Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is a heartwarming live-action adventure film released by Disney in 1993, which is a remake of the 1963 film, both based on Sheila Burnford's 1961 novel. The movie centers on three beloved family pets – Chance, an American Bulldog; Shadow, a Golden Retriever; and Sassy, a Himalayan cat. Mistakenly believing their owners have abandoned them after being left at a friend's ranch, the trio embarks on a perilous, cross-country journey through the vast wilderness to reunite with their human family. The film's runtime is approximately 84 minutes and it was rated G. The narrative is primarily aimed at a family audience, focusing on themes of loyalty, perseverance, friendship, and the strong bond between pets and their owners. It blends excitement and emotional depth, offering moments of both humor and suspense as the animals navigate treacherous terrain, wild animals, and other challenges. The story unfolds with each pet using their unique skills and relying on teamwork to overcome obstacles and find their way home. While generally well-received for its positive messages, some scenes may be intense or frightening for very young or sensitive children due to depictions of peril and implied danger to the animals. However, the film's overall tone remains heartwarming and inspiring, making it a rewarding viewing experience for families.
Concerns
Violence
MediumThe film contains several intense, yet non-graphic, animal-on-animal confrontations and perilous situations. While the American Humane Association certified that no animals were harmed during production, the depictions of danger are realistic enough to be concerning for younger viewers.
Sassy the cat is swept over a waterfall and appears to drown, creating a moment of high tension and fear before she is later found alive. Another instance of violence involves Chance and Shadow confronting a mountain lion, leading to a chase and a strategic encounter where the mountain lion is sent over a cliff into a river.
Scary & Intense Content
MediumWhile rated G, the film includes several intense moments and dangerous encounters for the animals, which could be frightening for very young or sensitive viewers. These involve life-threatening situations and encounters with wild animals.
Early in their journey, the animals face a large brown bear, which can be intimidating for young audiences. Another emotionally intense moment occurs when Shadow, the elderly Golden Retriever, falls into a muddy pit and is severely injured, leading to a poignant scene where he almost gives up hope and suggests his companions go on without him.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumChance, the American Bulldog, initially displays a rebellious and somewhat self-centered attitude, expressing disinterest in his owner and feeling abandoned. However, his character arc shows significant growth towards loyalty and family values throughout the journey.
At the beginning of the film, Chance explicitly states that he has 'no interest in his owner or being part of a family,' viewing their temporary departure as an 'opportunity to relax and be free.' He also frequently disregards Shadow's wisdom and advice, such as when he pestered a porcupine against warning, resulting in quills embedded in his face and visible pain.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowThere is no explicit or implied LGBTQ+ content, characters, or themes present within the film's narrative. Extensive searches for related terms concerning LGBTQ+ representation in the film or its creators yielded no relevant findings pertaining to the movie's content. While a producer of the film, Franklin R. Levy, was noted to have a male companion in external biographical information, this does not pertain to the content shown in the movie itself.
The film does not contain any explicit LGBTQ+ characters, relationships, or themes within its storyline. For instance, the family structure is traditional, focusing on a remarried couple and their children. Additionally, there are no scenes or dialogue that address sexual orientation or gender identity among any of the human or animal characters.
Romance and Sexual Content
LowThe film's narrative focuses entirely on the loyalty and familial bonds between pets and their human family, as well as the platonic relationships among the animals themselves. There is no explicit or implied romantic or sexual content in 'Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey'.
No romantic interactions or sexual content are depicted between any characters, human or animal, in the film. The human parents, Laura and Bob, are shown as a married couple, but their interactions are limited to familial warmth without romantic or sexual undertones. The animal characters, Shadow, Chance, and Sassy, interact as companions on a journey, with no romantic attachments forming between them.
Profanity
LowThe film is rated G and is generally considered appropriate for all ages regarding language. Parental reviews and content guides indicate very mild or no profanity, with only a few instances of name-calling or sarcastic remarks, primarily from the character of Chance.
Chance, being the more immature character, occasionally makes snarky comments, such as when he refers to Sassy as 'cat-breath' or other mild insults during their journey. However, no strong expletives or frequent use of curse words are present in the dialogue throughout the movie.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThe film is a live-action adventure centered on the realistic (albeit talking) journey of animals through the natural world. There are no elements of witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, magic rituals, demons, spells, or supernatural themes present in the narrative.
The story is grounded in a natural setting, with the challenges faced by the animals being those found in the wilderness, such as rivers, bears, and mountain lions. There are no references to magical abilities, supernatural interventions, or occult symbols used by any characters, human or animal, to overcome obstacles or for any other purpose.
Substance Use
LowThe film does not depict any substance use, such as alcohol consumption, drug use, or smoking, by any characters, human or animal. This type of content is entirely absent from the movie.
Throughout the entire film, there are no scenes showing characters engaging in drinking alcohol, using illegal drugs, or smoking cigarettes or other substances. The narrative focuses solely on the animals' journey and their interactions, with no subplots or background elements involving substance use.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe movie does not contain any anti-Christian themes, mockery of religious beliefs, or sacrilegious acts. Instead, the film subtly promotes positive values that align with general Christian principles, such as loyalty, perseverance, self-sacrifice, love, and responsibility within family and friendships.
The core themes of the film—the pets' unwavering loyalty to their human family and to each other, and their perseverance through extreme hardship to return home—are universally positive and consistent with many Christian values. There are no instances where Christian symbols are depicted negatively, nor is there any dialogue or plot point that criticizes or dismisses religious faith.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Ages 5 and up. While rated G, some scenes depicting animal peril, such as near-drowning and confrontations with wild animals, may be too intense or frightening for children younger than five or those who are highly sensitive.
Additional Notes
The film is a remake of the 1963 movie 'The Incredible Journey', with the primary difference being that the 1993 version gives voices to the animals' thoughts and dialogue, enhancing their personalities and interactions. The sequel, 'Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco' (1996), introduces a mild romantic interest for Chance, which is not present in the original film.
Related Reviews
Is Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey right for your family?
These concerns are a starting point — what many Christian parents care about. Want to screen for other themes? Define your own concerns.
Screen any book, movie, or show — even titles no one else has reviewed.
“StoryScanner gives us clarity and confidence. It's become our go-to for checking books at the library and movies on family night.”
— Cristi & Brian, Dallas TX
“StoryScanner has been such a BLESSING for researching books for our children. You can set filters for your concerns, enter a book title, and it lets you know what's present.”
— Christian Book Reviews for Families (Facebook)
No credit card required