Brother Bear

Play trailer

2:01

Brother Bear

G

Released Nov 1, 2003

1h 25m

Kids & Family

Adventure

Animation

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

37%

Tomatometer

131 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Kenai (Joaquin Phoenix) is a young Indian brave with a particular distaste for bears. When his brother Sitka (D.B. Sweeney) is killed by one, Kenai in turn kills the bear, only to be magically transformed into one himself. To make matters worse, his other brother Denahi (Jason Raize) vows to kill the bear Kenai has become. Kenai's only hope is a magical mountain where he believes he can be changed back to a human, and he enlists a real bear cub, Koda, to get him there.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Brother Bear is gentle and pleasant if unremarkable Disney fare, with so-so animation and generic plotting.

Read Critics Reviews

Sheila Norman-Culp

Associated Press

Disney hides the morality tale behind a rip-roaring soundtrack, goofy moose sidekicks and enough bear slapstick to delight any child.

Jan 23, 2019

Full Review

Neil Norman

London Evening Standard

While the animation itself (from the same team as Mulan) is charming and at times beautiful, the script is banal and uninspired.

Jan 11, 2018

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Lackluster story only for kindergarteners.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 22, 2010

Full Review

Carson Timar

ButteredPopcorn

While the film can definitely be annoying in its comedy and have some misses such as the soundtrack, the emotional core of the film is still wildly strong with a moving and mature conversation that is honestly one of Disney's best.

Jan 21, 2023

Full Review

Sergio Benítez

Espinof

A succession of sequences already seen many times before that turn the film into a predictable trance. [Full Review in Spanish]

Apr 29, 2020

Full Review

Mark Steyn

The Spectator

Rough rule of thumb: the more an animated movie drones on about the Great Spirit, the less likely it is to have any great spirit.

Feb 3, 2018

Full Review

Read all reviews

Massimo D

Capisco la gente che abbia opinioni diverse, ma dire che questo film fa schifo ANCHE NO . Ha una trama commovente, la colonna sonora è abbastanza buona e i personaggi sono fantastici ma d'altronde i film più sottovalutati sono sempre i più belli

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/25

Full Review

Radiator Springs N

Brother Bear ends up as Disney's most underrated films even though it undeoubtedly belongs to the best the studio has ever produced. The film tells a story of wisdom, responsibility and how complex the world around us actually is if we're forced to take one another's view for once. You'll hardly find a character as delightfully innocent and loveable as Koda or a chemistry as vivid as between the film's lead characters. Compelled by its classic animation and Phil Collin's sense for captivating songs, Brother Bear builds a whole lot on its astonishing emotional depth, making for an unforgettable experience close to the epic feeling of the Lion King.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/25

Full Review

Alex A

Brother Bear delivers a profoundly emotional story about accountability, redemption, and the bond between humans and nature. While the middle section falters with weaker jokes and less impactful moments, the movie excels where it matters most. Kenai’s transformation and journey with Koda are beautifully handled, culminating in a powerful and satisfying resolution. Its message about empathy and responsibility resonates deeply, making it one of Disney’s most underrated films. The flaws may be noticeable, but they’re outweighed by the emotional highs and the strength of its core themes.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/11/25

Full Review

Indigo O

Definitely an underrated classic! The music is amazing-- Phil Collins doesn't miss with these movies. The animation, of course, is beautiful and I love the character designs. Kenai is a really neat protagonist, along with Denahi as antagonist, it gives a cool dynamic. I remember thinking Koda was kinda annoying as a kid, but he has funny moments.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/01/25

Full Review

Stephen C

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/29/24

Full Review

Cameron L

The beginning of the movie and the ending are what the rest of the movie should've been, but the animation is damn well beyond gorgeous, and some of the humor is funny, and it's kind of touching

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/24/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Aaron Blaise

Director

Robert Walker

Director

Joaquin Phoenix

Kenai

Jeremy Suarez

Koda

Jason Raize

Denahi

Rick Moranis

Rutt

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Hercules

83%

76%

Hercules

Watchlist

Pocahontas

58%

64%

Pocahontas

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Pocahontas

Winnie the Pooh

90%

80%

Winnie the Pooh

Watchlist

The Tigger Movie

63%

62%

The Tigger Movie

Watchlist

Tarzan II

33%

37%

Tarzan II

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The Early Word on "V For Vendetta"

Warners Aim to Build a Hybrid "Treehouse"

Brother Bear: Trailer 1

2:01

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Kenai (Joaquin Phoenix) is a young Indian brave with a particular distaste for bears. When his brother Sitka (D.B. Sweeney) is killed by one, Kenai in turn kills the bear, only to be magically transformed into one himself. To make matters worse, his other brother Denahi (Jason Raize) vows to kill the bear Kenai has become. Kenai's only hope is a magical mountain where he believes he can be changed back to a human, and he enlists a real bear cub, Koda, to get him there.

Director: Aaron Blaise, Robert Walker
Producer: Igor Khait
Screenwriter: Tab Murphy
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Walt Disney Pictures
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Adventure, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 1, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $85.3M
Runtime: 1h 25m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now