The Land Before Time

It is the dawn of time, the land of the dinosaur. Lost and alone, Littlefoot and his friends are about to embark on the journey of a lifetime.

1988 • 69 min • Family · Animation · Adventure · Drama

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Synopsis

An orphaned brontosaurus named Littlefoot sets off in search of the legendary Great Valley. A land of lush vegetation where the dinosaurs can thrive and live in peace. Along the way he meets four other young dinosaurs, each one a different species, and they encounter several obstacles as they learn to work together in order to survive.

Our family guide

Best from age 5

Movie Knight Score

2788 reviews

100 Reviewers · 1 · 51%
72 Audience · 2787 · 49%

An orphaned brontosaurus named Littlefoot journeys to the lush Great Valley after a natural disaster. He teams up with a diverse group of young dinosaurs, facing challenges and learning teamwork along the way.

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

Heads up

The death of a parent is a central plot point.
Natural disasters like earthquakes cause peril.
Predator dinosaurs chase the young characters.

What it models well

Teamwork and friendship
Overcoming adversity
Acceptance of differences
Perseverance

Talk about it after

Coping with loss and change
The importance of family, chosen or otherwise
Dealing with fear and uncertainty

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

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Top billed cast

Director: Don Bluth • Crew: Tony Geiss, Judy Freudberg, Stu Krieger

Trailers & clips

The Land Before Time - 1988 Theatrical Trailer (35mm 4K)

Reviewer notes

Recommended
Maybe it's just nostalgia that makes me love _The Land Before Time_, but I'm pretty sure the beautiful scenery at least does hold up. And that theme music, oh my God, right in the chest... That might be nostalgia again... _Final rating:★★★½ - I really liked it. Would strongly recommend you give it your time._
Ruuz, TMDB Community