songs repeated over and over with different words and timing. Meh.

      • Kage says:

        Yeah i love her voice! But it doesn’t seem to be a good fit here .

      • Angel says:

        I think that Jennifer is once again oversinging her song, and I don’t like it. I didn’t like her on American Idol or since because of her doing that.

    • Lightpurple says:

      Only songs that were written specifically for a film (or debut in the film) can be nominated for Oscar. Memories won’t qualify.

      • lucy2 says:

        That’s what I was thinking.
        Jennifer is an amazing singer, but they’ll need an original for an Oscar.

      • deezee says:

        True and same with Beyonce unless they address more songs for her to sing.

      • 10KTurtle says:

        She could win for an acting category again. Could you imagine if she won another Oscar and Beyonce didn’t? Lol

      • Bunny says:

        Due to the stipulations involved in using TS Eliot’s work, I doubt that they could even manage a “new” song.

        If I recall correctly, TS Eliot’s wife stipulated that only material taken fairly directly from her husband’s work could be used to write the play. Very minor changes were acceptable, but nothing major and nothing new. The material had to come from his work.

        ‘Memory’ is based on Eliot’s poem ‘Rhapsody on a Windy Night”‘, for example.

    • manda says:

      I will see this just for Jennifer Hudson singing memories. I love that song so much, I really can’t describe. I’m covered in goosebumps and teary eyed.

      I will have to sit all by myself away from people because I will be singing!! I’ve never seen the play before.

      Regarding the way they did this, ehhhh, it doesn’t look as bad as people’s reactions to it made me think it would be

    • A random commenter says:

      I’ve never seen/cared about Cats before but I thought it was supposed to be campy and ridiculous?

    • MariaS says:

      Hard pass. Jennifer Hudson is an AMAZING singer but she doesn’t know when subtlety is called for. Memories is a wistful song and she’s doing what she always does: belts. This is not a song for belting. She did the same thing to Purple Rain after Prince’s death.

      • broodytrudy says:

        Yeah this is a HORRIBLE version, my god. Memory is entirely about reflection and a struggle to retain dignity. Jennifer’s version sounds like despair which is a bit heavy in such a campy (albeit dark af) musical. So weird. Everything about this is bizarre.

      • ToiFilles says:

        That’s so true about J.Hudson. Some of my favorite vocalists are the ones who know when to pull back: Janelle Monáe & k.d. Lang come to mind.

        Edit: See also Whitney Houston’s cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You”

        A YT comment: “This looks like it was filmed through a Snapchat filter”

      • Tiffany :) says:

        She’s practically whispering in the beginning, so it looks like she’s not belting the whole thing.

      • BorderMollie says:

        Agree, she’s so dramatic all the time. Paired with those bizarre cgi tails flapping everywhere it has more of a humorous bend than a moving one.

      • Deedee says:

        Bingo.

      • JennaR says:

        @ToiFilles It does look like it has Snapchat filter! This is the perfect description and one of the many things that bothers me about it.

    • MariEmme says:

      Jennifer has an amazing voice, but from what I am hearing in the trailer, I do not like her interpretation. And, fair or not, only original songs can be nominated.

      • Mel M says:

        I’ve never seen it but my mom would listen to “Memories” over and over when I was young and yeah, this version is meh.

    • Algernon says:

      Memories won’t be eligible for Oscar because it’s not original for the movie. The whole reason Disney inserts new music into their remakes, like Beyonce’s song, is to qualify for the Oscars.

    • Pineapple says:

      I have seen the show twice. I am so insanely excited about this movie. I love it. I think the idea is so odd and strange anyway, I am not turned off by the odd, strange cat suits.

    • M.A.F. says:

      No. 1. Memories was already a song so it’s not original to the movie. Although, I wouldn’t be surprised if she did sing it at the Oscars. and 2. Hudson sounds awful! I was very disappointed (and scared out of my mind with how this all looks) with this rendition of the song.

