The adventure film by Dmitry Dyachenko, which was released on the big screens on January 1, according to preliminary data, overcame the mark of 2 billion rubles in five days of distribution, becoming the highest-grossing domestic film in early 2023.

Dyachenko once again confirmed that he can be trusted with films with a big budget.

The last two parts of the fairy-tale fantasy franchise The Last Hero - Messenger of Darkness and Root of Evil, which were filmed by the director, earned 2.2 billion and 2.05 billion rubles at the box office, respectively.

In addition to the works of Dyachenko, from Russian films the mark of 2 billion rubles was overcome by such films as "T-34" by Alexei Sidorov (2.27 billion), "Upward Movement" by Anton Megerdichev (2.9 billion), as well as "Kholop" by Klim Shipenko.

Probably, by the end of the film release, "Cheburashka" will be able to break the record of previous creations of its creator.

At the same time, the film managed to fully recoup the production costs (850 million rubles) already on the third day of hire.

The picture was watched by about 6.5 million viewers, who note that "Cheburashka" is "an unrealistically cool movie", as well as an incredibly touching and warm film.

Many shared on social networks that the tape aroused many positive emotions in them.

There were also tears in particularly dramatic moments.

“Today I went to the cinema and, you know, I liked it.

Together with the audience, they laughed and cried, and the most interesting thing is that the audience of the hall was from small to large - they had not seen anything like this for a long time.

The film is entertaining and instructive in places, there is something to think about and remember, ”wrote one of the YouTube video hosting users.

Other commentators note that the tape exceeded all expectations, and the convincing performance of the acting ensemble, which included Sergei Garmash, Elena Yakovleva, Fyodor Dobronravov, Dmitry Lysenkov, Polina Maksimova and Sergei Lavygin, further secure the status of a New Year's hit.

Someone is even going to watch the movie in the cinema again.

“Just a wonderful film, so kind and correct, this is what we all need to show and watch.

Although I am a cold person, I could not restrain myself and received a whole range of emotions.

All the actors are perfectly matched, and the image of Cheburashka is super cute, ”said another user.

Despite the film's box office success, there are those who consider the film the "disappointment of the year".

According to People's Artist of the Russian Federation, actor and deputy Dmitry Pevtsov, "Cheburashka" is "a boring, meaningless, in places very vulgar film."

The actor considers the predictable plot and poorly written dialogues to be the main failure of the picture.

In addition, even at the stage of the release of the teaser of the tape, the audience was indignant due to the absence of a crocodile, the hero of the original fairy tale by Eduard Uspensky and the famous Soviet cartoon.

The adventures of the eared beast in the film begin with the fact that, as a result of a hurricane, he ends up in Russia from the country of an orange grove, where he meets Gena, performed by Sergei Garmash.

Throughout the film, Cheburashka asks existential questions, like: "Who am I and where do I come from?".

The tape was produced by the Soyuzmultfilm studio in partnership with Yellow, Black and White (YBW), as well as the Russia 1 and STS TV channels, and the START video service.

Filming took place mainly in Sochi, Pyatigorsk and Kislovodsk.