The Secret Life of Pets

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2:50

The Secret Life of Pets

PG

Released Jul 8, 2016

1h 26m

Kids & Family

Comedy

Adventure

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

239 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Max (Louis C.K.) is a spoiled terrier who enjoys a comfortable life in a New York building until his owner adopts Duke, a giant and unruly canine. During their walk outside, they encounter a group of ferocious alley cats and wind up in a truck that's bound for the pound. Luckily, a rebellious bunny named Snowball swoops in to save the doggy duo from captivity. In exchange, Snowball demands that Max and Duke join his gang of abandoned pets on a mission against the humans who've done them wrong.

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Critics Consensus

Fast-paced, funny, and blessed with a talented voice cast, The Secret Life of Pets offers a beautifully animated, cheerfully undemanding family-friendly diversion.

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Edward Porter

The Times (UK)

Cute critters — with well-rendered fur and feathers — have abundant life of their own.

Aug 22, 2022

Full Review

Kristen Lopez

Spectrum Culture

Maybe Illumination and Universal should look at why Pixar succeeds instead of just ripping them off and regurgitating the leftovers.

Rated: 2.5/5

Nov 20, 2017

Full Review

Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

The film [is] loud, colourful, frantic in pace, but less than the sum of its parts.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 9, 2016

Full Review

Zach Pope

Zach Pope Reviews

A Forgettable experience that is only held up with cute animals

Aug 7, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Squanders its enormous potential by turning out to be just one more animated effort about plucky heroes embarking on a journey/mission.

Rated: 2.5/4

May 9, 2023

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...an aggressively juvenile comedy that alienates the viewer virtually from the word go...

Rated: 1/4

Apr 20, 2023

Full Review

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Caleb

Was good enough for a 4 star

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/24/25

Full Review

Annette S

Was absolutely adorable. I along with my four grandchildren loved it. Great way to spend a few hours.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/31/23

Full Review

Brandon B

Best Animated Movie! I absolutely loved it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Tiffany

I love everything about it one of me and my son favorite thing to watch

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/05/21

Full Review

BRizz 2

Review: The Secret Life of Pets (2016) Released by Illumination Entertainment (not DreamWorks), The Secret Life of Pets is a charming animated feature that explores what our pets might be doing when we’re not around. The story follows Max, a pampered house dog, and Duke, a scrappy stray who ends up at Max’s home. After an unexpected turn of events, the two find themselves forced to work together—despite their initial dislike for one another. The film’s concept is both clever and family-friendly, offering plenty of humor and heart. The animation is vibrant and well-executed, and the cityscapes are especially detailed and lively. The director kept the pacing tight and the story accessible for audiences of all ages. While some of the voice casting choices didn’t entirely work for me—certain voices felt mismatched with their characters—I still found the film enjoyable overall. It’s lighthearted, fun, and sets itself up nicely for future installments. The Secret Life of Pets may not reinvent the wheel, but it delivers a delightful experience with just enough originality to stand out. A cute film worth watching, especially for families and animal lovers.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/01/25

Full Review

Axel V

Es para mí desperdiciable %39🤮

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/30/25

Full Review

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Chris Renaud

Director

Louis C.K.

Max

Eric Stonestreet

Duke

Kevin Hart

Snowball

Ellie Kemper

Katie

Albert Brooks

Tiberius

The Secret Life of Pets: Official Clip - Max Meets Duke

2:09

The Secret Life of Pets: Official Clip - The Owners Return

2:47

The Secret Life of Pets: Official Clip - Gidget Saves Max

1:48

The Secret Life of Pets: Official Clip - Busting You Out!

1:57

The Secret Life of Pets: Official Clip - Sausage Factory

1:57

The Secret Life of Pets: Official Clip - You Know Tiny Dog?

2:33

The Secret Life of Pets: Official Clip - The Owners Leave

1:57

The Secret Life of Pets: Official Clip - You're In Love

2:05

The Secret Life of Pets: Official Clip - Secret Route

2:22

The Secret Life of Pets: Official Clip - Get the Keys!

2:24

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The Secret Life Of Pets: Trailer 1

2:50

The Secret Life of Pets: Snowball Trailer

1:27

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Synopsis

Max (Louis C.K.) is a spoiled terrier who enjoys a comfortable life in a New York building until his owner adopts Duke, a giant and unruly canine. During their walk outside, they encounter a group of ferocious alley cats and wind up in a truck that's bound for the pound. Luckily, a rebellious bunny named Snowball swoops in to save the doggy duo from captivity. In exchange, Snowball demands that Max and Duke join his gang of abandoned pets on a mission against the humans who've done them wrong.

Director: Chris Renaud
Producer: Christopher Meledandri, Janet Healy
Screenwriter: Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio, Brian Lynch
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Chris Meledandri
Rating: PG (Action and Some Rude Humor)
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy, Adventure, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 8, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 22, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $368.3M
Runtime: 1h 26m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos, Dolby, Dolby Digital, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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