    • Victoria says:

      Same her voice gave me goosebumps

    • rita says:

      Yep, great fun and Taylor looks fine, I could never imagine her in a dancing movie, but now I am so up for this.

    • Bella Bella says:

      Lord, I like Jennifer Hudson but who ever allowed that to be the final recording of “Memories” should be fired. She sounds shrilly and awful!

      • SJR says:

        Bella Bella, you are correct. JHudson has a great voice, how does she sound so shrill and tinny? Not a note in her range, too high or tight..something is wrong.
        We know she can belt a song, she has a big voice with a fuller, rounder sound.

        Betty Buckley makes me cry with her version of Memories. Everytime.
        Not going to see this, extra reason not to see this? James Corden! How is he so successful? He has zero talent, IMO.

        Idris….you could find a better role.

    • Dana marie says:

      I am a CATS fan. Seen it several times. The trailer looks hilariously good in a Portlandia kind of way. Looking forward to it!

    • grumpy says:

      I didn’t think she was that good. It doesn’t compare to Elaine Page and I reckon even Susan Boyle could have done it better.

    • Heat says:

      Memory won’t be in Oscar competition, it has to be an original work. That’s why Disney adds new songs to all their live action musicals.

  2. so says:

    that’s hilariously bad

    • ByTheSea says:

      Who was asking for this? Seriously.

    • Susannah says:

      It’s way too bizarre especially looking. It’s hard to pay attention to the show itself. All I could think about was how my cat would beat the crap out of everyone of these cats. They’d all be hdiing under the sofa or cowering under the bed after five minutes with my Lulu.

    • minx says:

      It’s just…I don’t even know what to say…loss for words….

    • Michael says:

      I thought I was missing something when I laughed at the preview. This is a disaster unless this is only a rough cut.

    • noway says:

      The play was weird to begin with, but somehow it worked. I just don’t see how this is going to work though. I’d be looking at how odd the catfaces are.

      • minx says:

        A play is one thing, you use your imagination and you go with it. Movies are more literal. Kaiser is right, the uncanny valley makes this extremely creepy.

    • snazzy says:

      WTF is with the cat boobs? I am so confused

      • Deedee says:

        Kitty titties.

      • North of Boston says:

        That’s what threw me off too. The cat boobs. Also the fact that the cat tails appear to be the most powerful parts of the cats, physique-wise.

  3. Eva says:

    Wait how did they even manage to make Memory sound awful? Hudson is a great singer but that was not good. Like when you go to a concert and they’ve made an ”experimental version” of that one hit song everyone is waiting for.

  4. Ann says:

    I will probably still see it but yeah this looks hella weird. Someone commented on reddit that it’s weird to see cats with boobs and now it’s all I can focus on.

    I really don’t like the way Jennifer Hudson is singing ‘Memories.’ It doesn’t sound right to me. Like it’s a bit flat? Can’t put my finger on it but something is off.

    • MariaS says:

      Yeah, the boobs are disturbing. As are Taylor Swift’s kitten heels. WTH?

      • Venus says:

        It’s like Seven of Nine’s skin-tight costume in Star Trek only with fur. I am squicked.

    • Chaine says:

      And where are their … well I mean usually cats have fairly visible … you know… also these CGI monstrosities look like they belong in Island of Doctor Moreau… both anatomically incorrect and terrifying at the same time.

    • frankly says:

      At the very least they should have six boobs.

      • Some chick says:

        Totally! I said that on another site.

        I liked the old costumes. And I also object to “sexy catgirl with boobs.”

        This looks like some kind of weird anime or manga.O well, at least the furries will love it

        * Hey management, one of the sidebar ads keep taking over my cursor so I can fill out their bubble quiz. it’s for Verizon media. Anyway to get them to knock it off?

        It did it at least six times hie I was writing this. It’s bad programming and messes with the user experience.

