Movie · 2015 · Adventure, Animation, Family · 1h 33m · PG · English
Curator score: 2.5/10 (526.2K ratings)
A single act of kindness can change everything.
Overview
An epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend.
Ratings
Curator score: 2.5/10
IMDb: 6.7/10
Letterboxd: 2.94/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 76%
Metacritic: 66
TMDB: 6.7/10
Director
Peter Sohn
Production
Pixar, Walt Disney Pictures
Cast
Frances McDormand, Raymond Ochoa, Jeffrey Wright, Steve Zahn, Sam Elliott, Anna Paquin, John Ratzenberger, A.J. Buckley, Marcus Scribner, Peter Sohn, Maleah Nipay-Padilla, Jack Bright, Ryan Teeple, Jack McGraw, Mandy Freund, Steven Clay Hunter, David Boat, Carrie Paff, Calum Grant
Where to watch
Disney Plus
Curator Review
Verdict
A visually impressive Pixar adventure with a strong emotional core for younger viewers, but the story is uneven and often feels more generic than inspired. It’s worth watching if you’re drawn to lush animation, survival-journey storytelling, and gentle family sentiment; less so if you want a tightly written Pixar standout.
Best for
families with younger kids
viewers who prioritize animation and landscapes
fans of emotional coming-of-age stories
children who like dinosaur adventures
Skip if
you want Pixar at its funniest or most inventive
you prefer sharp, polished screenwriting
you’re looking for a fast-paced adventure
you’re sensitive to intense peril in kids’ movies
Overview
The Good Dinosaur is one of Pixar’s most uneven big-screen efforts, but it is rarely ugly to look at. Its photoreal landscapes are often stunning, and the film has a sincere, almost old-fashioned tenderness about fear, grief, and growing up. The premise is simple enough for very young viewers, and the movie leans hard on visual storytelling and emotional clarity rather than wit or complexity.
Worth noting
What keeps it from being more than pleasant is the script, which feels undercooked compared with Pixar’s best work. The world-building raises questions it doesn’t really want to answer, and the central journey can feel familiar in a way that blunts its impact. Still, the bond between Arlo and Spot gives the film its heart, and the quieter moments land better than the broader adventure beats.
Bottom line
For families, it can play like a warm, slightly rough-edged bedtime movie: comforting, beautiful, and occasionally surprisingly intense. For adults without kids in the room, it may feel thin. But if you’re in the mood for a sincere dinosaur tale with real visual ambition, it has enough charm to justify the trip.
Top Letterboxd reviews
James (Schaffrillas) (1.5★) · 1859 likes
...at least it's pretty.
David Sims (2★) · 1144 likes
daughter obsessed with this movie it is so BORING
DirkH (4★) · 802 likes
If you, like me, when watching an animated movie for kids tend to end up on that annoying crossroads of judging the film on its intrinsic qualities and trying to trying to transport yourself to the mindset of the target audience, you'll have a tough time with the Good Dinosaur.
If you, like me, have a five year old son to watch it with and show you which path to take the Good Dinosaur will feel like a warm bath… more
James (2.5★) · 749 likes
I guess The Mediocre Dinosaur doesn't have the same ring to it.
Joe A (2.5★) · 582 likes
If I was Arlo, I would have hit Spot with the club in the beginning.