"Zero (From the Original Motion Picture "Ralph Breaks the Internet")", or simply "Zero", is a song by American

pop rock Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...

band

Imagine Dragons Imagine Dragons is an American pop rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada, consisting of lead singer Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee and drummer Daniel Platzman. The band first gained exposure with the release of their sing ...

, who co-wrote it with their producer

John Hill John Hill may refer to: Business * John Henry Hill (1791–1882), American businessman, educator and missionary * John Hill (planter) (1824–1910), Scottish-born American industrialist and planter * John Hill (businessman) (1847–1926), Austral ...

. It is the second single from the band's fourth studio album ''

Origins Origin(s) or The Origin may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Comics and manga * ''Origin'' (comics), a Wolverine comic book mini-series published by Marvel Comics in 2002 * ''The Origin'' (Buffy comic), a 1999 ''Buffy the Vampire Sl ...

''. The song is featured in the Disney animated film ''

Ralph Breaks the Internet ''Ralph Breaks the Internet'' is a 2018 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The 57th animated film produced by the studio and the sequel to ...

'' and was included in its second official trailer and its

soundtrack A soundtrack is recorded music accompanying and synchronised to the images of a motion picture, drama, book, television program, radio program, or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack o ...

Background

Dan Reynolds, the band's frontman, said that " hesong speaks to" the title character's struggle for self-acceptance, which the band resonated with, while the film's co-director,

Rich Moore Rich Moore is an American film and television animation director, screenwriter and voice actor. He has directed the films ''Wreck-It Ralph'' (2012) and co-directed ''Zootopia'' (2016) and '' Ralph Breaks the Internet'' (2018) for Walt Disney ...

, called the song "a bold choice for an end-credit song because it's about someone who feels like a zero, someone who hasn't always felt worthy, someone who's allowed his entire sense of self to rely on a single friendship". Phil Johnston, the film's co-writer and co-director, said that Ralph's insecurity is a feeling everyone can relate to, "but the song tells us we’re not alone. They nailed the theme of the movie in a way that also makes you want to dance."

Critical reception

Markos Papadatos of ''Digital Journal'' stated that the song is "worth more than just a passing glance, and it garners two thumbs up."

Music video

A music video for the song was released on October 23, 2018. The video takes place in an arcade, and promotes the Disney animated film ''Ralph Breaks the Internet''. It has received over 86 million views as of March 2023.

Live performances

"Zero" was performed live for the first time at the iHeartRadio Music Festival on September 22, 2018, along with another song from the album: "

Natural Nature, in the broadest sense, is the physical world or universe. "Nature" can refer to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general. The study of nature is a large, if not the only, part of science. Although humans are p ...

". "Zero" was also performed at ''

Jimmy Kimmel Live! ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' is an American late-night talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, broadcast on American Broadcasting Company, ABC. The nightly hour-long show debuted on January 26, 2003, at Hollywood Masonic Temple in Hollywood, Los ...

'' on November 5, 2018. "Zero" was also performed live at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on November 7, along with three other songs from the album: "

", "

Machine A machine is a physical system using Power (physics), power to apply Force, forces and control Motion, movement to perform an action. The term is commonly applied to artificial devices, such as those employing engines or motors, but also to na ...

" and " Bad Liar".

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certification

Release history

References

2010s ballads 2018 songs 2018 singles Imagine Dragons songs Disney songs Song recordings produced by John Hill (record producer) Songs written for animated films Songs written by Dan Reynolds (musician) Songs written by Ben McKee Songs written by Wayne Sermon Songs written by Daniel Platzman Songs written by John Hill (record producer) Songs written for films Kidinakorner singles Walt Disney Records singles Interscope Records singles Wreck-It Ralph {{2010s-rock-song-stub