        Also, they are Oath – the company that places the ads! Jinkies!

    • Jo73c says:

      Cat boobs. No.
      That is all I came here to say

    • Veronica S. says:

      The original Broadway costumes showed breasts, but like…that’s because they were *costumes* in a *live show.* It’s not like they could bind those women breasts down and expect them to be able to belt out songs for two hours live, so they just worked around the anatomy. Here, it’s just…weird and frankly obnoxious because MY F*CKING GOD, we can’t even avoid sexual objectification with fake female CGI cats!

  5. grabbyhands says:

    The f*ck did I just watch?

    I feel a lot of second hand embarrassment for Judi Dench, Ian McKellan and Idris Elba in particular. This seems right up Taylor Swift’s alley.

    Wow.

    • Arizona says:

      I’m so excited to see this because it looks truly, truly awful.

      • grabbyhands says:

        I can’t even hate on that (especially since I count Xanadu as one of my favorite movies of all time). 🙂

    • Deedee says:

      Bwahahahahahahaha. How true. I thought the same, esp for Dame Dench as she is one of my favs. Much respect for her.

  6. Leriel says:

    Just like expected, it’s bad. It is really funny to see “from academy award winning director”, like they’re believe it will be on Oscars short list.

    I think Universal wanted an Oscar-baity musical, just like La la land, but didn’t want to handle original material, that’s why they chose Broadway musical. Well, if you want a cake – eat it. Can’t wait for a press tour, when these people will pretend that it is actually good and watchable and Oscar worthy, lmao.

  7. Marjorie says:

    OMG they all look so bad.

  8. Bee says:

    I’ve watch this twice now. The first watch was flabbergasted shock about how bad it looks. The second watch was just secondhand embarrassment for everyone involved. Sir Ian, why???

    • ds says:

      I literally watched the trailer peeking through my fingers as I hid behind my hands…. it’s trully… why on Earth anyone ever thought that this is a great idea? I get camp but I just don’t get this. It was painful to watch this.

  9. Erinn says:

    I just had to explain to a coworker who Judi Dench was. I made him watch this creepy ass trailer and he’s just like “I don’t think I really know a lot of those people” ahahah

  10. Tash says:

    Yikes! Looks more like The Island of Dr. Moreau: The Musical.

  11. Shirurusu says:

    I have been laughing at this all morning and even looked at a frame by frame analysis on YouTube- I think James Corden gets the award for creepiest cat but lord Jesus they all look evil as fuck! Like someone vomited evil hairballs on screen and made them dance. More Gremlins than Lion king imho. But I hate the musical though, the story is absolutely God awful too, so it’s not exactly making me sad to watch this pile of crap burn 😂💩🙀🙀🙀

  12. Startup Spouse says:

    Diehard Cats fan here. I’ll pay to see this. But I realize I’ll have to go by myself…

  13. yiza says:

    ughs cats is stupid/terrible as is.

  14. TheHeat says:

    As a fan of the Broadway show, I am looking forward to seeing what they do with it. The trailer isn’t giving me great vibes, but I still want to see it.

  15. Kaye says:

    I’ve not been lucky enough to see it on Broadway, but I’ve watched the DVD many times. I think the movie will appeal more to those who’ve seen the musical.

    Personally, I can’t wait.

    • Kaye says:

      Also: “Memory” – Elaine Paige, or possibly Barbra Streisand. Jennifer Hudson sounds like she’s singing from the gut, and to me that doesn’t sound right.

    • Marianne says:

      Oh, I grew up with the filmed stage version (we had it on VHS and now dvd) and and this looks awful.

  16. Trillian says:

    Cats with tits? Seriously?

    • Ali says:

      This!!
      I’m not a prude but naked furry humans with cat tails? I don’t understand it at all.

  17. Lucy says:

    For me, Jennifer Hudson’s version of Memories is overwrought rendition. She’s a belter and Memories needs delicacy and finesse. Thus movie looks terrible so i’ll Pass.

