Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story

Play trailer Poster for Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story PG Released Oct 16, 2005 1h 38m Kids & Family Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
64% Tomatometer 115 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Ben Crane (Kurt Russell) is a horse trainer who is struggling to connect with his precocious daughter, Cale (Dakota Fanning). But then a horse by the name of Soñador suffers a broken leg after its evil owner (David Morse) races her despite Ben's advice. Rather than put his client's injured horse down, Ben adopts her and welcomes Cale into the family business. They train Soñador to race again as grouchy but kind-hearted Grandpa (Kris Kristofferson) lends his encouragement.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story

Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Though formulaic, this horse story's saving grace is its strong performances.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (115)
Empire Magazine Rated: 3/5 Apr 1, 2006 Full Review Marrit Ingman Austin Chronicle It manages to be a watchable, even enjoyable movie about and for girls, and in our world of candy-coated sparkly pink crap, that's a rare and commendable thing. Rated: 3/5 Oct 29, 2005 Full Review Neil Smith BBC.com Despite thoroughbred work from Dakota Fanning, by the time the movie hits the final furlong it's only good for the glue factory. Rated: 2/5 Oct 25, 2005 Full Review Peter Sobczynski eFilmCritic.com Rated: 4/5 Nov 18, 2011 Full Review Robert Roten Laramie Movie Scope All the characters are familiar, the story is familiar, but it is well-constructed and the actors do a good job with the material. Rated: B Dec 30, 2006 Full Review Carolyn Arends Christianity Today Dreamer is loaded with enough clichs and formulas to choke a horse. But truly, it works. Rated: 2.5/4 Sep 22, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+)
Carlos T Filme: Sonhadora Assistido: 25-11-23 Elenco: @official_kurtrussell @dakotafanning @elisabthshue @_david_morse_ Modelo: #esporte #drama #aventura Duração: 1h 45m Ano: 2005 Minha opinião: Os americanos amam filmes de cavalo, tem muitos, muitos, filmes. Mar de Fogo, Secretarit, Spirit, Concrete, Corrida Selvagem, 50-1, Valente,..... Temos aqui como protagonista Dakota com Kurt Russell. Esta é a era de ouro de Dakota com filmes: Uma Lição de Amor, Grande Menina Pequena, A Menina eo Porquinho, O Amigo Oculto, Guerra do Mundo, Chamas da Vingança,... E contra cenando com vários stars, Tom Cruise, Denzel Washighton, Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, saudosa Brittany Murphy, Julia Roberts, Robert De Niro,... Aqui temos o filme "Sonhadora" 2005 e com Kurt Russell. Aonde eles tem um lindo corcel que tem tudo para ser o campeão. Porem em uma corrida ele sofre um acidente. E um momento em que o banco esta para tomar a fazenda. Neste momento critico Bem quer sacrificar o cavalo, mas sua filha impede, e o cavalo consegue se recuperar. Neste momento temos Palmer um homem rico que quer comprar o cavalo. Bem quer, pois o dinheiro irá ajudar a amenizar as contas. Mas o amor de Cale vai vencendo as dificuldades e a descrença do pai. E assim vai passando o filme, até o momento que chegamos para a corrida final. Quem vencerá? Um filme de superação física do cavalo e espiritual e mental do pai e da filha. Roteiro e enredo bem executado, oque já conhecemos, o diferencial aqui é a Dakota e Russell que da o tempero diferente ao filme. Vale apena assistir? Sim com toda a família. Nota: 7,5 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/24 Full Review Audience Member Dakota's an interesting little girl determined to save this horse and win the cup. It's predictable, but family friendly. No secretariat. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review lanfranco c The Sport of the Kings Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review jon c Just alright Feels more like a made for TV movie tbh Typical horse movie filled with likable actors Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review steve d My absolute favorite horse film ever. really cute, well acted and heartfelt. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review uncle p Story/Screenplay: (4/5) Nice, lighthearted drama about a young girl and a damaged racehorse. Duration/Tempo: (3.5/5) At 1 hour and 46 minutes, it felt about the same. There's a lot of quality content, but it's paced well. Cast & Crew: (4.5/5) Very likable cast. As a child actor, Dakota Fanning was one of the best; she delivers here. Kurt Russell and Kris Kristofferson did well as fatherly-type characters. Summary: (4/5) A feel-good story matched with feel-good actors. Easy to watch. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All

