Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- earnest
- tense
- sentimental
- family movie night
- dog lovers night
What critics said
Critics found the canine and human performances appealing but felt that the film's disjointed, manipulative plot overwhelmed its good intentions.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Max's stress after Kyle's death and his bond with Justin drive the family's recovery process.
Max suffers stress after serving as a war dog, while Kyle's death leaves Justin and the family grieving.
Justin's relationship with Max leads him into betrayal and danger while the film maintains a PG, accessible register.
Max is a trained war dog whose connection to Kyle remains central after Kyle is killed in Afghanistan.
Films like Max, and why
Hachi: A Dog's Tale
Shared family adventure, grieving protagonist, loyal working dog, and emotionally accessible themes of healing and responsibility.
Because of Winn-Dixie
Shared dog-centered family drama, rescue premise, sentimentality, and emphasis on the bond between a troubled child and an animal.
Megan Leavey
Shared military service-dog subject, action-adventure structure, and themes of loyalty, trauma, and human-animal partnership.
Movie Details
- Director
- Boaz Yakin
- Release Date
- 2015-06-25
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (959)
Cast
- Thomas Haden Church
- Josh Wiggins
- Lauren Graham
- Robbie Amell
- Mia Xitlali
- Dejon LaQuake
- Luke Kleintank
- Jay Hernandez
- J. J. Soria
- Zeeko Zaki
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- 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 Max about?
- A grieving teenager saves his late brother's traumatized war dog, uncovering a dangerous path toward healing and loyalty.
- What is Max like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Max as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Max violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Max as mild.
- What did critics think of Max?
- Critics found the canine and human performances appealing but felt that the film's disjointed, manipulative plot overwhelmed its good intentions.
- Which films are like Max?
- Films with a similar feel include Hachi: A Dog's Tale, Because of Winn-Dixie, and Megan Leavey.
- How long is Max?
- Max runs 111 minutes.
- Where can I watch Max?
- In United States, Max streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