    • susiecue says:

      I know! I thought she sounded bad too, so forced. And I generally like her singing voice.

  18. Anna says:

    Idris Elba needs to fire his agent.

    • Deering24 says:

      He and Michael Fassbender. These guys can do pretty much anything, so why are they having such a bad time getting hits lately?

  19. CuffyCups says:

    I love cats (the animals). I understand why people play cats on broadway (I think). This is a different medium and IMO they should have just used CGI cats. These visuals are strange and disturbing. I would pay money to see cats a la Puss in Boots. I couldn’t even get through the trailer. No.

    • Chaine says:

      Me either, I had to just stop it halfway through. I feel embarrassed for everyone involved.

      • Maria_ says:

        same here,its awful. 5 seconds and stop wathing i felt second hand embarrassment

  20. Squirrelgirl says:

    Ok I know nothing about Cats and at first I saw the trailer and was thinking wtf did I just watch. So I looked up a plot synopsis and then I thought wtf did I just read. And now I think this might be kind of fun to see.

    • Deedee says:

      Lol. Truly, I did.

    • AMAyson1977 says:

      Same, except I’m still super-confused after reading about it and more sure than ever that this is not the show for me. No thank you, please!!

  21. MellyMel says:

    This looks tragic and a big ol mess…I can’t wait to watch!

  22. SM says:

    Yep, second hand embarrassment is what it is. A total mess. Looks scarier that the new trailer for IT.

  23. k says:

    I love musical theater, but never got into Cats. This looks super bizarre. However, this is basically what the stage actors’ costumes looked like, right? Could that be what they were going for? A sleeker, CGI version of the stage look?

    • onerous says:

      Yes! The stage version looks even more bizarre than this – it’s all legwarmers and unitards, lol! I think people who aren’t loving this don’t know the history of this show.

      • gabrielle says:

        Yes!!! The show was always bizarre AF and the costumes disturbing. I’m here for it.

      • M.A.F. says:

        I’ve seen the show (via VHS) but this is just straight up weird. I rather watch the VHS again because at least that makes sense.

      • Redgrl says:

        @onerous – I’ve seen the stage version – and it was part of that 70’s-80’s weird freakiness. Which was the point. This is just bad. And Jennifer Hudson is massacring Memory.

    • Some chick says:

      The original costumes look better, in my eye.

      They had wigs shaped like kitty ears, facepaint, airbrushed unitard for stripes & stuff, and hand knit wristwarmers and yarn legwarmers too. The tails were made with yarn also, knotted onto a cord, all by hand. Just enough weight. They moved beautifully. There was a lot of work in those costumes!

      Grizabella was more shaggy, with fabric strips dangling. I think the new costumes make no sense because they are too form fitting and not catlike enough.

      Also the set is just a smidge too big. Cute idea tho.

      We’ve been over the boob thing already. And the answer to that is that the director and producers are all men. Rich white men who are used to getting what they want. They want boobs! And they will have them!

      The OG cats were wearing unitards, so they had boobs too, some of them. But the costumes had a more balanced silhouette with the other pieces so it wasn’t jarring. This just looks weird to me.

      I never got into Cats either. (I used to joke that I went to see it, but was horribly disappointed when I found out they weren’t real cats.) =^. .^=

      I have some theater geek friends and they make absolutely amazing recreations of the Broadway costumes, and walk around in a pack at conventions.

      • frankly says:

        Well, it’s like if you go see “Lion King” on Broadway the giraffes on sticks and people with animal heads are cool. If they remade the movie with CGI giraffes on sticks and CGI people in animal masks we’d all be like, WTF?

      • grumpy says:

        why bring race in to it

    • k says:

      Not all stage shows translate well to the screen. I’m open to this, because I think I see where they are coming from, but, for all the CGI they are doing, couldn’t they have just made them look like real cats? Wouldn’t that have made more sense?

