‘Paddington 2’ Replaces ‘Citizen Kane’ as Top-Rated Film on Rotten Tomatoes

Move over, Rosebud… There’s a new GOAT on the big screen; or however big your screen is. And he’s a lovable little teddy bear named Paddington.

Some time earlier this month, Oscar Welles’s 1941 cinematic tour de force, Citizen Kane, finally fell from its lofty perch as the top-ranked film, thanks to an unearthed review from 80 years ago in the Chicago Tribune that got added to Rotten Tomatoes, thereby lowering the review average from a perfect 100 percent all the way down to 99%.

…And that means Paddington 2, which retains its perfect 100%, is now tops.

But. I mean. If you actually look at the review that turned the tide, it now feels a little too cute and clever. The headline in the Trib on May 7, 1941? “‘Citizen Kane’ Fails to Impress Critic as Greatest Ever Filmed.” That critic? Mae Tinee. Matinee. Not a real person.

Paddington, who is also not a real person, took the news with his natural charm and humility, typing: “I do hope Mr Kane won’t be too upset when he hears I’ve overtaken him with rotten tomatoes.” It helps if you read it with the voice of Ben Whishaw in your head.

Probably got those tomatoes from the prison chef? Or maybe it was Mank!

Paddington 2 received neither Oscar nor Golden Globes nominations, and despite that, the second go-around for our bear and his human friends and foes is even more charming than the first. In the movie? Two Hughs. Hugh Bonneville says in the film, “Paddington looks for the good in all of us, and somehow, he finds it!” Meanwhile, Hugh Grant hams it up as the chief villain trying to foil our Paddington! Plus Sally Hawkins, Brendan Gleeson (as that prison chef, Knuckles McGinty), Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi and more joining in the fun.

As Joe Reid observed for Decider in 2018, “Paddington 2 is a romp! It’s a delight. You might still be resisting it, because it feels like grown adults shouldn’t enthuse this way about a children’s property. But this is the rare all-ages triumph, and one you would be fully justified in renting this weekend.”

So, wait, hold on. Rent it? Can we not stream it right this very second?! Here’s everything you need to know about looking for Paddington 2 online.

IS PADDINGTON 2 ON NETFLIX?

Nope.

IS PADDINGTON 2 ON HULU?

Nada.

IS PADDINGTON 2 ON PRIME VIDEO?

Yes, but you’ll have to pay extra for it.

WHERE TO WATCH PADDINGTON 2 ONLINE:

Well, here’s the deal. You can rent or buy Paddington 2 through multiple VOD options, including Prime Video, iTunes, FandangoNOW, YouTube, Google Play, and Microsoft. But Hulu says you can watch Paddington 2 if and only if you subscribe to Hulu with Live TV.

And come May 1, 2021, it’ll become available in the “uncut” version for anyone who has TBS, and the theatrical version for anyone who has truTV. And yet, somehow, not available on HBO Max.

No wonder some anonymous reader on Decider has downgraded P2’s star rating on our site. Mank!!!

In the meantime, at least, you can enjoy this 21-minute snack of Paddington and Knuckles.

Just be on the lookout for The Terminator and Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, because they’re nipping at Paddington 2‘s Rotten Tomato heels.

Where to stream Paddington 2