Empathy, Anthropomorphism, and the Uncanny Valley Effect: Why Audiences Strayed Away from the Film Adaptation of Cats

Empathy, Anthropomorphism, and the Uncanny Valley Effect: Why Audiences Strayed Away from the Film Adaptation of Cats

The 2019 film adaptation of the musical, Cats, was a box-office flop, unpopular with critics and audiences, and failing to recoup its production cost. The two major criticisms levelled at the film – its perceived lack of plot and unsuccessful animation – contributed to Cats’ inability to make an impact. While plot problems also beset the musical, the second criticism levelled at the film – the 'creepy' CGI – points to the uncanny valley effect as an explanation for the film’s failure. Specifically, category ambiguity hinders the audience’s ability to empathise with the characters and triggers feelings of discomfort and disgust.