Overview
A boy learns about love, loyalty, and loss through his bond with a remarkable dog.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- warm
- adventurous
- nostalgic
- family movie night
- nostalgic viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard Old Yeller as a well-paced, warmly photographed, expertly performed family coming-of-age story whose human-animal bond delivers exceptional emotional impact.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Travis assumes responsibility for his family ranch, learns courage through repeated dangers, and confronts a defining emotional loss.
Travis's reluctant acceptance of Old Yeller develops into mutual loyalty and profound affection.
The ranch family faces raccoons, snakes, bears, wild hogs, and wolves while Old Yeller becomes part of their daily survival.
The Texas ranch and surrounding frontier landscape are rendered through the film's warmly praised color photography.
Films like Old Yeller, and why
Where the Red Fern Grows
shared coming-of-age drama, rural setting, and emotionally powerful bond between a child and an animal
Lassie Come Home
shared family adventure, frontier setting, and poignant boy-and-dog relationship
The Incredible Journey
shared children's drama, wilderness peril, and strong human-animal companionship
Because of Winn-Dixie
shared heartfelt family storytelling, rural community, and tearful animal-centered emotional impact
Movie Details
- Director
- Robert Stevenson
- Release Date
- 1957-12-25
- Runtime
- 84 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (313)
Cast
- Tommy Kirk
- Dorothy McGuire
- Fess Parker
- Kevin Corcoran
- Jeff York
- Beverly Washburn
- Chuck Connors
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Old Yeller about?
- A boy on a Texas ranch discovers responsibility, courage, and devastating love through his unlikely bond with a stray dog.
- What is Old Yeller like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Old Yeller as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Old Yeller violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Old Yeller as mild.
- What did critics think of Old Yeller?
- Critics broadly regard Old Yeller as a well-paced, warmly photographed, expertly performed family coming-of-age story whose human-animal bond delivers exceptional emotional impact.
- Which films are like Old Yeller?
- Films with a similar feel include Where the Red Fern Grows, Lassie Come Home, The Incredible Journey, and Because of Winn-Dixie.
- How long is Old Yeller?
- Old Yeller runs 84 minutes.
- Where can I watch Old Yeller?
- In United States, Old Yeller streams on Disney Plus.