    • Tiffany :) says:

      I 100% co-sign your comment, k.

      I like theater, but I’ve never understood the appeal of Cats. The music is just so terrible, and the plot is silly.

      That being put aside, this totally looks to me like a CGI of the stage version.

  24. Mab's A'Mabbin says:

    I knew it was a musical before I watched, I mean who hasn’t heard of cats lol? Can’t stand musicals, but I still watched cuz Ilba, Dench, Ian. I’m giggling at the mere thought of these people learning, practicing and rehearsing this messapalooza. No. No. No. No.

  25. Veronica S. says:

    Count me in as one of those people who thinks it looks awful, which is a shame because they clearly have some very talented dancers and singers in it. (Not to mention all of those big names!) I’ve no idea why they used CGI when they could’ve just used a higher budget version of the stage prostheses. The decision to make them “tiny cats” is also…weird and part of what I think is contributing to the uncanny valley feeling.

    • Shirurusu says:

      I totally agree with you about the size – in some shots they look about the size of mice! Wth is up with the lack of congruence? Some “cats” also look very furry while others are basically hairless nudes that resemble the alien from Signs. It’s so creepy! Dont even get me started on the placement of the tail where it’s exciting the human anatomy lol 😂😂😂

      • Some chick says:

        Tail goes at the base of the spine. It’s actually an extension of the spine.

      • shirurusu says:

        I know that’ where it’s supposed to go (tail bone) – but it’s not where it’s placed in some of the freeze frame snap shots from this trailer lol – it’s been cgi’d on a lot lower on some people and it looks… weird… 😉

  26. Miss V says:

    Why, though? Just…. why???

  27. Other Renee says:

    I have seen so many amazing musicals in my life and Cats was by far the worst I’ve ever seen. I was bored out of my mind. One awful song after another and the plot was beyond stupid.

    I love Jennifer Hudson but was seriously underwhelmed by her rendition of Memories—the only song from Cats that I actually like.

  28. Lex says:

    Never saw Cats and know nooooothing about it but holy shiiiiite it sounds bloody ridiculous. Did a drunk child come up with those character names?!?!?! Goodness me.

    • Li says:

      No, T.S. Eliot did.

    • broodytrudy says:

      The very simplest way to explain the plot is a strange cult of cats called the Jellicles who all get together on “Jellicle Day” and decide which cat gets to die that year. It’s odd and campy and distinctly 1980s.

      • Veronica S. says:

        What I love about “Cats” is that it has the most insane plot summary, but it’s one of the longest running Broadway hits in history and has one of the most memorable musical songs ever performed. Like, you wouldn’t believe it was real unless you saw it lol.

      • BeanieBean says:

        Really?! That’s the plot?! I had no idea…that is just so bizarre! I remember reading that it was based on ts elliot poems, but this?

      • Lex says:

        Ok I see why Maxwell Sheffield passed on it hahahha

      • broodytrudy says:

        Yep! The cats all have character songs they sing and special dancing powers. They basically audition to go to “the heaviside layer” for “a new life”. In the stage play, the cat chosen goes into the bright foggy sky, either by climbing a ladder, walking up a stairway, or being raised on a tire, depending on the show itself.

        Dark af.

  29. Udi says:

    JHud sounds bad, she is literally the same in every song. With that wobbly vibrato, you wouldn’t know if she was singing Amazing Grace or the Silent Night if you happened to stumble on her singing. Like girl, there are dynamics, timbral changes that one can do. But she always does those Church belts and is often sharp. And people call her a great vocalist!!! Versatility and subtlety aren’t her forte.

  30. duchess of hazard says:

    The lead who plays Victoria the cat (Francesa Hayward) is so delightful, I’d probably pay a ticket just to see her alone.

    • broodytrudy says:

      Yes! Francesca is insane in the way she moves and it’s clear she’s the standout in this trailer. I’ll be happy to sit through this to watch her move, she’s incredible.

