The Call of the Wild

Based on the legendary novel.

2020 • 100 min • Adventure · Family · Drama

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Synopsis

Buck is a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life is turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. As the newest rookie on a mail delivery dog sled team—and later its leader—Buck experiences the adventure of a lifetime, ultimately finding his true place in the world and becoming his own master.

Our family guide

Best from age 8

Movie Knight Score

3990 reviews

50 Reviewers · 6 · 69%
75 Audience · 3984 · 31%

Based on a classic novel, this adventure follows Buck, a large pet dog, as he

Violence & peril: 3/10
Language: 1/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 2/10
Romance & sensuality: 0/10
Scary moments: 4/10

Heads up

Some moments of peril for animals
Mild drinking and pipe smoking
Brief depictions of animal cruelty

What it models well

Finding your true self
Loyalty and companionship
Respect for nature
Perseverance in adversity

Talk about it after

Discuss animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.
Explore the history of the Gold Rush and its impact.
Talk about adapting to new environments and challenges.

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The Call of the Wild. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

Where to watch

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Top billed cast

Director: Chris Sanders • Crew: Michael Green

Trailers & clips

Reviewer notes

Not recommended
**A Soulless, Toothless Film** With The Call of the Wild, Disney takes a legendary novel and turns it into a bland, watered-down version where everything feels fake—from the CGI dog to the lead actor who looks like he regrets his career choices. This is a film that wants to talk about primal instincts but doesn’t have a shred of authenticity.…
Skender, TMDB Community

Not recommended
W.C. Fields said you should never work with children or animals. Thanks to CGI technology, you don’t have to anymore – at least not with animals. Buck, the main dog in The Call of the Wild, appears to be a cross between Beethoven and Roger Rabbit.…
tmdb28039023, TMDB Community

Recommended
Harrison Ford makes for quite a decent, hardy, pioneer in this rather engaging tale of a dog and master relationship. "Buck" is pinched from his comfortable life in warm and cosy California, taken north to Alaska (without John Wayne) and sold as a sled dog.…
CinemaSerf, TMDB Community

Not recommendedTrusted family reviewers
While 'The Call of the Wild' is ultimately a weak adaptation of the novel - it may be impossible to ever adapt it faithfully - it's still an okay family flick hampered by an over-reliance on CGI. - Jake Watt Read Jake's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-the-call-of-the-wild-a-mild-journey-into-the-uncanny-valley
SWITCH., TMDB Community

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com I couldn't catch The Call of the Wild when it premiered. Therefore, I didn't remember a single thing about it when I went to watch it yesterday at an empty screening (yei). Once again, I stayed away from trailers, but a few images popped up at the time. The CGI dog didn't look good at all.…
Manuel São Bento, TMDB Community