Alvin and the Chipmunks is a 2007 American musical comedy film based on the characters created by Ross Bagdasarian Sr. Directed by Tim Hill from a screenplay by Jon Vitti, Will McRobb, and Chris Viscardi, the film stars Jason Lee, David Cross, and Cameron Richardson, with Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, and Jesse McCartney in voice roles. It is the first installment in the live-action Alvin and the Chipmunks film series. The plot follows the chipmunks (Alvin, Simon, and Theodore), who move in with struggling songwriter Dave Seville after losing their home. When Dave discovers their singing talent, he introduces them to JETT Records executive Ian Hawke, whose plans threaten the chipmunks' newfound family dynamic.
Development began in 1997 when Ross Bagdasarian Jr. expressed interest in creating a live-action film. The project saw multiple changes before it was announced in September 2004 as a live-action animated hybrid collaboration between Fox 2000 Pictures, 20th Century Fox Animation, and Bagdasarian Company. The animation for the film was handled by Rhythm & Hues Studios, which studied real chipmunks and previous versions of the characters to design CGI models that retained their original essence. The integration of CGI with live-action footage required match-moving techniques and advanced visual effects software. The music was composed by Christopher Lennertz. The film is dedicated to the memory of Ross Bagdasarian, creator of the Chipmunks.
Alvin and the Chipmunks was released in the United States on December 14, 2007 by 20th Century Fox. Despite receiving negative reviews from critics, the film was a commercial success, grossing $365.4 million worldwide against its $55–60 million budget. Its commercial success led to three sequels: The Squeakquel in 2009, Chipwrecked in 2011, and The Road Chip in 2015.