John Gatins

Director

Kurt Russell

Ben Crane

Dakota Fanning

Cale Crane

Kris Kristofferson

Pop Crane

Elisabeth Shue

Lily

David Morse

Palmer

Movie Clips

View All

Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story

Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story: Official Clip - The Breeders' Cup Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story: Official Clip - The Breeders' Cup 2:13 Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story: Official Clip - A Great Champion Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story: Official Clip - A Great Champion 2:13 Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story: Official Clip - You Came Home! Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story: Official Clip - You Came Home! 1:37 Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story: Official Clip - We're Going to Run Away Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story: Official Clip - We're Going to Run Away 2:02 Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story: Official Clip - Soñador Likes Popsicles Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story: Official Clip - Soñador Likes Popsicles 2:00 Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story: Official Clip - Once Upon a Time Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story: Official Clip - Once Upon a Time 2:11 Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story: Official Clip - She Was Our Horse Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story: Official Clip - She Was Our Horse 1:42 Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story: Official Clip - You Just Sold Soñador Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story: Official Clip - You Just Sold Soñador 2:01 Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story: Official Clip - Broken Leg Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story: Official Clip - Broken Leg 1:59 View more videos

More Like This

View All
Benji: Off the Leash! 33% 52% Benji: Off the Leash! Watchlist Because of Winn-Dixie 55% 63% Because of Winn-Dixie Watchlist Opal Dream 69% 64% Opal Dream Watchlist The Dust Factory 9% 57% The Dust Factory Watchlist My Dog Skip 73% 68% My Dog Skip Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related Movie News

View All
Box Office Guru Preview: Saw III Brings The Pain Box Office Guru Preview: Eastwood vs. Scorsese – Round 2 Critical Consensus: "Flags" Flies High; "The Prestige" Is Magic; "Flicka" Is A Pretty Good Ride; "Marie Antoinette" Spared Critical Guillotine
View All

Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story

Writer/director JOHN GATINS (left) and star KURT RUSSELL watch the playback of a scene on the set of DreamWorks Pictures' family drama DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY. Star DAKOTA FANNING gets some direction from writer/director JOHN GATINS on the set of DreamWorks Pictures' DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY. (Left to right, foreground) Palmer (DAVID MORSE) and Prince Tariq (ANTONIO ALBADRAN) have reason to be concerned as they watch their horse race against Soñador in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Cale Crane (DAKOTA FANNING) dreams of being a part of her father's world, working with racehorses. Ben Crane (KURT RUSSELL) and his daughter Cale (DAKOTA FANNING) face many challenges and obstacles as they try to defy the odds and bring an injured racehorse back to her former glory. Writer/director JOHN GATINS on the set of DreamWorks Pictures' family drama DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY. Pop Crane (KRIS KRISTOFFERSON), Cale Crane (DAKOTA FANNING) and Ben Crane (KURT RUSSELL) come up with a plan to get the entrance fee to race Sonador in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Director of Photography FRED MURPHY (standing) checks the lighting for a scene with star KURT RUSSELL on the set of DreamWorks Pictures' DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY. Balon (LUIS GUZMÁN) teaches Cale (DAKOTA FANNING) some of the ropes of horse racing in DreamWorks Pictures' DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY. DAKOTA FANNING films a scene on one of the mechanical horses created to protect horse and rider in some of the more challenging riding sequences. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Ben Crane (Kurt Russell) is a horse trainer who is struggling to connect with his precocious daughter, Cale (Dakota Fanning). But then a horse by the name of Soñador suffers a broken leg after its evil owner (David Morse) races her despite Ben's advice. Rather than put his client's injured horse down, Ben adopts her and welcomes Cale into the family business. They train Soñador to race again as grouchy but kind-hearted Grandpa (Kris Kristofferson) lends his encouragement.
Director
John Gatins
Producer
Michael Tollin, Brian Robbins, Hunt Lowry
Screenwriter
John Gatins
Distributor
DreamWorks SKG
Production Co
DreamWorks Pictures
Rating
PG (Brief Mild Language)
Genre
Kids & Family, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 16, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$32.7M
Runtime
1h 38m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
Most Popular at Home Now