I knew that this was going to be a big deal! When I went to see Black Phone 2, my theatre was packed and I mean packed with kids going to see Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie! My theatre had this on 11 times during the day on Saturday, and I have to be honest, I saw this pretty heavily advertised, but I was not sure if a movie based on a Netflix TV show was going to be all that popular.
Where to Watch Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie
Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie was released on September 26, 2025. You can stream the film from a digital platform such as Amazon Prime Video.
The Movie Review
What a dummy I was! I should have known this would be a hit. When this first aired on Netflix, my niece, like many other kids all around the world, was hooked on it, and I still have trauma from trying to help my sister try and track down that damn dollhouse playset! The show was brought to us by the people behind Blue’s Clues, and I feel that Gabby’s Dollhouse has a very similar fun, educational, and heartfelt vibe and mixture of animation and live action that Blue’s Clues offered kids.
Gabby’s Big-Screen Adventure in Cat Francisco
With the movie, we get the very talented Laila Lockhart Kraner reprising her role as the titular Gabby. Gabby, along with Panda Paws, her doll house, and the other Gabby Cats, are heading to Cat Francisco to visit her grandmother, who is played by Gloria Estefan. Her grandmother has a very special project that she needs Gabby to help her with.
Kristen Wiig Shines as Vera the Villain
While in the awesome Cat Francisco, an accident happens, and somehow, a crazy cat lady called Vera comes into possession of the dollhouse! Kristen Wiig plays Vera, and you can just tell that she is having a blast in this role. Gabby and Panda Paws need to do all they can to get the dollhouse and the Gabby Cats back before they are lost forever.
Emotional Depth and Relatable Themes
That right there is a solid enough plot for a kids’ movie, but Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie has more depth to it than you may expect. There is another character called Chumsley who used to be Vera’s favorite cat when she was little, but he has become neglected since Vera grew up, and he has gone kind of crazy. Chumsley is voiced by Jason Mantzoukas, and the relationship that he and Vera have is done so well for a kids’ movie. I feel like the plot about Vera growing up and losing her childlike wonder is something the adults accompanying the kids will be able to relate to very well.
Runtime and Production Value: A Smart Upgrade
This is a very well-paced movie, especially for a kids’ movie; it gets in and out in around a little over 90 minutes, and I honestly think that is the best kind of runtime for a kids’ movie like this. It has a lot of fun and silliness, but there is way more depth to this plot than I was expecting, and there are plenty of life lessons that some kids will pick up along the way. Plus, the step up from the Netflix TV show to the movie is very noticeable as far as the production value goes, especially for the live action segments, but also the animated portions as well.
Final Thoughts: A Must-Watch Family Movie
At the end of the day, Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie is a movie that is aimed at kids, but I do not think the adults will be bored by this either. If your kids love the TV show and you get a kick out of watching it with them, you will have a very fun time taking a trip to the movie theatre to watch this! Just do not be surprised if they are hitting you up for one of the new toys on the way home! When it comes to major kids’ movies released in 2025, this one is certainly up there as one of the best.
