Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- sentimental
- warm
- wistful
- family movie night
- rainy day
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film earnestly sentimental and emotionally effective for animal lovers, but overly sugary and burdened by corny plot mechanics.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Josh Gad voices the same doglike consciousness across Bailey, Buddy, Tino, and Ellie, linking multiple lifetimes.
The dog narrates and evaluates human decisions, relationships, loss, and purpose from an explicitly canine perspective.
Each new life creates another bond with owners while maintaining the emotional possibility of return to Ethan.
The dog's recurring question about his purpose is answered through caring for and affecting successive owners.
Films like A Dog's Purpose, and why
Fluke
sentimental human animal relationship, reincarnation premise, and emotionally direct family drama
Hachi: A Dog's Tale
canine-centered tearjerker, enduring human animal bond, and earnest emotional storytelling
The Five People You Meet in Heaven
family fantasy built around reincarnation, spiritual purpose, and repeated lifetimes
Marley & Me
heartwarming dog adventure emphasizing loyalty, companionship, and emotional reunion
Movie Details
- Director
- Lasse Hallström
- Release Date
- 2017-01-19
- Runtime
- 100 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (3605)
Cast
- Josh Gad
- KJ Apa
- Britt Robertson
- Juliet Rylance
- Luke Kirby
- John Ortiz
- Kirby Howell-Baptiste
- Pooch Hall
- Bryce Gheisar
- Dennis Quaid
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- 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 A Dog's Purpose about?
- A loyal dog's soul returns in different bodies, discovering meaning through the humans he loves across a lifetime of reunions.
- What is A Dog's Purpose like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of A Dog's Purpose as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is A Dog's Purpose violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in A Dog's Purpose as mild.
- What did critics think of A Dog's Purpose?
- Critics broadly found the film earnestly sentimental and emotionally effective for animal lovers, but overly sugary and burdened by corny plot mechanics.
- Which films are like A Dog's Purpose?
- Films with a similar feel include Fluke, Hachi: A Dog's Tale, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, and Marley & Me.
- How long is A Dog's Purpose?
- A Dog's Purpose runs 100 minutes.
- Where can I watch A Dog's Purpose?
- In United States, A Dog's Purpose streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
