A Dog's Purpose

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2:28

A Dog's Purpose

PG

2017

2h 0m

Comedy

Drama

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

35%

Tomatometer

147 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

A devoted dog discovers the meaning of its own existence through the lives of the humans it teaches to laugh and love. Reincarnated as multiple canines over the course of five decades, the lovable pooch develops an unbreakable bond with a kindred spirit named Ethan. As the boy grows older and comes to a crossroad, the dog once again comes back into his life to remind him of his true self.

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Critics Consensus

A Dog's Purpose offers an awkward blend of sugary sentiment and canine suffering that tugs at animal-loving audiences' heartstrings with shameless abandon.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

06/14/2017

3/5

A welcome, woofy warning against human speciesism.

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Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

05/10/2017

1.5/5

This remains a textbook example of what the website Snopes.com refers to as "glurge" -- the kind of gooey uplift associated with the novels of Nicholas Sparks and their film adaptations.

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Simran Hans

Observer (UK)

05/07/2017

2/5

It's hard not to be charmed by the film's pack of hyperactive, wriggling puppies, but there's only so much time to be spent watching them play before it becomes eye-wateringly banal.

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Hosea Rupprecht

Pauline Media Studies

08/26/2021

Lasse Hallström once again provides theater-goers with some food for thought in A Dog's Purpose. Of course, the food tastes better out of the trash and bacon from under the table is just the best.

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Linda and Al Lerner

Movies and Shakers

09/04/2019

It's a safe family film that's a heart tugger for dog lovers.

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Rachel Wagner

rachelsreviews.net

03/12/2019

C

The problem with that premise is you have to watch a dog die 5 times, which is like Marley and Me times 5.

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Samantha S

@RT31208908 5d

Excuse me while I go hug my dog for 3 hours.

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Easton B

@Ebmoviemaster2026 Jul 1

Here is my spoiler free review on a dog’s purpose and this was a really enjoyable movie. To start off I like how they didn’t use cgi in this movie to make it feel real and in the dog’s perspective, I think it exploits the themes of this movie perfectly. Speaking of the themes, the themes taught in this movie are fantastic. The themes about life and how a dog will always be there for you just makes the movie more emotional and enjoyable. The cast is great and Josh Gad just makes the dog more funnier. The movie is very emotional and will probably make you cry. I thought the plot was very interesting that dogs would come back to life and live different lives. Overall the movie is very enjoyable and delivers very emotional and great themes.

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Michael D

@RT54178660 Mar 27

A roller coaster of emotion.

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Declan D.

@filmbuffkid Mar 6

Well that left me depressed.

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The C

@HearthMovies Jan 20

An alright film that definitely pulls at your heart. It is quite sad a points and kind of props up this reincarnation of dogs concept. I find the human characters a little boring and forgettable at points but the dog (Bailey) is a nice representation of what everyone imagines a dog thinks like. In general the film ends well and is pretty good but is a little boring.

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Ren Y

@HeronR3n Jan 7

Heartwarming but also bittersweet. A real tear-jerker.

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Lasse Hallström

Director

Josh Gad

Bailey

Dennis Quaid

Ethan Montgomery

Peggy Lipton

Adult Hannah

Bryce Gheisar

Ethan - 8 Years Old

K.J. Apa

Teen Ethan

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Synopsis

A devoted dog discovers the meaning of its own existence through the lives of the humans it teaches to laugh and love. Reincarnated as multiple canines over the course of five decades, the lovable pooch develops an unbreakable bond with a kindred spirit named Ethan. As the boy grows older and comes to a crossroad, the dog once again comes back into his life to remind him of his true self.

Director: Lasse Hallström
Producer: Gavin Polone
Screenwriter: W. Bruce Cameron, Cathryn Michon, Audrey Wells, Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Pariah, Walden Media, Reliance Entertainment, Universal Pictures
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Some Peril)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 27, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 18, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $64.3M
Runtime: 2h 0m
Sound Mix: Datasat, Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Atmos, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)