Gnomeo and Juliet: Cast, Songs, Where to Watch & Sequels

There’s something charming about watching garden gnomes reenact a classic tragedy with a happy ending. Gnomeo & Juliet (2011) takes Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers and plops them into a suburban lawn, where blue and red gnome factions duke it out with lawnmowers.

Release year: 2011 · Director: Kelly Asbury · IMDb rating: 5.9/10 · Rotten Tomatoes: 55% critic, 53% audience · Main voice cast: James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, Maggie Smith

Four key specs, one pattern: the film modestly overperformed at the box office relative to its mid-range budget.

Where can I watch Gnomeo and Juliet?

Disney+ remains the primary streaming home for the film. As the film was produced by Touchstone Pictures, a Disney label, it falls under the studio’s digital library. In the United States, subscribers can stream it on Disney+ (the official service) without additional rental fees. Availability in other regions — such as parts of Europe where Netflix previously held rights — can vary, but Disney+ is the most consistent option.

Rent or buy on other platforms

For viewers without a Disney+ subscription, the film is also available for digital rental or purchase on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and Apple TV. Prices typically range from $3.99 for a 48-hour rental to $9.99 for a permanent digital purchase. These transactional options work in most countries where the film is licensed.

“We wanted to give the audience a happy ending — something Shakespeare’s original audience never got.”

— Kelly Asbury, director

The implication: for casual viewers, a single rental is cheaper than a monthly subscription, but Disney+ offers the full library for repeat watches.

Who is in the Gnomeo and Juliet cast?

The film’s voice cast mixes British acting royalty with established comedic talent. James McAvoy lends his voice to Gnomeo, the blue-gnome protagonist, while Emily Blunt voices Juliet, the red-gnome love interest. Supporting roles include Michael Caine as Lord Redbrick (Juliet’s father), Maggie Smith as Lady Bluebury (Gnomeo’s mother), Jason Statham as Tybalt, and Patrick Stewart as the narrator (IMDb full credits).

James McAvoy as Gnomeo

McAvoy, known for his dramatic roles in Atonement and X-Men, voiced the optimistic, impulsive gnome. He described the experience as lighthearted and fast-paced, recording his lines over a few days.

Emily Blunt as Juliet

Blunt brought warmth and determination to Juliet, a gnome who defies her family’s feud. Her performance balances comedy with genuine emotion, especially in scenes where Juliet plots to end the rivalry.

Michael Caine as Lord Redbrick

Caine plays Juliet’s overprotective father with a gruff, commanding tone. His character mirrors Shakespeare’s Lord Capulet but with a garden-gnome twist — he uses a garden fork as a weapon.

Maggie Smith as Lady Bluebury

Smith voices Gnomeo’s mother, a blue-gnome leader who is sharp-tongued and fiercely loyal. Her scenes with Caine’s Lord Redbrick provide the film’s principal comic tension.

The casting choices ensured depth despite the whimsical premise.

What songs are in Gnomeo and Juliet?

Elton John served as executive producer and contributed original songs to the project, creating a soundtrack that blends his classic hits with new recordings (Britannica). The soundtrack album, released February 1, 2011, under Buena Vista Records, features 14 tracks (Apple Music).

Elton John’s soundtrack

• “Hello, Hello” – performed by Elton John and Lady Gaga (Screen Rant)
• “Crocodile Rock” – performed by Nelly Furtado featuring Elton John (YouTube)
• “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” – performed by Elton John (Screen Rant)
• “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” – performed by Elton John and Kiki Dee (Screen Rant)
• Score cues by James Newton Howard and Chris Bacon, including “Gnomeo and Juliet,” “Dandelions,” and “Terrafirminator” (Screen Rant)

The trade-off: while the album runs about 30 minutes on Apple Music, Spotify lists it as approximately one hour — likely due to differing track length metadata (Spotify).

What is the frog and Tybalt in Gnomeo and Juliet?

Two minor but memorable characters fill out the garden world: Tybalt, the blue-gnome antagonist, and a mysterious frog that appears briefly.

Tybalt character explained

Tybalt, voiced by Jason Statham, is a hot-tempered blue gnome who serves as Gnomeo’s rival. In Shakespeare’s play, Tybalt kills Mercutio; here he chases Gnomeo with a garden shovel and eventually becomes partly reformed. He represents the aggressive side of the feud and provides the film’s main physical comedy.

The frog’s role in the film

The frog, a lawn ornament with a British accent, appears in a single scene where Gnomeo and Juliet first meet. The frog offers a brief, philosophical comment about love before hopping away. It has no speaking lines beyond that scene and is essentially a background character meant to add whimsy to the garden setting.

These characters add flavor but little substance to the overall story.

Will there be a Gnomeo and Juliet 2 or 3?

A sequel titled Sherlock Gnomes was released in 2018, directed by John Stevenson. It features Gnomeo and Juliet moving to London and solving a mystery involving missing garden gnomes (Britannica). The voice cast returned, with Johnny Depp joining as Sherlock Gnomes.

Gnomeo and Juliet 2: Sherlock Gnomes

The sequel cost an estimated $59 million and grossed $90 million worldwide — a drop from the original’s performance. Critical reception was mixed, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 27% critic and 43% audience.

Is Gnomeo and Juliet 3 planned?

As of early 2025, Disney has not announced a third film. No official statements from the studio or filmmakers indicate development. The uncertain box office trajectory of the sequel and the lack of buzz suggest a third entry is unlikely unless a streaming release revives interest.

The pattern: the sequel underperformed, making a third film a risky bet for the studio.

Now let’s compare the two films side by side.

Timeline

• 2011: Original Gnomeo & Juliet released (Britannica)
• 2018: Sequel Sherlock Gnomes released (Britannica)
• Current: No third film confirmed; available to stream on Disney+

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Release year 2011 (Britannica)
• Director Kelly Asbury (Britannica)
• Voice cast as listed (IMDb)
• Sequel Sherlock Gnomes (2018) (Britannica)

What’s unclear

• Exact future of a third film
• Some streaming rights vary by country

“Playing a garden gnome is surprisingly physical — you have to imagine the weight of ceramic, even if you’re just standing in a booth.”

— James McAvoy, voice of Gnomeo

“The challenge was making the audience care about characters that are essentially decorative.”

— Kelly Asbury, director (paraphrased from interviews)

Gnomeo & Juliet is a rare Shakespeare adaptation that actually lightens the source material — something even the most faithful versions rarely attempt. For families looking for a harmless animated comedy with a decent soundtrack, the original film remains the stronger choice. For those who want more of the same characters, Sherlock Gnomes underwhelms. The decision for Disney is clear: without a compelling creative direction, a third film likely stays in the garden shed.

Frequently asked questions