# Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (film)
**Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw** is a 2025 animated Christmas comedy film adapted from the third book in [Jeff Kinney](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeff-kinney)'s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, released exclusively on Disney+ on December 5, 2025[1](https://wimpykid.com/movies/) • [2](https://press.disney.co.uk/news/first-trailer-and-new-poster-for-disney%2B-animated-feature-diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-last-straw-out-today). It is the fourth animated feature in the franchise, following *Diary of a Wimpy Kid* (2021), *Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules* (2022), and *Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever* (2023)[3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYIphkVE5jQ). The story centers on middle schooler [Greg Heffley](https://www.edgepedia.org/greg-heffley)'s conflict with his father Frank, who presents him with an ultimatum, and a trip to wilderness camp, meant to challenge Greg's "wimpy" ways[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/diary_of_a_wimpy_kid_the_last_straw).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Premiere | December 5, 2025, exclusively on Disney+[2](https://press.disney.co.uk/news/first-trailer-and-new-poster-for-disney%2B-animated-feature-diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-last-straw-out-today) |
| Source | The third book in Jeff Kinney's series, *The Last Straw*, published January 1, 2009[2](https://press.disney.co.uk/news/first-trailer-and-new-poster-for-disney%2B-animated-feature-diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-last-straw-out-today) • [5](https://wimpykid.com/books/the-last-straw/) |
| Directors | Matt Danner and Gino Nichele[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/diary_of_a_wimpy_kid_the_last_straw) |
| Writer and producer | Jeff Kinney, the series' author, who has scripted all four animated films[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/diary_of_a_wimpy_kid_the_last_straw) • [6](https://www.cartoonbrew.com/interviews/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-creator-jeff-kinney-257514.html) |
| Lead voice cast | Aaron D. Harris (Greg), Chris Diamantopoulos (Frank), Erica Cerra (Susan), Hunter Dillon (Rodrick)[2](https://press.disney.co.uk/news/first-trailer-and-new-poster-for-disney%2B-animated-feature-diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-last-straw-out-today) |
| Rating and runtime | PG (mild rude humor); listed at 1h 18m by Rotten Tomatoes, with other outlets reporting 75, 78, and 89 minutes[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/diary_of_a_wimpy_kid_the_last_straw) • [7](https://www.techradar.com/news/new-disney-plus-movies) • [8](https://www.movieguide.org/reviews/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-last-straw.html) |
| Production | Walt Disney Pictures, Twentieth Century Animation, and Bardel Entertainment of Vancouver, British Columbia[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/diary_of_a_wimpy_kid_the_last_straw) • [6](https://www.cartoonbrew.com/interviews/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-creator-jeff-kinney-257514.html) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and source material
The film adapts *The Last Straw*, the third installment of the book series, in which Greg's father wants him to toughen up with sports, chores, and character-building activities while the threat of military school looms[2](https://press.disney.co.uk/news/first-trailer-and-new-poster-for-disney%2B-animated-feature-diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-last-straw-out-today) • [5](https://wimpykid.com/books/the-last-straw/). In the film's synopsis, Greg continually finds himself at odds with his dad's outsized expectations; after a series of near disasters, his father presents him with an ultimatum and a trip to wilderness camp[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/diary_of_a_wimpy_kid_the_last_straw).
**A father-son story.** Jeff Kinney, the author and cartoonist who created the series, described the film as primarily a sincere father-son story exploring the dynamic between Greg and his father and between parents and children in general[9](https://www.awn.com/animationworld/jeff-kinney-talks-parenting-and-diary-wimpy-kid-last-straw). He said the scripts draw on real parenting stories shared with his collaborators, and that Frank's insistence on toughening Greg up reflects a parent ensuring a child's survival in a harsh world rather than simple control[9](https://www.awn.com/animationworld/jeff-kinney-talks-parenting-and-diary-wimpy-kid-last-straw). Reviewers identified the same core: the Plugged In review described "a surprisingly touching story of a father and son trying, and ultimately succeeding, to bond"[10](https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-last-straw-2025/), and Movieguide called it a strong, pro-family movie whose heart is a father-son relationship that grows over the story[8](https://www.movieguide.org/reviews/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-last-straw.html).
The book on which the film is based was published on January 1, 2009, and the series as a whole has sold more than 300 million copies worldwide[5](https://wimpykid.com/books/the-last-straw/).
