Marco

*This article is about the 2005 Marcanese animated film. For the live action films, see Marco (film franchise). For other uses, see Marco (disambuigation).*

***Marco*** (also known as *Little James Bond* throughout Europe and South America) is a 2005 Marcanese-American computer-animated buddy spy comedy film produced by Anaya Animation and Actors 3D Entertainment and distributed by Columbia Pictures under Sony Pictures Releasing. Directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller and executive produced by Chris Melendari from a screenplay by the Armand brothers and Marcus Joshua-Linus, the film stars the voices of Bill Hader, Will Smith, Emma Stone, Robin Williams, Pierre Coffin, Jason Segel, Sandra Bullock, Renee Zellweger, Anna Faris, Jason Sudekis, Julia Sawalha, Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Kristen Bell, and Andy Samberg. The film tells the story of the titular character, a highly smart and kind but unexperienced spy kid, as he saves the world with his friends from two bullies who crashed his party and want to take over the world.

Development began in January 1997, when the film was conceived as a superhero espionage comedy titled *Marcus The Spy.* The Armand brothers recruited Mark Ronson to compose the film's music score. Because of poor test screenings, creative differences with Lord & Miller, failed distribution rights among other studios, and production falling behind schedule, the Armand brothers decided to give up production and tried to make the film a dramatic twist on James Bond. Phil Lord & Christopher Miller made it a more lighthearted comedy in the vein of a Chuck Jones cartoon rather than a superhero film or dark espionage comedy. A documentary, *The Sandbox* (2003), details the production troubles that *Marco* endured during its eight year development.

Despite its troubled production, *Marco* debuted at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas, on February 9, 2005 and was released in the United States on February 16, 2005. The film received mostly positive reviews and grossed a worldwide total of $983.5 million, becoming the highest-grossing animated film of 2005. It got nominated for Best Animated Feature and won, as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film, the BAFTA Awards, the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, and the Annie Awards. *Marco* is the first entry in what would become the franchise of the same name, which includes four sequels- *Marco 2* (2013)*, Marco 3* (2015)*, Marco 4* (2017)*,* and *Marco 5: Epilogue* (2022), and two spinoff movies starring Marco's cousins- *Joaquin & Emiliano: The Movie* (2018) and *Joaquin & Emiliano: The Rise Of Marco* (2021). A website for *Marco* fans was launched in 2006.

## Cast

*Main article: List of Marco characters*

* Bill Hader as Marco
* Will Smith as Pepe
* Emma Stone as Isabella
* Robin Williams as Kevin
* Pierre Coffin as Joaquin & Emiliano, Brian, and Marco's kids
* Jason Segel as Joe
* Sandra Bullock as Alondra
* Renee Zellweger as Marlene
* Anna Faris as Aileene
* Jason Sudekis as Josue
* Julia Sawalha as Melissa
* Danny DeVito as Derek
* Ed Helms as Pohlino and Bom Bin
* Kristen Bell as Fabi
* Andy Samberg as Bradley
* Brianna Rei as Hayley

## Soundtrack

Heitor Pereira and Mark Ronson confirmed that they would compose music for the film. The Marco Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released on February 16, 2005 by Sony Music.

## Release

*Marco* was released on February 9, 2005 at the Alley Theatre in Houston. *Marco* was later released worldwide on February 16, 2005 and was released on DVD and VHS May 14, 2005 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

*Marco* was rated PG by the MPAA for "action sequences, thematic elements, and mild suggestive humor"

## Reception

### Box office

On the United States and internationally, *Marco* grossed $547 million. On Marco Island, *Marco* grossed $436 million for a worldwide total of $983 million against a $67 million budget. *Marco* was released to theaters along with *Son Of The Mask, Constantine,* and *Diary Of A Mad Black Woman* the following week. Reaching #1 at the box office, *Marco* became the highest-grossing animated film of 2005, the 2nd highest-grossing film of 2005, and one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time.