Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a series of family comedy films based on the book series of the same name by Jeff Kinney. It consists of four live-action films and four animated films, with a fifth animated film announced. __TOC__
Films Film U.S. release date Director Screenwriter(s) Producer(s) Live-action films (20th Century Fox) Diary of a Wimpy Kid Thor Freudenthal Jeff Filgo, Jeff Judah, Gabe Sachs & Jackie Filgo Brad Simpson & Nina Jacobson Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules David Bowers Jeff Judah & Gabe Sachs Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days Maya Forbes & Wallace Wolodarsky Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul Jeff Kinney & David Bowers Animated films (Walt Disney Pictures) Diary of a Wimpy Kid Swinton Scott Jeff Kinney Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules Luke Cormican Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw Matt DannerDiary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway TBA
Live-action films Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010)
Principal production began on August 12, 2009, and was completed on October 16, 2009. The film was directed by Thor Freudenthal and starred Zachary Gordon as Greg Heffley, Robert Capron as Rowley Jefferson, Rachael Harris as Susan Heffley, Steve Zahn as Frank Heffley, Devon Bostick as Rodrick Heffley, Connor and Owen Fielding as Manny Heffley, Chloë Grace Moretz as Angie Steadman, Grayson Russell as Fregley, Laine MacNeil as Patty Farrell, and Karan Brar as Chirag Gupta. It was the only film in the series to be directed by Freudenthal. The musical score was composed by Theodore Shapiro. It received mixed reviews from critics. It was released on March 19, 2010, as it moved up from a previously scheduled April 2 release date.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011)
Based on the second book, Rodrick Rules, with elements from The Last Straw. Principal photography began on August 23, 2010, and was completed on October 27, 2010, with filming taking place in Vancouver and New Westminster. The film was directed by David Bowers, with Zachary Gordon reprising his role as Greg Heffley. New main characters include Holly Hills (Peyton List), Grandpa (Terence Kelly), and Bill Walter (Fran Kranz). Edward Shearmur composes the original score for the film. It also received mixed reviews from critics. It was released on March 25, 2011.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012)
Based on the third book The Last Straw and the fourth book Dog Days, the film was directed by David Bowers and features the same familiar cast of characters, introducing a few new ones, and also focusing on lesser characters not elaborated on in previous films, including Frank Heffley (Steve Zahn), Mr. Jefferson (Alf Humphreys) and Holly Hills (Peyton List). The film is the last one to feature the original cast, as they had outgrown their roles after filming wrapped. It also received mixed reviews from critics. It was released on August 3, 2012.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2017)
Featuring an entirely new cast, the plot follows Greg and his brother, Rodrick, unwillingly being taken on a family road trip to their great-grandmother's house for her 90th birthday party. Greg sees this as an opportunity to meet his Internet idol, Mac Digby, and get people to forget about him being dubbed as a meme known as "Diaper Hands". The film was panned by critics and audiences, with most of the criticism aimed at the casting change. It was released on May 19, 2017.
Animated films Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2021)
In August 2018, 20th Century Fox CEO Stacey Snider announced that a fully animated television series based on Diary of a Wimpy Kid was in development. On August 6, 2019, after the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney, the project was confirmed to be still in development for their streaming service, Disney+.
In December 2020, the project was confirmed to have been redeveloped as an animated film. On September 2, 2021, Disney officially confirmed that the new movie would be simply titled Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and would be released on December 3, 2021. The movie is a re-adaptation of the first book and the characters appear similar in design to their appearances in the book series. The first trailer was officially released in October 2021. Unlike the previous films, which were produced by 20th Century Fox, this film was produced by Walt Disney Pictures, although it was originally in production at 20th Century Animation.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2022)
On October 23, 2021, ahead of the first film's release, Jeff Kinney revealed that sequels are already in development. For Disney+ Day, Kinney revealed that the sequel, based on Rodrick Rules, was released on December 2, 2022. Unlike the first animated film, a copyright notice at the end of the trailer indicates that 20th Century Studios has involvement in the film.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever (2023)
On September 8, 2023, a film based on the sixth book, Cabin Fever was announced. It was released on December 8, 2023.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (2025)
At D23, on August 30, 2025, a film adaptation of the third book, The Last Straw, was announced and set to be directed by Matt Danner. Similarly to the original book, it centers around Greg attempting to persuade his father Frank to reconsider his intention to send him to a military academy to instill discipline and diligence. However, like Cabin Fever, it is Christmas-themed. It was released on December 5, 2025.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway (2026) On July 28, 2025, ahead of the fourth film's release, Matt Danner revealed that a film adaptation of The Getaway would serve as the fifth in the series. Danner is also attached as the fifth film's director, returning from The Last Straw, and stated that the film would release in December 2026.