  31. olive says:

    they just look like mike myers when he played the cat in the hat.

  32. frankly says:

    I’m going to go back at watch Titus Andromedon in CATS instead. That was a genius take.

  33. Tallia says:

    Umm…totally excited to see this. The concept of the broadway show was weird and so is the movie. Can’t wait! LOL

    • minime says:

      LOL I will seat in the weirdos corner with you ’cause I actually think the trailer looks quite interesting, considering what it is. I would actually watch this though I’m not really a musicals person. It looked kinda of fun 🙂

  34. lucy2 says:

    So…Judi Dench lost a bet or something, right?

    • Deering24 says:

      LOL!! Or maybe she just figured why the hell not?

      • rita says:

        This might be old news, but Dench was all scheduled for the original London premiere, but an injury made it impossible. [Well, yes, that IS literally old news.]

  35. Kebbie says:

    Jennifer Hudson’s cat face at 2:04 looks so weird, like she needs more fur or they tried to shrink her face or something.

  36. Kendra says:

    I am glad for more musicals but this one looks like Disney live-action cgi style and not actors would have been the best way to go.

  37. Marianne says:

    This is such a mess. The CGI looks awful. Like their faces just photoshopped on. Even besides that though…I still side eye this whole mess. Grizabella is supposed to be this old past her prime cat. Like, Jennifer Hudson is a bit too young for the part. I think she would have been better suited for Bombularina, who is a more “mature” cat and sings Macavity. Again, Taylor is a bit young for it. Also, Taylor doesnt exactly have the Broadway voice to pull it off either. Rebel Wilson looks like she’s just doing her Fat Amy schtick again…like…ugghhh thats just not Cats. Also, JennyAnydots(her character) gets the big tap number in the show and I question whether she can pull that off or if they will even do that. Rum Tug Tugger is supposed to be a very Mick Jagger/Steven Tyler type and again…Jason DeRulo seems a bit off.

    I mean, it was always going to be a tough adaptation. Its kind of a weird show. Theres not really much plot to it. Its almost like little vignettes where each song is an introduction to a new cat. And a musical about singing cats works on stage, but movies are supposed to have a more realistic feel cause obviously you can get away with more than you can on stage…and so the premise of dancing and singing cats in a movie is already hard.

    Overall….weird

  38. Ali says:

    From Twitter:

    I don’t know why you’re all freaking out over miniature yet huge cats with human celebrity faces and sexy breasts performing a demented dream ballet for kids.

    😂😂😂

  39. Case says:

    The cat boobs are terrifying. The human faces transposed on CGI creatures is terrifying. I feel like they couldn’t decide if they wanted them to look like actual cats or like the Broadway performers so we got this hybrid monstrosity.

  40. Ninette says:

    Watched the trailer. Surprisingly not hating it, just bored with it.

  41. HOLLy hobby says:

    Snakey Swift in Cats is as bad as nick Jonas in Les Miz. I happened to catch nick’s version of Marius and it gave such second hand embarrassment. Sorry no she should not be singing in a musical at all. She only sings in one range – monotone.

  42. Texas says:

    Y’all can hate all you want but this looks fantastic! My kids played the original cats over and over and over. I’m all in on this new one. It looks and sounds magical.

  43. BANANIE says:

    My little sister was in a production of Cats at our local kids’ theater. She was eight and the costume was AMAZING. Giant furry ears, aggressive face paint, whiskers, hair teased to crazy heights. Did she look like a cat? Kinda. Did she look like an awesome low-budget cosplay version of a cat? Definitely. And it worked!

  44. sommolierlady says:

    Good lord. Cats has always been my least favorite show but this is even worse than I imagined. The over wrought vocals, those humans with fur “costumes”…shudders. Or shutters! Keep those dang cats out of my house.

