A Dog's Purpose

Every dog happens for a reason.

2017 • 100 min • Adventure · Fantasy · Family · Drama

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Synopsis

A dog goes on quest to discover his purpose in life over the course of several lifetimes with multiple owners.

Our family guide

Best from age 7

Movie Knight Score

3567 reviews

100 Reviewers · 2 · 51%
76 Audience · 3565 · 49%

This heartwarming story follows a dog's soul through multiple reincarnations, as he searches for the meaning of his existence. He experiences life with different owners, learning valuable lessons about love, loyalty, and companionship along the way. It’s a touching exploration of the special bond between humans and their canine friends.

Violence & peril: 3/10
Language: 1/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 0/10
Romance & sensuality: 1/10
Scary moments: 2/10

Heads up

The dog experiences multiple deaths
Brief moments of peril and sadness
Some emotional moments for sensitive viewers

What it models well

Loyalty and unconditional love
The special bond with pets
Finding purpose in life
Empathy and compassion

Talk about it after

What makes a good pet owner?
How do pets impact our lives?
Dealing with loss and grief
The cycle of life and love

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for A Dog's Purpose. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

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Top billed cast

Director: Lasse Hallström • Crew: Cathryn Michon, Audrey Wells, W. Bruce Cameron, Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky

Trailers & clips

Reviewer notes

Recommended
A Dog's Purpose asks a simple, almost greedy question: what if the dog you lost kept finding its way back to you, life after life? Bailey is born, loved, and dies, then returns as a new dog carrying the same soul and the same self-appointed job, which is to look after humans who do not always deserve him. On paper it is shameless.…
Harry_Gill, TMDB Community

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
**Caught in the rebirth-loop!** I might a bit overrated it, but it's well deserved that. It has been a long time since I wetted my eyes for a film. Especially for being a tearjerker fan in the early days. This looks like a sequel to 'Fluke', though it justified to be an independent film. Based on the book of the same name, directed by the one who made 'Hachi: A Dog's Tale'.…
Reno, TMDB Community