They're cute, they're cuddly, and, for most people, Alvin and the Chipmunks are a part of media royalty. What started in 1958 as a novelty album grew into one of the classic cartoon singing groups of all-time. In addition to their music, which some may find a bit irritating, Alvin and the Chipmunks have also made their presence felt in television and movies, with eight feature films produced featuring the adoring rodents.
Film fans have turned to IMDb to give their reaction to the eight Chipmunk films, and here there are ranked from worst to best according to the movie website's ranking.
Chipwrecked (4.3)
Out of the eight films the Chipmunks have made, this one was the lowest-rated, narrowly edging out The Squeakquel for the bottom spot. The fourth film in the live-action version, Chipwrecked finds the beloved Chipmunks stranded on a deserted island after they shipwrecked. Many users came to the conclusion that, with Chipwrecked, the live-action films had run their course, unbeknown at the time that filmmakers would have one more Chipmunk film up their sleeves.
The Squeakquel (4.5)
By the slimmest of margins, 2009's The Squeakquel just made it out of the IMBd basement. As in its title, this was the sequel to the first live-action film, and it followed the Chipmunks as they navigate all of the pressure of growing up while competing with their female rivals, The Chipettes.
Many reviewers found this film to be empty, brainless, and cheap, basically calling it an insult to the intelligence of their kid audience. A masterpiece wasn't necessary, but viewers did deserve better than a sequel in which its only purpose was to milk off of the success of its predecessor.
The Road Chip (5.0)
The final film (to date) in the live-action version of Alvin and the Chipmunks, The Road Chip followed the beloved Chipmunks as they traveled cross-country to stop their guardian, Dave, from getting married.
Aside from the original film, The Road Chip was, to IMDb users, the best out of the live-action films, which isn't really saying much. It was a bit better than The Squeakquel and Chipwrecked, but it still felt more like a direct-to-Netflix film than an actual feature film meant for the theaters.
Alvin and the Chipmunks (5.2)
It's safe to say that IMDb users didn't think too highly of the live-action version of Alvin and the Chipmunks, with the original 2007 film being the highest-rated. While the film was full of nostalgia and lured in many new fans to the world of the Chipmunks, the film didn't really add anything new to the plot, focusing instead on re-telling the story of how the Chipmunks met Dave, their guardian, and were formed into the world-famous musical troupe that they're more famous for.
The film came out around the time where a mix of animation and live-action was flooding the movie theaters, for better and for worse, and, while the film may seem a bit dated today, many reviewers still found that the original live-action film is at least enjoyable, unlike its sequels.
Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein (6.2)
Compared to the live-action films, reviewers hold the fully-animated films in higher regard than the unapologetic, slapstick films that came out in the 2000s. This film, the second of the fully animated version, came out in 1999 and was the lowest-rated, though it scored considerably higher than its live-action brethren.
This was the second Chipmunk film that featured the musical trio running into a classic monster, and, while some fans preferred the Wolfman over Frankenstein, many reviewers still found that the film was enjoyable for both kids and adults and didn't stray too far from the magic that made the Chipmunks a classic.
Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet The Wolfman (6.7)
There is a debate among Chipmunk fans about which direct-to-video film was better, the Wolfman or Frankenstein. While some preferred the Chipmunks meeting Frankenstein, which came out a year before this film, others preferred the Wolfman storyline. That may explain why this animated film received just a 6.7 on IMDb, but some say that this film is the best of the animated series, and clearly is superior over the live-action films. Two other films beat it in terms of IMDb score, but, nevertheless, fans much prefer the animated Chipmunks over the live-action versions.
The Chipmunk Adventure (7.2)
It was neck-and-neck for which original Chipmunk movie would be the highest-rated, with the trio's first foray into the feature film world coming in second. The Chipmunk Adventure was released in 1987 and closely mirrors the television animated series that launched the Chipmunks into this medium.
With many adult reviewers praising the film, it's a trip down nostalgia lane and makes anybody want to relive their childhood again. The film is dated, for sure, but, for most reviewers, it was still a far more enjoyable watch than the live-action versions that graced movie theaters in the mid-2000s.
Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks (7.3)
This 2003 film, the last of the fully animated version of the Chipmunks, narrowly beat out The Chipmunk Adventure to claim the top spot as the best-rated film by reviewers. As the title hinted, the film follows Alvin, Simon, and Theodore as babies.
This version of the Chipmunks holds a special distinction as the first of the series to be made by using puppets, and the creators certainly did the film justice compared to its live-action versions. It isn't meant for adults and aimed for the five-and-under set, but the little ones will enjoy this film and keep them entertained.