  45. Guest says:

    This looks awful. Taylor may not be singing memory but her character does sing a song that’s supposed to be sexy. Lol…

  46. Doodle says:

    Cats was the first musical I ever saw and I listened to the soundtrack over and over. This wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be since the musical was weird (the lyrical are all poems by a famous politician I think but I can’t remember who right now). This is still super weird, but makes a touch more sense if you’ve seen the musical.

  47. Allie says:

    I don’t get the hate for this. It looks like any other unrealistic CGI based movie, only that it’s another boring remake.

    • Betsy says:

      It looks like I imagine furry porn might start. It’s a little more unsettling than the regular uncanny valley.

  48. Daisy says:

    People saying that the people who are “hating” it obviously don’t know what the original is like and well… We do, and that’s the reason I say some Broadway plays should stay in Broadway.
    This looks horrible and scarier than Midsommar.

    • Holly hobby says:

      I’ve seen Elaine Page and she was not dressed like that. For anyone who wants to see a snippet of Cats, they should find the dvd of Hey Mr. Producer! They had a section of the musical and the actors were dressed up. They did not look as disturbing as these people.

  49. Hanahk says:

    They look insane.

  50. cherriepie84 says:

    It doesnt look bad…..my girls will enjoy this. Also I’m here for Jason Derulo, his dance moves from the trailer look firece!!!!!!

  51. Mowie says:

    I’m betting the actors thought it would be great fun and a chance to sing/dance/cavort/get attention. The producers saw dollar signs. No one seemed to think of the experience for the audience. And thus, a disaster. A vanity project run amok.

  52. jammypants says:

    It looked more interesting using the horror music from that tweet. But yea, hilariously cringe.

  53. Brittney says:

    As a teenager I “played” the white cat in my favorite ice skating routine ever (a solo to “Memories” for a show called Broadway on Ice)… this play and its characters hold such a special place in my heart.

    I can’t bring myself to watch this. The header image alone is hard to scroll past. Not sure if uncanny valley or just viscerally unacceptable…

  54. M.A.F. says:

    WHY ARE THERE HUMAN LIKE BOOBS?! None of those cats are nursing and if there were, there would be multiple boobies. And why do the boobs bounce?! THESES ARE CATS! CATS!

    This just looks terrible. They should have just stuck with the original concept of the stage production and done costumes.

    • entine says:

      yea, let’s not forget that these cats sing and dance on two feet in the original fantasy play instead of meowing. I have not seen the stage, did they hide the human bodies in it too? edit: pinterest picture of the original costumes show them human bodies alright as well. they are not like the cartoon cow and chicken.
      because in this trailer some of them they wear clothes.
      I see it like one of those anthropomorphic cartoons from which there are hundreds. that’s it.

    • Tiffany :) says:

      They aren’t walking on all fours, so I don’t think it was supposed to be realistic animal anatomy. It seems like the look they were going for was “humans in body suits” aka, the stage version.

      • M.A.F. says:

        Then they should have stuck with actual costumes. In post, they could have smoothed out the boobs but they chose not too and it just makes it odd, it’s a weird trick on your mind. It stands out.

  55. Reece says:

    I have never understood what this show is about.
    And now it’s a movie that I still don’t get. HOWEVER looking at the names behind it (not the actors) maybe I’ll see it.

  56. Lily says:

    Meh… I’m not wowed by it but I don’t think it looks horrible either.

  57. Sheamus says:

    I loved Cats the musical – I was a dancer in my younger years and I loved the choreography. I even liked the costumes in the musical, I thought they were campy but they actually looked kind of like cats. This CGI mess? I legit had nightmares about it last night.

  58. Ivy says:

    This looks SO bizarre and I LOVE it!! Anyone who’s freaked out by this has never seen Cats, this is literally what watching it is like imo

  59. paranormalgirl says:

    Just a side note: one of my friends, Terrence Mann, played Rum Tug Tugger in the original Broadway cast.

