(Updated 02/25/2025)
The Smurfs have been a staple of kids' storytelling since they were introduced in the 1960s. The animated TV series in the 1980s created an entire generation of Smurfs fans, and since then, the little blue characters have reappeared every few years on the big screen.
Now, Paramount Pictures has a new Smurfs adventure coming to movie theaters this summer. The character designs are super-Smurfy, which is to say that they look a lot like the familiar designs from the TV show. With some new songs and a few celebrity voice performers, SMURFS has all the ingredients for a delightful family movie confection.
Smurfs Arrive in Our World This Summer
Paramount Pictures will release SMURFS on July 18, 2025
Watch the First Smurfs Trailer
The vibe of this trailer suggests that Paramount took a long look at the success Universal had with the TROLLS movies. (A series that had more than a bit of influence from the Smurfs in the first place.)
And it looks like SMURFS will continue the tradition of having the little blue characters enter into the "real world," as in the two movies released by Sony in 2011 and 2013. But more of the action in SMURFS appears to be animated than live-action, and it seems as if the main characters, including Gargamel, are all animated.
Rihanna Leads the Smurfs Cast
There's a strong voice cast behind the expressive Smurf faces in the new movie. Rihanna leads the cast as Smurfette, and from the trailer you probably already realized that John Goodman voices Papa Smurf. Then there's Nick Offerman as Ken, Papa Smurf's brother, and Sandra Oh as Moxie, Ken's daughter. J. P. Karliak voices a dual role as the evil wizard Gargamel, and Razamel, Gargamel's brother.
Additionally, the SMURFS voice cast features Natasha Lyonne, James Corden, Dan Levy, Amy Sedaris, Nick Kroll, Octavia Spencer, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña, Kurt Russell and Maya Ereskine.
That's right — Kurt Russell, Alex Winter, and Hannah Waddingham in a Smurfs movie!
Smurfs Features the First New Rihanna Music in Years
New music from Rihanna is cause for celebration. Her last album, "Anti," was released in 2016. Her last single arrived in 2022 with the movie BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER. Now, three years after the release of that song, there are rumblings of a new album. There's also new music coming as part of the SMURFS soundtrack.
We don't know many details about Rihanna's new SMURFS songs at this point. We know that Desi Trill did a new track, "Higher Love," for the movie, with contributions from Cardi B, DJ Khaled, Natania, and Subhi.
Paramount Plans Multiple Smurfs Movies
Sony Pictures had a deal to make SMURFS movies for several years. In 2022, Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation signed up to make new SMURFS movies. This new film is the first result of that partnership. It likely will not be the last, as Paramount and Nickelodeon are planning multiple movies featuring Peyo's little blue characters.
SMURFS opens on July 18.
All images courtesy of Paramount Pictures.