Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie (), also titled Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir, The Movie in some territories, is a 2023 French animated musical romantic superhero film directed and co-written by Jeremy Zag. It is an adaptation of the animated television series Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, and follows two Parisian teenagers, Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste, who transform into the superheroes Ladybug and Cat Noir, respectively, to protect the city from supervillains led by Hawk Moth.
The film was announced in 2018, but production began in 2019, with confirmation that the plot will explore the origins of the franchise. Jeremy Zag was confirmed as director and co-writer with Bettina Lopez Mendoza. Zag also serves as a producer through ZAG Studios with Mediawan, both under The Awakening Production banner, with SND, the latter also serving as distributor. The film was animated by Mediawan's ON Animation Studios in Montreal, Canada. It is the second theatrical film based on a TF1 TFOU animated series after the 2009 film Totally Spies! The Movie. On a budget of €80 million, it is currently the second most expensive French film ever made.
Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie premiered at the Grand Rex on 11 June 2023, and was released in France on 5 July 2023, by SND. Internationally, it was released theatrically from the same date onwards in select regions, and was released on 28 July 2023 on Netflix in others. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the animation and action sequences, but criticized the simplistic screenplay and story.
Plot
Marinette Dupain-Cheng, a socially anxious teenager, goes to school trying to avoid being noticed. In spite of sparking a friendship with another student, Alya Césaire, Marinette finds herself desperately attempting to avoid the wrath of rich girl Chloé Bourgeois. While attempting to escape, Marinette runs into model Adrien Agreste and develops a crush on him. Adrien has become emotionally distant from others due to his mother Emilie's passing. Similarly wracked by her death, Adrien's father, Gabriel, uses the Butterfly Miraculous, a magical jewel, to turn into Hawk Moth, with the goal of finding the Miraculous he needs to make a wish and bring his wife Emilie back to life.
Hawk Moth's appearance is sensed by Wang Fu, guardian of the Miracle Box, who chooses to release the Ladybug and Cat Miraculous, only for them to run away. He is saved from an incoming bus by Marinette, still running away from Chloé, while he realizes that she deserves the Miraculous. Marinette ducks into a corner shop in an alley and is found by Tikki, the Kwami of Creation, while her polar opposite, Plagg, the Kwami of Destruction, makes his way to Adrien.
The two become Ladybug and Cat Noir and eventually run into each other, working together to defeat the Gargoyle, an "akumatized" villain created by Hawk Moth from negative emotions. Following the fight, Wang Fu follows the two and stresses the importance of them sticking together.
Marinette initially refuses to continue being Ladybug, but Hawk Moth recruits more villains to wreak havoc. Gathering the courage to fight, Marinette transforms once again, and defeats them alongside Cat Noir.
Some time later, Marinette plans to confess her feelings to Adrien, while Adrien plans to confess to Ladybug. Being unaware of their true identities, neither confession goes well. Defeated, Hawk Moth akumatizes himself and lays waste to Paris, prompting Ladybug and Cat Noir to go into action. The two are overwhelmed, with Ladybug losing her earrings and Cat Noir's mask damaged. Marinette is able to briefly power through to save Cat Noir from Hawk Moth. Discovering that Adrien is Cat Noir, a horrified Hawk Moth renounces his Miraculous powers. Seeing him remorseful for his actions, Adrien forgives his father, while Marinette reclaims her earrings and returns the Butterfly Miraculous to Wang Fu before repairing the damage done to Paris with her powers. Gabriel is arrested, while Marinette returns to her family.
A few months later, on the day of the Winter Ball, Marinette arrives in a beautiful dress, much to the crowd's pleasure. She finds Adrien, revealing that she knows his identity having seen his reconciliation during the fight, and reveals her identity as well, and the two embrace with a kiss.
Later, Nathalie Sancoeur, the Agrestes' manager, goes to the basement underneath their house, where the body of Emilie, wearing the Peacock Miraculous, is held.