Marmaduke

Pete Davidson’s Animated Misadventure: The Messy Behind-the-Scenes of Marmaduke (2022)

Pete Davidson’s foray into animated stardom with Marmaduke (2022) was supposed to be a lighthearted reboot of the classic comic strip. Instead, it became a cautionary tale about Netflix’s willingness to greenlight projects that even its own talent might regret. The film, directed by Mark A.Z. Dippé (Spawn, Garfield: The Movie), stars Davidson as the voice of the titular Great Dane, alongside J.K. Simmons, David Koechner, and a supporting cast of familiar names. But from its troubled production to its brutal reception, latestnetflix.com argues, Marmaduke (2022) is a case study in how a seemingly simple project can go off the rails—especially when the internet gets involved.

A Reboot Nobody Asked For (But Netflix Made Anyway)

The original Marmaduke comic strip, created by Brad Anderson in 1954, had already been adapted into a live-action film in 2010, which bombed at the box office. So why revisit it? The answer, as with many Netflix originals, likely came down to brand recognition and low-risk animation. The 2022 version was pitched as a family-friendly comedy, with Davidson’s signature humor front and center. But from the outset, the project felt like a mismatch.

Dippé, a veteran of visual effects and animation (Spawn, The Ant Bully), was an unusual choice to helm a comedic reboot. His background in CGI-heavy films didn’t scream "wholesome family comedy," and the final product reflected that disconnect. The animation style, described in reviews as "cheap-looking" , clashed with the film’s attempts at humor, which leaned heavily on Davidson’s SNL-adjacent brand of irreverence. The result? A movie that felt like it was trying too hard to be edgy for kids but ended up alienating everyone.

Pete Davidson’s "Embarrassing" Detour into Animation

Davidson’s involvement was the biggest selling point—and, in hindsight, the film’s biggest liability. The comedian, known for his self-deprecating humor and Brooklyn Nine-Nine guest spots, was an odd fit for a children’s movie. Multiple reviews and reaction videos called out his performance as "cringeworthy" , with some going so far as to say it "scarred" them .

The backlash wasn’t just about Davidson’s voice acting. The film’s humor, which included a bizarre rap sequence (yes, really) , felt like it was written for Davidson’s adult fanbase rather than actual kids. One reviewer joked that the movie was "the worst Netflix original you’ve never seen" , a sentiment echoed across YouTube reaction channels. Even Davidson’s co-stars, including J.K. Simmons (who has voiced everything from Spider-Man’s J. Jonah Jameson to Kung Fu Panda’s Kai), couldn’t salvage the film’s tone.

Rumors swirled that Davidson was less than thrilled with the final product. While no official statements confirmed his regrets, the sheer volume of negative coverage—including multiple "embarrassing" takedowns —suggested that Marmaduke (2022) was a rare misfire for the comedian, who had previously found success in voice work (The Suicide Squad, The King of Staten Island).

A Critical and Cultural Flop

Critics and audiences alike panned Marmaduke (2022). On SensCritique, a French review aggregator, the film holds a dismal 3.7/10 rating based on 41 votes . Rotten Tomatoes doesn’t even list an official score for the movie , a rarity for a Netflix original, suggesting the site’s curators deemed it too insignificant to warrant a full page.

The film’s reception was so bad that it became a meme. YouTube was flooded with reaction videos mocking everything from the animation quality to Davidson’s line delivery . One reviewer called it "the worst Netflix original you’ve never seen" , while another claimed it "scarred [them] for life" . Even the film’s marketing—centered around Davidson’s star power—backfired, as audiences struggled to see the appeal of a Marmaduke reboot in the first place.

Netflix, for its part, seemed to bury the movie. Unlike other animated originals (The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Klaus), Marmaduke (2022) received no major promotional push, no press junkets, and no awards buzz. It was quietly released and just as quickly forgotten—except by the internet, which couldn’t resist dunking on it.

Why Did This Happen?

The failure of Marmaduke (2022) can be chalked up to a few key missteps:

• Mismatched talent: Davidson’s humor didn’t translate to a family audience, and Dippé’s directorial style clashed with the material.
• Low-effort animation: The film’s visuals were widely criticized as "cheap" , undercutting its comedic ambitions.
• No clear audience: Was it for kids? Adults? Fans of Davidson? The film couldn’t decide, and it showed.
• Netflix’s algorithm-driven greenlighting: The streaming giant has a history of betting on IP, even when the execution is questionable. Marmaduke (2022) was a textbook example of that strategy backfiring.

In the end, Marmaduke (2022) serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of rebooting tired properties without a clear creative vision. For Davidson, it’s a rare blemish on an otherwise solid career. For Netflix, it’s just another forgotten original in a sea of content. And for audiences? It’s a meme—and a warning.