Chicken Run

Right now you can watch Chicken Run in Australia on BINGE — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. 5,448 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Julia Sawalha is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Start it on BINGE whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

There is a reason Chicken Run keeps coming up in conversation. The jokes in Chicken Run land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. The creators of Wallace & Gromit bring you an exciting and original story about a group of chickens determined to fly the coop–even if they can’t fly! It’s hardly poultry in motion when Rocky attempts to teach Ginger and her feathered friends to fly…but, with teamwork, determination and a little bit o’ cluck, the fearless flock plots one last attempt in a spectacular bid for freedom. The chemistry Julia Sawalha and Mel Gibson bring to it does a lot of the heavy lifting. It hit screens in 2000. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Chicken Run holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Chicken Run respects your intelligence. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Julia Sawalha's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.