Future and possible sixth film Jeff Kinney stated that he intends to adapt all the books into animated features for Disney+. In a later interview, Kinney stated that he submitted a script for a sixth animated film in January 2026, with him saying it'll be based on one of the more recent books.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Class Clown short film An animated short film set after the events of the third film, titled Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Class Clown, was included on the home media release of Dog Days in 2012. The short is told through Greg's point-of-view as he explains his experience with comedy and why he deserves the title of Class Clown at his School. Zachary Gordon reprises his role as Greg Heffley along with other cast members voicing their characters from the films in minor roles.
Canceled TV special In 2012, Jeff Kinney, the author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, announced the possibility for an animated film to be based on Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever as the next installment. In an interview for Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck, Kinney stated he was working with FOX on a half-hour special based on Cabin Fever, which was scheduled to air in late-2014. The special was meant to be an animated production developed at 20th Century Fox Animation, and had begun development while Kinney worked on the live-action films. Nothing regarding the special ever materialized. A separate adaptation was eventually released in 2023 as Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever.
Recurring cast and characters
Character Live-action films Short film Animated films Diary of a Wimpy Kid Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Primary cast Gregory "Greg" Heffley Zachary Gordon Zachary Gordon Jason Drucker Zachary Gordon Brady Noon Wesley Kimmel Aaron D. Harris Rowley Jefferson Robert Capron Owen Asztalos Robert Capron Ethan William Childress Spencer Howell Jude Zarzaur Rodrick Heffley Devon Bostick Devon Bostick Devon Bostick Charlie Wright Devon Bostick Hunter Dillon Susan Heffley Rachael Harris Alicia Silverstone Erica Cerra Frank Heffley Steve Zahn Tom Everett Scott Steve Zahn Chris Diamantopoulos Manny Heffley Connor and Owen Fielding Wyatt and Dylan Walters Gracen Newton Supporting cast Chirag Gupta Karan Brar colspan="2" Veda Maharaj rowspan="3" Abhiram Gulati Fregley Grayson Russell colspan="2" Christian Convery Christian Convery Ellis Myers Patty Farrell Laine MacNeil Laine MacNeil colspan="3" Lila Bahng Coach Andrew McNee colspan="2" Billy Lopez colspan="3" Mr. Jefferson Alfred E. Humphreys Alfred E. Humphreys Randy Pearlstein Mrs. Norton Belita Moreno colspan="6" Bryce Anderson Owen Best colspan="7" Shelly Samantha Page colspan="7" Marley Ava Hughes colspan="7" Archie Kelly Jake D. Smith colspan="7" Pete Hosey Nicholas Carey colspan="4" Zeno Robinson Mr. Winsky Rob LaBelle colspan="7" Punam Patel Carter Samuel Patrick Chu colspan="4" Cyrus Arnold colspan="3" Wade Donnie MacNeil colspan="4" Braxton Baker colspan="3" Principal Raugi Yu colspan="4" Donny Lucas colspan="3" Mrs. Jefferson Kaye Capron Bronwen Smith colspan="2" Mrs. Fregley Gabrielle Rose colspan="4" Brenda Crichlow colspan="3" Bill Walter Fran Kranz colspan="4" Jimmy Tatro colspan="2" Holly Hills Peyton List colspan="6" Grandpa Heffley Terence Kelly colspan="2" Ed Asner colspan="2" Mr. Draybick John Shaw colspan="6" Ben Segal Bryce Hodgson colspan="6" Chris Christopher Thorgard-De Schuster colspan="6" Taylor Pringle Dalila Bela colspan="6" Mr. Hills Jeff Kinney colspan="6" Mr. Warren colspan="2" Phillip Maurice Hayes colspan="5" Bashir Salahuddin Troop Master Barrett colspan="2" Frank C. Turner colspan="5" William Stanford Davis Lenwood Heath colspan="2" Tom Stevens colspan="5" Jabari Banks
Crew Role Film Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010) Rodrick Rules (2011) Dog Days (2012) The Long Haul (2017) Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2021) Rodrick Rules (2022) Cabin Fever (2023) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (2025) Composer Theodore Shapiro Edward Shearmur John Paesano John PaesanoAdam Hochstatter Cinematographer Jack N. Green Anthony B. Richmond colspan="4" Editor Wendy Greene Bricmont Troy Takaki Sylvain Blais Sylvain BlaisRob LevesqueMatthew Sipple Adam Pateman
Reception Box office performance
Film Budget Box office gross All-time ranking U.S. and Canada Other territories Worldwide U.S. and Canada Worldwide Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010) $15 million $64,003,625 $12,192,913 $76,196,538 1,341 2,127 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules $18–21 million $52,698,535 $19,828,461 $72,526,996 1,685 2,189 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days $22 million $49,008,662 $28,221,033 $77,229,695 1,826 2,695 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul $22 million $20,738,724 $19,402,248 $40,140,972 3,634 3,800 Total $- million $ $ $ 211 273
Critical and public response
+ Film Critical Public Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010) 56 (27 reviews) A− Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011) 51 (23 reviews) A− Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days 54 (22 reviews) A− Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul 39 (16 reviews) B Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2021) 50 (4 reviews) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2022) 56% (9 reviews) 50 (4 reviews) Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever (2023) 75% (8 reviews) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (2025)
Notes
References