A Dog's Purpose

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2:28

A Dog's Purpose

PG

2017

2h 0m

Comedy

Drama

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

35%

Tomatometer

147 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

A devoted dog discovers the meaning of its own existence through the lives of the humans it teaches to laugh and love. Reincarnated as multiple canines over the course of five decades, the lovable pooch develops an unbreakable bond with a kindred spirit named Ethan. As the boy grows older and comes to a crossroad, the dog once again comes back into his life to remind him of his true self.

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Critics Consensus

A Dog's Purpose offers an awkward blend of sugary sentiment and canine suffering that tugs at animal-loving audiences' heartstrings with shameless abandon.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

Jun 14, 2017

3/5

A welcome, woofy warning against human speciesism.

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Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

May 10, 2017

1.5/5

This remains a textbook example of what the website Snopes.com refers to as "glurge" -- the kind of gooey uplift associated with the novels of Nicholas Sparks and their film adaptations.

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Simran Hans

Observer (UK)

May 7, 2017

2/5

It's hard not to be charmed by the film's pack of hyperactive, wriggling puppies, but there's only so much time to be spent watching them play before it becomes eye-wateringly banal.

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Hosea Rupprecht

Pauline Media Studies

Aug 26, 2021

Lasse Hallström once again provides theater-goers with some food for thought in A Dog's Purpose. Of course, the food tastes better out of the trash and bacon from under the table is just the best.

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Linda and Al Lerner

Movies and Shakers

Sep 4, 2019

It's a safe family film that's a heart tugger for dog lovers.

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Rachel Wagner

rachelsreviews.net

Mar 12, 2019

C

The problem with that premise is you have to watch a dog die 5 times, which is like Marley and Me times 5.

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Arwen D

@Ultimatepetlover 2 days ago

wow! watch the dog get reincarnated as different breeds! this is a great topic for your first live action dog movie.

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Bryan B

@heybryan Sep 6, 2026

If you ever had a dog this will pull at your heart strings. Sappy sweet to the extreme.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 3, 2026

I cried in this movie, thus my four star rating!

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adolf H

@exterminationforjews Aug 22, 2026

this movie was great and heartbreaking at the same time, bittersweet in a good way if you ask me

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john M

@johnnyzen Jul 26, 2026

If you have ever had dogs this movie will be entertaining. I think the critics just missed the point of the movie. It was lovely to watch.

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Ali A

@RT34546304 Jul 24, 2026

Its truly an amazing movie, lots of tears but truly worth it !!

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Lasse Hallström

Director

Josh Gad

Bailey

Dennis Quaid

Ethan Montgomery

Peggy Lipton

Adult Hannah

Bryce Gheisar

Ethan - 8 Years Old

K.J. Apa

Teen Ethan

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Synopsis

A devoted dog discovers the meaning of its own existence through the lives of the humans it teaches to laugh and love. Reincarnated as multiple canines over the course of five decades, the lovable pooch develops an unbreakable bond with a kindred spirit named Ethan. As the boy grows older and comes to a crossroad, the dog once again comes back into his life to remind him of his true self.

Director: Lasse Hallström
Producer: Gavin Polone
Screenwriter: W. Bruce Cameron, Cathryn Michon, Audrey Wells, Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Pariah, Walden Media, Reliance Entertainment, Universal Pictures
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Some Peril)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 27, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 18, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $64.3M
Runtime: 2h 0m
Sound Mix: Datasat, Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Atmos, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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