She places a luggage tag around Paddington’s neck that says, “Please take care of this bear.” I winced, wishing someone would do the same for me. But, Paddington protests, he doesn’t know ...

In this tumultuous and troubling 2025, Paddington—the cheery and polite British bear in the red bucket hat and blue duffle coat—is the hero we need. In Paddington in Peru, he continues to be a wonderfully amusing and charming beacon of light.

Prior to the release of the 2014 film Paddington, I had no feelings toward Paddington Bear, a character invented by the author Michael Bond in the 1950s who is