A Dog's Perfect Christmas
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to A Dog's Perfect Christmas
A Dog's Perfect Christmas (2026) is a heartwarming family holiday film from Netflix, based on the novel by W. Bruce Cameron. The movie follows a teenage girl, her grieving grandfather, and their loyal dogs as they navigate a challenging Christmas after the family matriarch falls into a medical emergency. The narrative focuses on themes of family bonding, overcoming adversity, and selfless love, aiming to deliver a poignant and humorous holiday experience. While it centers on family values, the film contains some mature content, including frequent foul language, light alcohol use, and a secular approach to Christmas, making it more suitable for teens and adults rather than young children.
Things to Consider
Profanity
Movieguide® reports the presence of "frequent foul language" in the film.
The movie contains frequent use of foul language.
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LGBTQ & Gender Identity
The film includes a character named Danny, portrayed by Filip Fufezan, who explicitly declares himself to be gay. The actor described the character as a "gay best friend" who is flamboyant, extroverted, bold, and flirty.
Romance and Sexual Content
The film features implied romantic relationships, including the grandfather dating multiple women, one of whom is described as 'horny,' and a teenage character embarking on a new romance. However, no explicit sexual acts or graphic details are reported.
Substance Use
The film includes "some alcohol use" and "light drinking." The search results do not indicate active illegal drug use or glamorization of substance abuse.
Scary & Intense Content
The movie's plot involves a serious medical emergency where the mother is in an induced coma due to sepsis, which can be an intense subject for some viewers, especially children. However, the film is generally described as heartfelt and sweet, without graphic horror or jump scares.
Disrespect & Rebellion
The film includes instances of "light immorality, jealousy and lies." There is also a scene where the teenage granddaughter, Ello, is described as "more than happy to call out" her grouchy grandfather.
Violence
There is no evidence of graphic violence, physical fights, or threats of violence depicted in the movie. The central conflict involves a family dealing with a mother's medical emergency, described as sepsis, rather than physical harm.
Witchcraft & Occult
There is no mention of witchcraft, occult practices, or supernatural themes in the provided sources. The film is a family holiday drama. While previous films in the 'A Dog's Purpose' franchise involved reincarnation, this film reportedly 'ditches the reincarnation angle.'
Anti-Christian Themes
The film's Christmas celebration is explicitly noted as secular and does not acknowledge the birth of Jesus Christ. However, it does not contain any content that mocks, insults, or promotes anti-Christian messages. Movieguide® suggests that a character's sacrifice reflects Christ's selfless love, providing an opportunity for discussion.
A Dog's Perfect Christmas presents core themes of family, love, and overcoming adversity, which align with many biblical values emphasizing the importance of family relationships and perseverance. The movie highlights a father's (Hunter's) sacrifice to spend more time with his family, which Movieguide® suggests reflects Christ's selfless love, resonating with Ephesians 5:25 regarding husbands loving their wives. However, the film's Christmas celebration is secular, omitting the explicit acknowledgment of Jesus Christ's birth, which may be a point of concern for Christian parents seeking media that directly affirms the religious aspect of Christmas. The characters in the film grapple with "light immorality, jealousy and lies," suggesting a world where choices have consequences, and there is a journey towards reconciliation and stronger bonds. While there isn't explicit moral accountability in a biblical sense mentioned, the narrative arc appears to reward working together and building stronger relationships. The worldview presented leans towards a transcendent view in its emphasis on selfless love and familial unity, even if not explicitly framed in spiritual terms. Elements of sacrifice are present through Hunter's actions, and the overall message points towards a form of redemption through strengthened family ties and a greater appreciation for loved ones. Faith representation is absent in terms of direct Christian observance, though spiritual themes like selfless love are implicitly present. Family values are central, with the plot revolving around a family in crisis striving to stay together. The portrayal of family relationships, while initially dysfunctional due to grief and personal struggles, evolves towards greater appreciation and stronger bonds. The movie demonstrates a positive trajectory for family unity.
Additional Context
Best For Ages
TV-14. This recommendation is due to the presence of frequent foul language, some alcohol use, a character who declares himself gay, and themes of family crisis and light immorality. Younger children may find some content inappropriate or intense.
Good to Know
The film has a runtime of 99 minutes and is distributed by Netflix. It is based on the novel of the same name by W. Bruce Cameron.
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