Megan Leavey

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2:20

Megan Leavey

PG-13

2017

1h 56m

War

Biography

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

104 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

The true life story of Megan Leavey, a young Marine corporal whose unique discipline and bond with a military combat dog saved many lives during her deployment in Iraq. Assigned to clean up the K-9 unit after a disciplinary hearing, Leavey starts to identify with Rex, a particularly aggressive dog that she trains. Over the course of their service, Megan and Rex complete more than 100 missions until an improvised explosive device injures both, putting their fates in jeopardy.

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Critics Consensus

Megan Leavey honors its real-life subjects with a sensitive, uplifting drama whose honest emotion more than makes up for its mild approach to the story.

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Stephanie Abraham

Bitch Media

Feb 18, 2021

The film's gendered Orientalist narrative uses Iraq, its people and the US-led war there as the backdrop for a story about a white woman soldier finding herself and learning to love through her combat canine.

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Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

Jul 7, 2017

B+

A heartfelt and touching film featuring one of Kate Mara's best performances.

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Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Jun 19, 2017

3/4

Kate Mara is raw and riveting in the title role, a marine who ends up in combat in Iraq with a bomb-sniffing German shepherd. It's a true story that earns your tears.

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Michael Clark

Epoch Times

Apr 15, 2022

4.5

The film teaches, educates, enlightens, and entertains, and does so in a straightforward manner while imparting lessons on personal responsibility and sacrifice. Work hard, stay focused, believe in a noble cause and it's likely you will succeed.

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Jeff Mitchell

Art House Film Wire

Feb 19, 2022

3/4

Mara splits her time between nail-biting sequences and Megan's emotional growth through her relationship with Rex, a four-legged soldier. An inspiring movie based on two real-life U.S. Marines. Bring tissues.

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Hosea Rupprecht

Pauline Media Studies

Aug 25, 2021

What I appreciated about Megan's story was how loving Rex enabled her to get through her suffering.

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Abby T.

@RT53306993 Mar 18, 2026

I really enjoyed this movie especially since it was based on a true story. It had me hooked the whole time and made me cry at the end. A great true story. Really showed some true aspects of being in the military too

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Keith B B

@Okbullard Jan 31, 2026

Wow what an exceptional film and performance by Kate Mara. The bond between her and her bomb sniffing dog Rex was so great. I really like that it was based on true events. It's definitely worth the watch but watch out it's a tearjerker.

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Brian D

@Brianwd2 Jan 21, 2026

73% — 1/18/26 Being based on a true story definitely gives this a boost. That said, Kate Mara felt a bit too polished for the role, which undercut the realism at times and made parts of the story feel slightly off. Watching her bond with Rex was genuinely enjoyable, especially during the training sequences and their time on duty in Iraq—those scenes were easily the strongest. The pacing dipped once they were separated. While her determination to find Rex was compelling, the story dragged more than it should have. The reunion was a great payoff, and seeing her finally bring Rex home was a satisfying ending. Solid watch, but no real need to revisit. 2/5 rewatch.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 May 30, 2025

The worldwide gross is $14,510,490.00.

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Susannah Z

@Susannahz Apr 21, 2025

I'm definitely inspired by true stories and this movie did not disappoint. What an amazing story (great script writing and casting not sure if they embellished) but I really enjoyed it.

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Jennifer M

@RT93701203 Apr 2, 2025

What a great movie. Developed the characters well, great acting, and excellent producing. There were enough humorous parts to lighten the mood, all while staying true to the reality of deployment and post war struggles. As a dog person...the only flaw I did sense (and it wasn't to a large degree) was that, at times, it seemed she was not strongly bonded with the dog, or that she was not strong enough personality-wise to be his handler. Overall a solid watch, well worth my time.

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Gabriela Cowperthwaite

Director

Kate Mara

Megan Leavey

Edie Falco

Jackie

Ramón Rodríguez

Cpl. Matt Morales

Tom Felton

Sergeant Andrew Dean

Damson Idris

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Synopsis

The true life story of Megan Leavey, a young Marine corporal whose unique discipline and bond with a military combat dog saved many lives during her deployment in Iraq. Assigned to clean up the K-9 unit after a disciplinary hearing, Leavey starts to identify with Rex, a particularly aggressive dog that she trains. Over the course of their service, Megan and Rex complete more than 100 missions until an improvised explosive device injures both, putting their fates in jeopardy.

Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Producer: Mickey Liddell, Pete Shilaimon, Jennifer Monroe
Screenwriter: Pamela Gray, Annie Mumolo, Tim Lovestedt
Distributor: Bleecker Street Media
Production Co: LD Entertainment, Calle Cruzada, Liddell Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Suggestive Material|Language|Thematic Elements|War Violence)
Genre: War, Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 9, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 10, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $13.4M
Runtime: 1h 56m

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