Beethoven

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2:23

Beethoven

PG

Released Apr 3, 1992

1h 28m

Kids & Family

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

31%

Tomatometer

29 Reviews

36%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

When the family of George Newton (Charles Grodin) decides to adopt a cute St. Bernard puppy, the patriarch soon feels displaced by the dog. Before long, the adorable canine, dubbed Beethoven, has grown considerably, leading to household mishaps. While George's wife and kids dote on Beethoven, it takes time for him to see the pooch's finer qualities. However, Beethoven's life with the Newton family is jeopardized when a scheming vet (Dean Jones) tries to nab the dog for a deadly experiment.

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Critics Consensus

Fluffy and incorrigible, Beethoven is a good boy who deserves a better movie.

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Betsy Sherman

Boston Globe

Underlying this formulaic plot is a strange tone of desperateness in the movie's smiley-faced depiction of a "perfect" suburban nuclear family... For a family that's not missing any meals, they do more whimpering than any of the animals in the movie.

Nov 21, 2022

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Variety Staff

Variety

Rallies at the end to prevent chaperoning adults from feeling their time was completely wasted.

Mar 26, 2009

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Time Out

Elevated from the doldrums of Digby-esque sentimentality by a surprisingly bouncy script, the film is also redeemed by regular interludes of acerbic dialogue and a brace of fine supporting performances.

Jan 26, 2006

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a mostly easygoing comedy that fares best in its fast-paced and entertaining first half...

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 2, 2023

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Hal Lipper

Tampa Bay Times

If you have any desire to see Charles Grodin upstaged by a slobbering St. Bernard in the formulaic comedy Beethoven, then I suggest you rent Turner and Hooch and see Tom Hanks being slimed by his large canine partner instead.

Rated: 1/5

Nov 21, 2022

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Malcolm Johnson

Hartford Courant

Every moment fits neatly together in an almost machined way. But the time lopes by and a few of the sequences prove oddly delightful.

Apr 9, 2018

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Nile T.

One of my favorite movies from my childhood that still holds up but sadly it’s the only good one I guess Beethoven 2 was okay but from that it all just went downhill from there maybe this is one of the movies that doesn’t need a sequel.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/10/25

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Darian D

This was one of my favorite movies back when I was 12 years old, I used to watch it all the time back in the 6th/7th grade, now that I'm 44 years old I feel this movie has surprisingly held up very well, the performances of Charles Grodin, Bonnie Hunt and Dean Jones really elevated this movie as they made the most out of what could've been a standard, run of the mill film, I also loved how Beethoven did everything he could to help out the Newton family in so many various ways.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/12/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/03/25

Full Review

Stephen C

LOL, 1 hour and 28 minutes of comedy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All ages admitted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed $56,500,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/20/25

Full Review

Audience Member

it was kinda boring was cute but the plot belongs in a pile of dog poop

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

04/05/25

Full Review

Dionisis T

Iconic in any case possible!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/27/24

Full Review

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Brian Levant

Director

Charles Grodin

George Newton

Bonnie Hunt

Alice Newton

Dean Jones

Herman Varnick, D.V.M.

Nicholle Tom

Ryce Newton

Christopher Castile

Ted Newton

Beethoven: Official Clip - Where's My Dog?

1:39

Beethoven: Official Clip - Naming Beethoven

1:31

Beethoven: Official Clip - Puppy Payback

2:19

Beethoven: Official Clip - Beethoven Saves the Day

3:28

Beethoven: Official Clip - Framing Beethoven

2:20

Beethoven: Official Clip - Big Puppy, Big Dog

3:10

Beethoven: Official Clip - The New Puppy

2:53

Beethoven: Official Clip - Leash Training

2:48

Beethoven: Official Clip - Drowning Rescue

3:07

Beethoven: Official Clip - Beethoven In Bed

2:23

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Beethoven: Trailer 1

2:23

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Synopsis

When the family of George Newton (Charles Grodin) decides to adopt a cute St. Bernard puppy, the patriarch soon feels displaced by the dog. Before long, the adorable canine, dubbed Beethoven, has grown considerably, leading to household mishaps. While George's wife and kids dote on Beethoven, it takes time for him to see the pooch's finer qualities. However, Beethoven's life with the Newton family is jeopardized when a scheming vet (Dean Jones) tries to nab the dog for a deadly experiment.

Director: Brian Levant
Producer: Michael C. Gross, Joe Medjuck
Screenwriter: John Hughes, Amy Holden Jones
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Northern Lights Entertainment
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 3, 1992, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $56.5M
Runtime: 1h 28m
Sound Mix: Surround

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