Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- adventurous
- heartwarming
- hopeful
- family movie night
- weekend adventure viewing
What critics said
Critics found the adaptation heartwarming and accessible but substantially weakened by distracting, unnecessary CGI and only mixed overall execution.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Buck moves from a comfortable California home through forced servitude toward self-directed life in the northern wilderness.
Buck crosses the Klondike region as a sled dog and confronts labor, scarcity, violence, and Arctic hardship.
John Thornton becomes Buck's final owner and closest companion as they travel toward the Arctic Circle.
The story is set during the late 1890s rush to Alaska and Yukon, where strong sled dogs are in demand.
Films like The Call of the Wild, and why
Eight Below
shared family adventure, wilderness survival, human animal bond, and inspirational journey
Because of Winn-Dixie
shared literary adventure, dog-centered storytelling, frontier setting, and emotional companionship
The Jungle Book
shared family-friendly wilderness adventure, animal perspective, and transformation through hardship
The Revenant
shared frontier survival, rugged landscapes, and a redemptive bond between an isolated man and an animal
Movie Details
- Director
- Chris Sanders
- Release Date
- 2020-02-19
- Runtime
- 100 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (4022)
Cast
- Harrison Ford
- Dan Stevens
- Colin Woodell
- Karen Gillan
- Omar Sy
- Raven Scott
- Wes Brown
- Cara Gee
- Jean Louisa Kelly
- Terry Notary
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus, fuboTV
- 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 Call of the Wild about?
- A stolen California dog discovers resilience, loyalty, and freedom amid the brutal beauty of the Klondike wilderness.
- What is The Call of the Wild like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Call of the Wild as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Call of the Wild violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Call of the Wild as mild.
- What did critics think of The Call of the Wild?
- Critics found the adaptation heartwarming and accessible but substantially weakened by distracting, unnecessary CGI and only mixed overall execution.
- Which films are like The Call of the Wild?
- Films with a similar feel include Eight Below, Because of Winn-Dixie, The Jungle Book, and The Revenant.
- How long is The Call of the Wild?
- The Call of the Wild runs 100 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Call of the Wild?
- In United States, The Call of the Wild streams on Disney Plus, fuboTV.