    • N says:

      WHAT?!?!?!?! I CRIED LIKE A BABY IN 1994 TO HIM AS BEAST. I’M SORRY TO SHOUT BUT I LOVE HIM! First time in New York and I saw that play 3 times.

  60. sassafras says:

    I bet Scarlett Johansson is pissed she can’t play a cat.

  61. noway says:

    Of all the cat faces, I just have to say Taylor Swift makes a pretty good cat. Maybe it’s her love of all things cat. Wonder if she asked to be modeled after one of her cats?

    Can’t believe they got all these famous people to do this. I mean didn’t one of them look at it and go this is going to be extremely odd in a movie format?

  62. nikki says:

    I have never seen Cats, and don’t know the plot, but I think it looks fun! Creepy fun!

  63. MissAmerica says:

    I’ve seen a lot of people talking about a song called “Memories,” except it’s actually called “Memory” one memory, singular. I didn’t say anything yesterday, but it’s starting to drive me crazy. It’s starting to make me wonder if people who say they love it, have even seen it or heard that song. For the record, I haven’t seen it, I haven’t ever listened to the soundtrack, but I’ve heard Barbra Streisand’s version of MEMORY, and it’s beautiful, and it will be difficult to top.

  64. Ali says:

    “Yes, “Cats” was one of the longest-running musicals on Broadway but that’s because Netflix didn’t exist and Lin Manuel-Miranda hadn’t been born yet”

    This movie is by far my favorite internet topic of the year.

  65. Katebush says:

    It looks scary and slightly nightmarish kind of reminds me of a Tim Burton movie. Don’t like the cats they’re creepy looking needless to say I wont be watching it.
    With all those big names I was expecting something … more?

  66. 2bounce4u says:

    Creepy. Dr Moreau Island creepy.

  67. CK says:

    Creepy Fur CGI aside (which I kind of respect given the source), who saw a completely sung through musical with only a basic plot like Cats and thought it would be a good movie?

    The musical is literally just a bunch of cats singing an assortment of songs until Old Deuteronomy picks Grizzabella to go to the Heavy side layer. If people were hostile to a completely sung through Les Mis., they’re going to rioting during this.

  68. Ye says:

    I think its so crazy it works.

  69. Boudica says:

    After the intro I watched the trailer expecting it to be awful, but I loved it and I want to see it. It could rank up there with the best campy movies. The cast is great and I want to see them in these roles and their cat fur and tails. Yep. Definitely going to see this movie now. 😀

  70. JennHAM says:

    Whaaaa??? That was the best thing I’ve seen in a long time. It’s perfect in every way and I am serious, no troll here.

  71. MeghanNotMarkle says:

    I haven’t seen the trailer and I can’t watch it at work, but the Twitterverse has had me rolling with its takes on this new version. I’ll wait for the movie to come out on Netflix.

  72. Lisa says:

    Cats aren’t that “chesty” as a rule and I’m not sure who decided to put the tails there (their tails follow the path of their spines, not the path out of their behinds, nevermind lol). They should have just made this with actual cats/animatronic cats.

  73. Suz says:

    I think part of what makes Cats work on stage is watching professional dancers mimic the movements of felines. Cool. This movie is not that.

  74. Jess says:

    Wtf..

  75. Lightpurple says:

    If you go see Lion King and take the satisfaction survey when you leave, one of the questions is if you saw the Cats trailer before the film and if you think the cats look weird. I burst out laughing.

  76. 2lazy4username says:

    Jennifer Hudson and that song are not meant for each other. At. All.
    The dancing looks like it will be amazing to watch, but all in all it looks like another bad case of let’s hire Hollywood actors and pop stars to do what real, triple threat Broadway actors can do in their sleep.

  77. OddsnEnds says:

    This looks like a lot of fun, actually.

    And it just goes to show that you can’t make Idris Elba look bad.

  78. Hot Toddy says:

    Definitely not something I would put in my Nexflix queue, even if I was desperate for something to watch.