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Because of Winn-Dixie

Play trailer Poster for Because of Winn-Dixie PG 2005 1h 45m Kids & Family Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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55% Tomatometer 119 Reviews 63% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Abandoned by her mother years ago, Opal (AnnaSophia Robb), a 10-year-old girl, moves with her preacher father (Jeff Daniels) to a small town in Florida. Lonely and missing her old friends, Opal is ecstatic to find companionship with a rambunctious little dog she names Winn-Dixie, after the store where she found the pup. With Winn-Dixie's help, Opal befriends several colorful townsfolk (Cicely Tyson, Eva Marie Saint, Dave Matthews) and even begins mending her relationship with her father.
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Because of Winn-Dixie

Because of Winn-Dixie

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Critics Consensus

An old-fashioned, if bland, adaptation of Kate DiCamillo's novel.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media 09/30/2010
3/5
A girl and a dog educate a small southern town. Go to Full Review Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness 05/03/2005
A children's film that embraces storytelling modesty and a balanced view of the world as both depressing and joyous. Go to Full Review Peter Debruge Premiere Magazine 02/22/2005
3.5/4
Plenty entertaining and chock full of valuable lessons about friendship and respect. Go to Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com 09/02/2020
3.0/4.0
It's a simple film and a simple story. Go to Full Review Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television 12/26/2016
Thoughtful, personal drama, complex and with much to say. Go to Full Review Jim Lane Sacramento News & Review 08/07/2008
2/5
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Audience Reviews

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Rotten P @RT18099091 Dec 28 Because of Winn-Dixie is a tender, heartfelt family film that captures the magic of small-town life and the transformative power of friendship. AnnaSophia Robb shines as Opal, a young girl learning to navigate loss and new beginnings, while Jeff Daniels adds warmth and subtle humor as her father. The story is buoyed by Dave Matthews’ charming turn as Otis and Cicely Tyson’s grounded performance as Gloria, creating a cast that feels genuinely connected. Though predictable at times, the film’s genuine sweetness, cozy setting, and the charming bond between Opal and her dog make it an uplifting and memorable experience for viewers of all ages. A timeless celebration of love, community, and the joy that pets bring, Because of Winn-Dixie earns a solid recommendation for families seeking comfort, laughter, and heart. See more Tiffani L @RT87520817 05/06/2025 Amazing best ever so good cool funny cute love dogs awesome See more Douglas E @RT50442544 04/27/2025 I liked the movie, but I watched it because of AnnaSophia Robb and, to my surprise, Elle Fanning appears as well, very early in her career. Two excellent actresses who have always acted well. See more Myah B @RT31596332 03/23/2025 Hadn’t watched this movie since I was a kid and revisited it recently—Loved seeing it again as a young adult. One of my favorite aspects of the movie was the focus on bringing community together. The movie really showed how easy it is to fall into habits of judgement and isolation, but how equally easy it can be to reach out to those around you and come together. All this, coupled with Annasophia Robb’s acting, and the dog not dying made this movie 5 stars for me! 😂 See more Lucas S @RT10545914 02/28/2025 Good movie with a fun and relaxing tone. If you read the book you'll probably love it. The dog does not die. See more Arline C @RT14225182 08/24/2024 Feel good movie, great for the whole family See more Read all reviews
Because of Winn-Dixie

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Cast & Crew

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Wayne Wang

Director

AnnaSophia Robb

India "Opal" Buloni

Jeff Daniels

Preacher

Cicely Tyson

Gloria Dump

Eva Marie Saint

Miss Franny Block

Dave Matthews

Otis

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Because of Winn-Dixie

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Movie Info

Synopsis Abandoned by her mother years ago, Opal (AnnaSophia Robb), a 10-year-old girl, moves with her preacher father (Jeff Daniels) to a small town in Florida. Lonely and missing her old friends, Opal is ecstatic to find companionship with a rambunctious little dog she names Winn-Dixie, after the store where she found the pup. With Winn-Dixie's help, Opal befriends several colorful townsfolk (Cicely Tyson, Eva Marie Saint, Dave Matthews) and even begins mending her relationship with her father.
Director
Wayne Wang
Producer
Trevor Albert, Joan Singleton
Screenwriter
Kate DiCamillo, Joan V. Singleton
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
20th Century Fox, Winn Productions, Walden Media
Rating
PG (Thematic Elements|Brief Mild Language)
Genre
Kids & Family, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 18, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$32.6M
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Dolby SRD, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)