Isle of Dogs

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Isle of Dogs

PG-13

Released Apr 6, 2018

1h 41m

Comedy

Adventure

Animation

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Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

368 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

When, by executive decree, all the canine pets of Megasaki City are exiled to a vast garbage-dump called Trash Island, 12-year-old Atari sets off alone in a miniature Junior-Turbo Prop and flies across the river in search of his bodyguard-dog, Spots. There, with the assistance of a pack of newly-found mongrel friends, he begins an epic journey that will decide the fate and future of the entire Prefecture.

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Critics Consensus

The beautifully stop-motion animated Isle of Dogs finds Wes Anderson at his detail-oriented best while telling one of the director's most winsomely charming stories.

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

The director and his hip writing partners (Jason Schwartzman, Roman Coppola, Kunichi Nomura) infuse their imaginary world with winning deadpan humor.

Mar 5, 2020

Full Review

Robert Daniels

812filmreviews

Wes Anderson's latest venture, Isle of Dogs, is another example of the writer/director's editing and camerawork craftsmanship. A triumph of his own Andersonian aesthetic, yet an albatross concerning his appetite for cultural window dressing.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 27, 2018

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David Stratton

The Australian

With its beautiful formal imagery, its gallery of hugely likeable canines and its cheerfully crazy plotting, Isle of Dogs really is a unique experience, and a thoroughly enchanting one.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 13, 2018

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Ankit Ojha

Cinema Elite

The USP of Wes Anderson’s films is to turn even the most tried-and-tested indie narrative tropes into a borderline-absurdist adventure. “Isle of Dogs” feels right at home with the rest of his work.

Rated: 4.5/5

Jul 9, 2024

Full Review

Denise Pieniazek

Metacultura (AR)

Although this story may seem innocent, it hides a clear metaphor about the oppression of minorities by dictatorial orders, and the segregation, since a clear parallel can be drawn between the "Garbage Island" ” and a concentration camp or a slum.

Rated: 9/10

Dec 28, 2023

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Christopher Connor

The Film Magazine

Isle of Dogs once again illustrated Wes Anderson’s versatility as a director and was a bold move away from the trappings of The Grand Budapest Hotel which had earned such acclaim.

Aug 8, 2023

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Stephen H

not my favorite Wes Anderson flic

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/21/22

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Kevin P

Didn’t care for the annoying “white savior” afro-wearing white girl aggressively overshadowing her Japanese classmates and especially the female Japanese scientist character, the bizarrely rushed “romance” between the white girl and the protagonist Atari, the brushed off murdering of the prison guards, the corny ending of the kids running the city, somewhat hit/miss dialogue & humor, and the overly familiar narrative. Despite all those flaws, I absolutely adore the film’s visuals, art direction/production, score, cast, main characters (excluding the previously mentioned annoying white girl), and the overall unique quirky Wes Anderson charm. Wes Anderson’s fantastic directing transforms an overdone narrative trop into a wonderful piece of art overall.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/13/24

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sofía t

woof !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/13/24

Full Review

Jay W

Wes Anderson has a distinct directing style, with a uniquely dry sense of humor. This style lent itself well to animation, as proven in 2009's "Fantastic Mr. Fox". That one set the groundwork for what Anderson could bring to the world of animation. "Isle of Dogs" continues on that path but does fall short of its predecessor's trajectory. The movie follows the POV of a group of dogs on the eponymous Isle, as they try to help a human boy that arrives. In an odd, very Wes Anderson choice, the dogs all speak English, (all voiced by Anderson's usual crew) but the humans speak Japanese. There isn't much of a story in Isle of Dogs. Perhaps I should rephrase, there is a lot of story going on, it just doesn't really concern the journey of our main protagonists. Where "Fantastic Mr. Fox" made Wes Anderson fans out of anyone who watched it, "Isle of Dogs" will be loved by Anderson fans, but won't necessarily win over any newcomers.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/21/24

Full Review

Wyeth C

What an interesting film, the pace of this movie is so perfect and the dialogue is so fun, the use of language to alienate humans is ingenious and inspired. This movie highlights the importance of pets through amazing animation and an exciting story that I wish would never end.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/17/24

Full Review

positive m

Teamwork Justice Leadership

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/28/24

Full Review

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Rex

Scarlett Johansson

Nutmeg

Bill Murray

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Liev Schreiber

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Isle of Dogs: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

When, by executive decree, all the canine pets of Megasaki City are exiled to a vast garbage-dump called Trash Island, 12-year-old Atari sets off alone in a miniature Junior-Turbo Prop and flies across the river in search of his bodyguard-dog, Spots. There, with the assistance of a pack of newly-found mongrel friends, he begins an epic journey that will decide the fate and future of the entire Prefecture.

Director: Wes Anderson
Producer: Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson
Screenwriter: Wes Anderson
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: American Empirical Pictures, Studio Babelsberg
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Elements|Some Violent Images)
Genre: Comedy, Adventure, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 6, 2018, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 27, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $31.9M
Runtime: 1h 41m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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