The Boss Baby (2017)

The Boss Baby is a DreamWorks animated comedy directed by Tom McGrath. Loosely based on the picture book by Marla Frazee, the film tells a heartwarming yet hilarious story about sibling rivalry, imagination, and the power of family—packaged in a corporate baby suit.

Detailed Summary

The Arrival of the Boss Baby

The movie opens with 7-year-old Tim Templeton, who has always enjoyed having his parents’ full attention. His perfect world is disrupted when a new baby brother arrives—except this isn’t an ordinary baby. This one wears a suit, carries a briefcase, and talks like an adult (voiced by Alec Baldwin).

Suspicion and Rivalry

Tim quickly notices that his new brother is not what he seems. After catching the baby talking on the phone with “Baby Corp,” he confronts him. The Boss Baby reveals that he’s actually on a mission from Baby Corp, a secret organization that ensures babies stay cuter than puppies. Puppy Co., the company where Tim’s parents work, is planning to release a new breed of super-cute puppies that could threaten Baby Corp’s dominance.

An Uneasy Alliance

Despite their rivalry, Tim and the Boss Baby are forced to team up to stop Puppy Co.’s scheme. If they succeed, Boss Baby will be promoted and return to Baby Corp, leaving Tim’s family life undisturbed. If they fail, the balance between babies and puppies could collapse.

The Puppy Co. Heist

The pair sneak into Puppy Co., only to discover that the CEO, Francis E. Francis (voiced by Steve Buscemi), is a disgruntled former Baby Corp executive who grew up after being removed from Baby Corp’s formula (which prevents aging). Francis plans to unleash the “Forever Puppy,” which never grows old, thus making babies obsolete.

Tim and Boss Baby’s Bond

During their adventures, Tim begins to see the Boss Baby as more than a rival. Meanwhile, Boss Baby experiences what it feels like to be part of a real family, something he had never known in Baby Corp’s strictly business-driven world.

Movie Ending

In the climax, Tim and the Boss Baby work together to stop Francis from launching the Forever Puppy. They thwart his plan in dramatic fashion, rescuing Tim’s parents from danger. The mission’s success means Boss Baby will be promoted and can return to Baby Corp.

However, after experiencing love and family, Boss Baby realizes he doesn’t want to go back to a cold, corporate life. At first, he returns to Baby Corp but soon changes his mind. Using the company’s system, he sends himself back to the Templeton family—this time as a normal baby with no memories of Baby Corp. Tim, overjoyed, welcomes him as a real brother.

The film ends with adult Tim narrating the story to his daughter, implying that this entire adventure might be a mix of memory and childhood imagination, but the bond between siblings is very real.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

Yes. The movie contains a short extra scene during the end credits. It features Tim’s bossy daughter, hinting that the “Boss Baby” trait might be genetic and carried into the next generation. It’s more of a humorous stinger than a setup for the sequel, though the sequel The Boss Baby: Family Business later expanded on the idea.

Type of Movie

The Boss Baby is an animated family comedy with elements of fantasy and satire. It’s colorful and silly enough for kids, but layered with corporate humor and sibling dynamics that adults can appreciate.

Cast

• Alec Baldwin as Boss Baby
• Miles Bakshi as Tim Templeton
• Tobey Maguire as Adult Tim / Narrator
• Jimmy Kimmel as Tim’s Dad
• Lisa Kudrow as Tim’s Mom
• Steve Buscemi as Francis E. Francis

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Hans Zimmer and Steve Mazzaro, blending classic orchestral sounds with jazzy undertones. The soundtrack also includes The Beatles’ “Blackbird”, which plays a sentimental role in the story, and Burt Bacharach’s “What the World Needs Now Is Love.”

Filming Locations

As an animated film, The Boss Baby was produced at DreamWorks Animation Studios in Glendale, California. While no live-action locations exist, the environments were inspired by suburban American neighborhoods of the 1980s and 1990s, reflecting Tim’s nostalgic perspective.

Awards and Nominations

• Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 90th Academy Awards
• Nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at the Golden Globes
• Won the Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Character Animation

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Director Tom McGrath drew heavily from his own childhood memories of sibling rivalry.
• Alec Baldwin’s casting was inspired by his performance in 30 Rock, where he played a corporate executive with sharp comedic timing.
• DreamWorks animators studied baby behavior extensively to balance realism with cartoon exaggeration.
• The character of Boss Baby’s design was partly based on vintage advertising mascots.

Inspirations and References

The movie is based on Marla Frazee’s 2010 picture book The Boss Baby, though the book has a much simpler premise. The film greatly expands the narrative by adding Baby Corp, Puppy Co., and the spy-thriller framework.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Some storyboarded sequences that didn’t make the final cut included extended fantasy sequences from Tim’s imagination, such as him imagining himself as a pirate fighting the Boss Baby. These were trimmed for pacing. No major alternate ending was produced, but early drafts had Boss Baby staying in Baby Corp permanently.

Book Adaptations and Differences

• Book: Simple metaphorical story about how babies run households.
• Movie: Adds an elaborate corporate subplot with Baby Corp and Puppy Co.
• The book is playful and metaphorical, while the film literalizes the “boss baby” concept into a spy-comedy adventure.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Tim spying on Boss Baby’s secret meeting with other babies.
• The action-packed chase at Puppy Co. headquarters.
• The emotional scene where Boss Baby admits he likes being part of a family.

Iconic Quotes

• Boss Baby: “I’m on a mission. And I will not fail.”
• Tim: “You can’t just take over the whole house!”
• Boss Baby: “Cookies are for closers.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The design of Baby Corp bears strong resemblance to corporate offices from the 1960s, nodding to Mad Men.
• Boss Baby’s “Cookies are for closers” is a parody of Alec Baldwin’s famous line in Glengarry Glen Ross.
• Francis E. Francis’s design was intentionally made to resemble a “grown-up baby.”

Trivia

• The film grossed over $520 million worldwide.
• Alec Baldwin improvised several lines that became iconic, including “Cookies are for closers.”
• The character design team used real baby scans and motion reference to nail down infant expressions.

Why Watch?

It’s a quirky mix of slapstick, spy adventure, and heartfelt family storytelling. Kids will love the zany baby antics, while adults will appreciate the satire of corporate culture and the nostalgia of childhood imagination.

Director’s Other Movies

• Madagascar (2005)
• Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)
• Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (2012)
• Megamind (2010)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Storks (2016)
• Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)
• Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)
• The Secret Life of Pets (2016)
• Despicable Me (2010)