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Hotel for Dogs

Play trailer 2:12 Poster for Hotel for Dogs PG Released Jan 16, 2009 1h 40m Kids & Family Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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46% Tomatometer 123 Reviews 55% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
After moving into a foster home that forbids pets, siblings Andi (Emma Roberts) and Bruce (Jake T. Austin) must quickly find a home for their dog, Friday. The resourceful pair find an abandoned hotel, and with the help of Bruce's mechanical skills, turn it into a pooch paradise for Friday and a number of strays. But when the inevitable barking makes neighbors suspicious, Andi and Bruce must find a way to hide their canine haven from prying eyes.
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Hotel for Dogs

Hotel for Dogs

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Critics Consensus

Hotel for Dogs may appeal to children and dog lovers, but it's ultimately contrived, predictable, and simplistic.

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Critics Reviews

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Peter Whittle The Times (UK) The dogs are never quite as entertaining as they should be for the kids in the audience, and the hypercutesiness and speechifying at the end will lead to much tightening of adult sphincters. Rated: 2/5 Feb 19, 2009 Full Review Cath Clarke Guardian The schmaltz is laid on thick, but kids love this sort of stuff and, refreshingly, the dog bits are done the old-fashioned, fun way: with animal trainers rather than CGI. Rated: 2/5 Feb 13, 2009 Full Review Larushka Ivan-Zadeh Metro Newspaper (UK) Are you under 11, love dogs and think the only thing funnier than someone stepping in poo is someone stepping in it again? Boy, you've hit the jackpot! Rated: 3/5 Feb 13, 2009 Full Review James Croot The Post NZ That this doesn't turn into a dog is credit to an engaging young cast, especially the dependable Roberts... Rated: 3/5 Sep 22, 2022 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Plays it very safe and sticks to a tried-and-true children's movie formula. Rated: 3/10 Nov 28, 2020 Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Feels a lot like a retro family film similar in tone to 70's Disney flicks. Rated: 2.0/4.0 Sep 11, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Anna K I think it is a cute movie. Some scenes with the kids going through the foster system made me emotional at times, of course there is a happy ending with that. And with me being an animal lover, the dogs doing cute stuff during the movie sold me. It is not a movie for everyone, but I enjoyed the story. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/15/25 Full Review Johnny P Good movie. I liked to see all of the various dogs in the hotel Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/19/25 Full Review Audience Member Huge part of my childhood. Hotel for Dogs is a charming and heartwarming family comedy about two siblings who turn an abandoned hotel into a safe haven for stray dogs. The film is full of fun and inventive moments, with adorable dogs and lively performances, particularly from Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin as the resourceful siblings. While the plot is predictable, the movie’s lighthearted tone and positive messages about compassion and responsibility make it an enjoyable watch for kids and families. It’s a feel-good film with plenty of laughs and heartwarming moments. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/28/25 Full Review Joseph H It alright, dogs were cute and thank god they didn't talk. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 11/03/23 Full Review Steve D Cute enough but strictly for kids. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/09/23 Full Review Chris M The concept is interesting, if a tad like a sitcom premise. But the movie falls into the trap of foster parents are always abusive assholes addicted to something and doesn't care about the foster kids other than the money the government sends. It's a negative stereotype and cliché. Speaking of cliché the other main villains is a pair of dog hating dog catchers who gets to excited about dog murder. I don't think even in 2009 animal control wonders the town looking for strays. I think they have to be called if you think a dangerous or stray animal is in your area. Lastly, it drags in the middle and of course poop jokes. But thankfully they keep the poop off screen. Overall, it's cute and funny and is pretty good. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Hotel for Dogs

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Cast & Crew

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Thor Freudenthal

Director

Emma Roberts

Andi

Jake T. Austin

Bruce

Lisa Kudrow

Lois Scudder

Kevin Dillon

Carl Scudder

Don Cheadle

Bernie

Movie Clips

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Hotel for Dogs

Hotel for Dogs: Official Clip - You Can't Date Them Both Hotel for Dogs: Official Clip - You Can't Date Them Both 2:13 Hotel for Dogs: Official Clip - Watch Where You Step Hotel for Dogs: Official Clip - Watch Where You Step 1:07 Hotel for Dogs: Official Clip - Fetch Machine Hotel for Dogs: Official Clip - Fetch Machine 2:09 Hotel for Dogs: Official Clip - Needs More Cinnamon Hotel for Dogs: Official Clip - Needs More Cinnamon 2:03 Hotel for Dogs: Official Clip - Better Here Than the Pound Hotel for Dogs: Official Clip - Better Here Than the Pound 1:49 Hotel for Dogs: Official Clip - The Golden Hydrant Hotel for Dogs: Official Clip - The Golden Hydrant 1:12 Hotel for Dogs: Official Clip - How to Steal Food Hotel for Dogs: Official Clip - How to Steal Food 1:27 Hotel for Dogs: Official Clip - Rock Manifesto Hotel for Dogs: Official Clip - Rock Manifesto 1:55 Hotel for Dogs: Official Clip - Dog Catapult Hotel for Dogs: Official Clip - Dog Catapult 2:12 View more videos

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Hotel for Dogs

Hotel for Dogs: Trailer 1 Hotel for Dogs: Trailer 1 2:12 Hotel for Dogs: Official Clip - All That for a Look Out the Window? Hotel for Dogs: Official Clip - All That for a Look Out the Window? 1:33 View more videos
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Hotel for Dogs

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Movie Info

Synopsis After moving into a foster home that forbids pets, siblings Andi (Emma Roberts) and Bruce (Jake T. Austin) must quickly find a home for their dog, Friday. The resourceful pair find an abandoned hotel, and with the help of Bruce's mechanical skills, turn it into a pooch paradise for Friday and a number of strays. But when the inevitable barking makes neighbors suspicious, Andi and Bruce must find a way to hide their canine haven from prying eyes.
Director
Thor Freudenthal
Producer
Lauren Shuler Donner, Jonathan Gordon, Ewan Leslie, Jason Clark
Screenwriter
Jeff Lowell, Robert Schooley, Mark McCorkle
Distributor
DreamWorks SKG, Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Donners' Company, Montecito Picture Company
Rating
PG (Language|Brief Mild Thematic Elements|Some Crude Humor)
Genre
Kids & Family, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 16, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$73.0M
Runtime
1h 40m
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