Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- playful
- witty
- frantic
- family movie night
- kids sleepover
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film charming and energetic when observing pet behavior, though its conventional adventure story and uneven lead characters limited its impact.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Max, Duke, Gidget, Snowball, and other animals reveal a bustling world of pet interactions beyond human supervision.
Max's privileged bond with Katie is disrupted when Duke arrives and becomes his rival for affection and territory.
The pets travel through Manhattan apartments, streets, alleys, and sewers as oversized environments for animated action.
The principal heroes and antagonists are dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, and a rebellious rabbit, with human owners mainly serving as motivation.
Films like The Secret Life of Pets, and why
Zootopia
shares anthropomorphic animal comedy, urban adventure, and a warm family-friendly tone
Bolt
shares talking pets, comedic peril, and an animated journey through a human city
Sing
shares Illumination-style animal ensemble comedy, bright animation, and accessible adventure
Over the Hedge
shares secret animal lives, playful humor, and an affectionate view of domestic pets
Movie Details
- Director
- Chris Renaud
- Release Date
- 2016-06-18
- Runtime
- 86 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (8683)
Cast
- Louis C.K.
- Eric Stonestreet
- Kevin Hart
- Jenny Slate
- Ellie Kemper
- Albert Brooks
- Lake Bell
- Dana Carvey
- Hannibal Buress
- Bobby Moynihan
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu, Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium 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 The Secret Life of Pets about?
- When a pampered Manhattan terrier gets a new canine roommate, a citywide pet adventure forces rivalry to give way to loyalty.
- What is The Secret Life of Pets like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Secret Life of Pets as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is The Secret Life of Pets violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Secret Life of Pets as mild.
- What did critics think of The Secret Life of Pets?
- Critics broadly found the film charming and energetic when observing pet behavior, though its conventional adventure story and uneven lead characters limited its impact.
- Which films are like The Secret Life of Pets?
- Films with a similar feel include Zootopia, Bolt, Sing, and Over the Hedge.
- How long is The Secret Life of Pets?
- The Secret Life of Pets runs 86 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Secret Life of Pets?
- In United States, The Secret Life of Pets streams on Hulu, Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus.