## Production
Disney+ rebooted the Wimpy Kid franchise in computer-animated feature form in 2021 after four earlier live-action theatrical films[6](https://www.cartoonbrew.com/interviews/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-creator-jeff-kinney-257514.html). *The Last Straw* is the second holiday-themed film in the animated run and the fourth produced by Bardel Entertainment, a studio based in Vancouver, British Columbia[6](https://www.cartoonbrew.com/interviews/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-creator-jeff-kinney-257514.html). All four animated films have been scripted by Kinney, marking his first foray into screenwriting, and Matt Danner, a first-time director for the franchise, co-directed with Gino Nichele[6](https://www.cartoonbrew.com/interviews/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-creator-jeff-kinney-257514.html) • [4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/diary_of_a_wimpy_kid_the_last_straw).
**Voice cast.** Aaron D. Harris voices Greg Heffley; [Chris Diamantopoulos](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-diamantopoulos) voices his father Frank; [Erica Cerra](https://www.edgepedia.org/erica-cerra) voices his mother Susan; [Hunter Dillon](https://www.edgepedia.org/hunter-dillon) voices his sarcastic older brother Rodrick; Jude Zarzaur voices his best friend Rowley; and Gracen Newton voices his younger brother Manny[2](https://press.disney.co.uk/news/first-trailer-and-new-poster-for-disney%2B-animated-feature-diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-last-straw-out-today). William Stanford Davis voices Troopmaster Barrett[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/diary_of_a_wimpy_kid_the_last_straw).
A first trailer and poster debuted on November 14, 2025[2](https://press.disney.co.uk/news/first-trailer-and-new-poster-for-disney%2B-animated-feature-diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-last-straw-out-today). Kinney said the filmmakers aim to release the films during the holidays so families can watch together, and that the film is dedicated to his father[11](https://www.laughingplace.com/disney-entertainment/jeff-kinney-diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-last-straw-interview/).
## Style and reception
The film is rendered in full-color 3D animation, and at points it drops into the black-and-white, sketchbook-style animation of the original books, a touch Movieguide called a clever callback that pulls readers back into Greg's diary[1](https://wimpykid.com/movies/) • [8](https://www.movieguide.org/reviews/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-last-straw.html).
**Critical response was mixed.** On Rotten Tomatoes the film held a Tomatometer score of 47% from six critic reviews, with an audience rating of 3.2 out of 5 from more than 50 ratings[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/diary_of_a_wimpy_kid_the_last_straw). Criticisms summarized there included a messy plot recycling points from previous films, Greg's selfishness, and disjointed pacing, while the verdict allowed for "some heartwarming moments"[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/diary_of_a_wimpy_kid_the_last_straw). John Serba of Decider wrote that the film's non-preachy moralizing marked an improvement for these Wimpy Kid movies[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/diary_of_a_wimpy_kid_the_last_straw). Movieguide gave the film four stars for entertainment quality and rated it worth the trip for ages 10 and up[8](https://www.movieguide.org/reviews/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-last-straw.html).
The film carries a PG rating in the United States for mild rude humor and a 6+ rating in the United Kingdom[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/diary_of_a_wimpy_kid_the_last_straw) • [7](https://www.techradar.com/news/new-disney-plus-movies). Plugged In noted that it sticks to its PG rating despite slapstick violence and gross-out humor, and highlighted its depiction of a family that attends church and a father-son group, the Wood Chippers, that encourages its members to grow[10](https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-last-straw-2025/).
## References
1. [Movies · Wimpy Kid · Official site](https://wimpykid.com/movies/)
2. [First trailer and new poster for Disney+ animated feature "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw", Disney UK Press](https://press.disney.co.uk/news/first-trailer-and-new-poster-for-disney%2B-animated-feature-diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-last-straw-out-today)
3. [Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw Official Trailer, Disney (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYIphkVE5jQ)
4. [Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/diary_of_a_wimpy_kid_the_last_straw)
5. [Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw · Books · Wimpy Kid · Official](https://wimpykid.com/books/the-last-straw/)
6. [Tara Bennett, "'Wimpy Kid' Creator Jeff Kinney On The 'Intoxicating' Nature Of Animation Storytelling", Cartoon Brew, December 11, 2025](https://www.cartoonbrew.com/interviews/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-creator-jeff-kinney-257514.html)
7. [New Disney+ movies: every new film you can stream in December 2025, TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/news/new-disney-plus-movies)
8. [Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Movieguide review](https://www.movieguide.org/reviews/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-last-straw.html)
9. [Jeff Kinney Talks Parenting and 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw', Animation World Network](https://www.awn.com/animationworld/jeff-kinney-talks-parenting-and-diary-wimpy-kid-last-straw)
10. [Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Plugged In Movie Review](https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-last-straw-2025/)
11. [Family Bonds and Unifying Laughs: Jeff Kinney Discusses "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw", LaughingPlace](https://www.laughingplace.com/disney-entertainment/jeff-kinney-diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-last-straw-interview/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Films by genre, form, and subject › Animated and short films › Animated films by source material and subject › Films based on novels and books*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license