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A Dog's Purpose

Play trailer 2:28 Poster for A Dog's Purpose PG 2017 2h 0m Comedy Drama Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 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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A Dog's Purpose

A Dog's Purpose

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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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Critics Reviews

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Tara Brady Irish Times Jun 14, 2017
3/5
A welcome, woofy warning against human speciesism. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review Linda and Al Lerner Movies and Shakers Sep 4, 2019
It's a safe family film that's a heart tugger for dog lovers. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Arwen D @Ultimatepetlover 5 hrs ago wow! watch the dog get reincarnated as different breeds! this is a great topic for your first live action dog movie. See more Bryan B @heybryan Sep 6, 2026 If you ever had a dog this will pull at your heart strings. Sappy sweet to the extreme. See more Robert P @Superbad Sep 3, 2026 I cried in this movie, thus my four star rating! See more 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 See more 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. See more Ali A @RT34546304 Jul 24, 2026 Its truly an amazing movie, lots of tears but truly worth it !! See more Read all reviews
A Dog's Purpose

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Cast & Crew

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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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A Dog's Purpose

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A Dog's Purpose

Poster Art A Dog's Purpose (2017) A Dog's Purpose (2017) A scene from "A Dog's Purpose." A scene from "A Dog's Purpose." A scene from "A Dog's Purpose." A scene from "A Dog's Purpose." Photo Credit: Courtesy of A Dog's Purpose Film View more photos

Movie Info

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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