Why Is 'Incredibles 2' So Long? The 2-Hour Movie Is Still Worth Your Time

Yes, Incredibles 2 is long. It’s an amazing, beautiful, non-stop thrill ride, but it’s also pretty long for a kid’s movie at just under two hours. So should you be worried going in? And will your young child be able to stay focused for the entire thing? After seeing The Incredibles 2, I’m happy to say that there’s no need to worry.

Last night, I squeezed into a crowded IMAX theater to experience a movie I’d been anticipating for 14 years. As the trailers ran, I scanned the crowd (mostly people my age looking to relive one of the best films of their childhoods) and noticed a group of children just a few seats to my left.

I was worried. Would these kids ruin the movie by talking through it or fidgeting in their seats? Then things, got worse. In the first half of the film, following a thrilling opening sequence, there’s a bit of a lull in the action as Incredibles explores the shifting family dynamics that drive the story.

I was totally captivated by the growing tension between Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, but one of those kids to my left was not. After somehow eating an entire bucket of popcorn in roughly 30 minutes, he began tapping on it like a drum. The entire row (myself included) glared in the kid’s direction, and after a few seconds he stopped.

Still, I was worried that this wouldn’t be his last drum solo, but luckily I was wrong. For the next hour-and-a-half the entire theater was totally captivated. Once Incredibles 2 gets going it really doesn’t stop, quickly bouncing between well-written jokes and some of the most impressive action (animated or otherwise) I’ve seen in a movie in years.

So if you’re worried that Incredibles 2 might be too long for you (or you kid) to stay focused, don’t be. This movie earns every minute it takes up, all 118 of them — though you probably don’t need to stick around after the credits for this one.

Incredibles 2 is in theaters now.